In a message dated 10/12/01 10:02:40 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
<< Put all of this together and what I am trying to say I gues is that I agree 100% with what Jo is saying. We need to speak to women - find out what they feel about their care, record it and use this information to shape our care of women now and in the future. >> Hi Lynne, Jo and all. Thanks for sharing Lynne. Its amazing the 'throw away' comments made by 'caring' carers, friends and family that will live and often haunt us forever, with those who made them often never give them a second thought !!!!! I copied off what you wrote Jo as it particularly struck a chord with me also, as it echoed the very sediments to come out of the findings of the latest Victorian Survey of Recent Mothers 2000 (SRM2000). In regards to Lynne's comments, this is probably the overwhelming theme to arise from this recent study - that women seek a dialogic relationship with their care providers and rate their care far better where there is some quality to the interaction between the woman and her care provider; ie, the extent to which women perceive their care as being sensitive and understanding, the degree to which their concern's are taken seriously, how rushed care givers seem, how readily women are able to access information and support and the degree to which they are involved in decision making about their care. Some findings of the report are very disturbing, particularly 'that across the spectrum of antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal hospital care, there are many instances where basic minimum standards of helpfulness, courtesy and respectful care are not being met' (SRM 2000 pg 44). Attitudes and comments made by midwives and doctors were obviously the 'make or break' in many instances for many many women involved in this study, with only one in five women attending a public hospital or midwives clinic rated their doctors and midwives as 'always' sensitive and understanding, (SRM2000 pg 34). This recent research is clear evidence in supporting what Jo is saying, in that a woman's satisfaction with her care is intrinsically linked to her perceptions of individual practitioner's attitudes and understanding of her individual circumstances and personal needs. LISTENING to women, taking time to hear their stories and how their stories impact on their lives, is probably the BEST care midwives can provide. The other stuff, all the checking, note taking, partograms, wee measuring etc.. etc.. while it has its place is really only window dressing to what is at the heart of midwifery - the BEING 'with woman' stuff. Those of you who were in Brisbane in September as saw and listened to Mavis Kirkham as she described the 'Modern Midwifery Dilemma' of 'Checking not Listening' will not be suprised by these results. Mavis' research found that women only saw midwives as 'checking' not 'listening' and attending primarily to the tasks of clinical monitoring, rather than listening to the concerns of individuals. This research of Mavis' compliments that of the Victorian SRM2000, in describing that what women what universally, is midwives who listen and understand and will "discuss things" with them and take their worries and concerns seriously. So carry on from Lynne is saying, I would argue that from a decade of research here in Victoria into women's views of and experiences with their maternity care - we clearly now know what women feel about their care (in a nut shell it stinks !!!) and time is well and truly overdue to 'use this information to shape our care of women now and in the future.' Now have I offended ??? Yours in birth, Tina Pettigrew Birthworks Independent CBE and aspiring B.Mid Midwife. Convenor, Aust B. Mid Student Collective. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BMidStudentCollective [EMAIL PROTECTED] " As we trust the flowers to open to new life - So we can trust birth" Harriette Hartigan. ------------------------------------------------------------------- -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
