No Subject

[Tony Payne]

Dear List   I posted this in reponse to Irene Coonans post a while ago but I don't think it got through.   Sorry - there is a comment in this that has made my blood boil.  You said, "you don't hear consumers jumping up and down saying "lets get out there and protect our midwives"!!  The consumer groups are so diverse???? WHich ones?  Can you list all the consumer groups in your area specifically formed around maternity care and what their platforms are?  Don't just assume all this stuff.  I really don't think you're going to have a big problem with consumer groups advocating high tech care and LUSCS for all!!!  Don't let what isn't even there get in your way.   I am a consumer and I strongly advocate for the midwife and their autonomy as professionals.  Sometimes I feel like I'm doing their job though.     What I want to know is where are our midwives - why are they not protecting us.  It is simplistic to say that women aren't supporting them.  We all know that the entire culture has deceived women into thinking that hospitals and high tech. obstetric care is "safer" and will get you a nice healthy baby.  THe medical profession push it, the women believe it, the media perpetuates it.  Yet everyday midwives must witness care in their maternity wards that must be suspect, not evidence based, not woman centred and even down right cruel.  The woman goes home with her new baby, shattered by her experience and feeling a failure and then has to cope with new motherhood.  She is in the most unlikely position to be on her feet campaigning for midwifery autonomy and models of care.  By the time she's surfaced, the kids are at school and she's gotta spend her time to raise money at the school fete.   How can midwives witness what goes on in hospitals and not be rallying together to protect women? Women will come with you but until midwives show them what is possible they will continue to believe that what they are getting is the way its supposed to be, or that nobody cares anyway.  THey will continue to think they've got this wonderful high tech care with Mr whatsisname the famous obstetrician and are just lucky to be alive.   Midwives need to stand tall and tell women how it should be, how it could be.  You have all the evidence on your side, you have change that has happened in NZ and UK and models such as the Netherlands to illustrate your worth. (no it doesn't have to be done their way - they are just examples of how it can work)  Pleeeeeasssse midwives I am begging you stand up and fight - its your profession, and you are there to serve the mother - don't make us do your job.   Don't say you can't - you can.  You just have to want it bad enough.  Why are the coal miners on bloody tv every night this week.  Because they wanted their rights met bad enough.  Why do the AMA jump to the cause every time their position is challenged on any matter.  Because they are strong and united and they want what they want bad enough.  AIDS campaigners were at the Alfred Hospital last night ON THE NEWS pushing their cause.   I am running out of energy.  I want some help.  I want to see midwives standing up, on the TV, marching in the streets, campaigning - you can make a difference.  Stop witnessing what you know is harmful care and practice.  If I saw so much as a 10 second spot on the TV or one line in a newspaper written by a midwife speaking out about current practice and the value of midwifery led care I can guarantee 100% return from consumers.  THis one at least.   AND HERE'S THE CHANCE IN VICTORIA LAUNCH OF THE VIC WOMEN'S HEALTH PLAN DALLAS BROOKS HALL 26TH AUGUST THATS THIS THURSDAY - BE THERE PROTEST PLEASE. Robin Payne  -----Original Message----- From: NSW Midwives Association Inc <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: Wednesday, 18 August 1999 14:48 Subject: Fw: Consumers and ACMI Re the Consumer issue. A few thoughts: -   ACMI and the branches in each state, as a professional organisation, could improve in many ways in looking after midwives.  I would like to get that right before we start looking after other groups as well ie consumers.   Affiliations with a number of organisations, including consumers of birthing services would enhance our functioning as a professional organisation and I am all for it.  But lets consider that carefully in relation to our brief, an organisation that supports/nutures MIDWIVES   If we have consumer representation on our committees is that for the midwives or is for the consumers, it makes a difference.  I don't hear the consumer groups out there saying "lets get out there and protect our midwives ," all that often, but then I could have been under a cabbage leaf somewhere at the time.  The consumer groups are so divers, do we look for a consumer in relation to our philosophies on birthing/midwifery practice or do we take what comes.  What if we get a consumer rep from women that choose birth with all the technology available, that want LUSCS on demand, that do not want to breast fed at all and want midwives to take up their cause?   Politically I think consumers as most powerful when acting on there own behalf not as an add on to an organisation that represents health care practitioners and vise versa.  It would be a dichotomy of purposes, health care practitioners/consumers in the one organisation, I can't see it myself.   Common ground, common purposes could be explored with consumers and then we could have projects or something along those lines.  Especially ones that support and nuture midwives.     Re NZ: - Can't we just generate our own understandings from our own situations rather than always looking to other midwives in other countries with different Health Care Systems/ Politicial Systems and cultures etc etc to show us what to do??   Re Partnerships:- Great idea do you think we should practice amongest ourselves for a few years and then when we get it right approach our birthing sisters       Irene Coonan Corporate Services Manager NSW Midwives Association Inc