Thankyou Denise, Sue > Dear ljq and others, > It is sad though not suprising that the ICM definition of what is a midwife > can be quoted to exclude midwives such as InaMay Gaskin and Sue cookson and > many others who give so much not only to women but to other midwives! > > Imagine the difficulties of so many more women in developing countries if we > were to out law Traditional Birth Attendants? > I know from my time in PNG that failing to learn from them, infact they were > never mentioned 20 years ago and imposing western birthing practices > "midwifery" (now I know to be obstetric nursing) but then and now as > approved by ICM, for I see current midwives telling and doing the same to > women in hospitals here and elsewhere. > Anyway this registered midwife learnt the hard way to stop doing most of > those things I was taught in the UK to do, to explore what is possible and > the results have been the most wonderous births and babies! for me > inspiration has come from midwives who have not stayed or either not began > within the formal and limiting organisational structures. > > Also the history of midwifery makes me think Sue, and other lay midwives, > has not only a lot to offer and positive reasons why we should embrace and > seek to share the knowledge and experience of these strong, individual women > who are motivated to take a singular unsupported to be with women. > The regulation of our forebears was an introduction to not only control by > the medical and nursing fraternities but also resulted in the lose of most > midwifery knowledge. > Knowledge which we are still struggling to rediscover thanks again to > independent and divergent midwives and women who have struggled to reject > the medical limitations and interventions of birth which were taught to many > of us as normal and safe birthing practices!! > > It is also incongruent and sad in this age of Recognition of prior learning > in most colleges and universities that the program that our profession has > been so strong in intiating does not apply this principle particularly in > light of the new costiutional changes, NZ's example of partnership and what > it can produce as well as the new learning that is coming from the practice > of MIPPs and homebirth. > > It is not the act of a nurturing profession to be exclusive rather to > inclusive and seek common ground and partnerships toward mutual goals then > we will be advancing the goal of > "Peace at birth > Peace on Earth" > > Denise > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "ljg" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Friday, December 14, 2001 6:41 AM > Subject: Re: Fwd: Support homebirth on Thursday > > >> I must agree wholeheartedly with Trish - lets all remember the > International >> Confederation of Midwives definition of a Midwife >> >> "having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational program, > duly >> recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully >> completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired > the >> requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to >> practise midwifery". >> >> >> >> >>> >>> While Claire Brassard may be a very competent birth attendant (I have no >> way of >>> knowing either way), and there may be other 'traditional' birth > attendants >> out >>> there, I cannot support such a protest until such time as we have >> recognition of >>> their knowledge and skills against the same criteria that formally >> prepared >>> midwives do. >>> >>> In all States and Territories and in most countries around the world the >> word >>> 'midwife' is a protected title. This means that only those people who > meet >> their >>> country's criteria to be recognised as a midwife can be called a midwife >> and can >>> practise under law as a midwife. The QNC has no option but to take this >> action >>> because neither it nor any other regulatory authority in Australia has > the >> power >>> to 'recognise' these women as midwives. >>> >>> I reiterate, this is irregardless of their level of knowledge, skill and >>> experience, and many of you would argue that some of these women would > run >> rings >>> around us formally educated midwives. That is as may be. But how does >> anyone >>> know for sure? With no standard against which they can be measured for >> minimum >>> requirements to competence? >>> >>> I therefore suggest that it is self-defeating to ask for an individual > to >> claim >>> the title 'midwife' and the right to practise as such when there is no >> statute, >>> and no caveat that will allow it. Rather it would be more to the point > to >> try to >>> create the process that would recognise 'other' ways of entering the >> profession >>> besides formal studies. USA managed this process. It will be costly and >>> time-consuming and might fail. But it is imperative to protect the right >> of >>> women to have a standard of midwife, because if the standard can vary >> greatly >>> across formal programs when there are all sorts of processes in place to >> enforce >>> them, then the standard for those without formal training and education >> can vary >>> even more greatly..... But we will never know because they are never >> measured. >>> And anyone could lay claim to the title 'midwife'. And that is not a >> situation I >>> would like to see happen. >>> >>> Women might want choices, but they want and deserve some assurance that >> the >>> choices they make are from safe alternatives. They must trust the >> profession to >>> regulate itself in their interests because not every woman has the >> resources to >>> investigate each birth attendant herself. This is actually working quite >> well, >>> and the processes put in place to begin national standardisation in the >> last >>> couple of years will assure that it works even better in the future. It > is >> hoped >>> women will have a greater say in how these processes work and what >> standards >>> will be met from now on. And that might include recognition of 'lay' or >>> 'traditional' birth attendants as midwives. >>> >>> Just my thoughts, and with greatest respect to individuals referred to, >> who may >>> indeed be the safest attendant possible. Trish David. >>> >>> Toni Cannard wrote: >>> >>>> Dear Ozmidwifery People, >>>> >>>> Claire Brassard, a traditional midwife, (read not a registered nurse > or >>>> midwife) is being banned from giving care to pregnant women by the >>>> Queensland Nursing Council (QNC). >>>> >>>> The e-mail that follows tells you how you can participate in a > Brisbane >>>> Protest tomorrow to give the press, media and pollies the following >> message: >>>> >>>> "Women want choices. Women who choose homebirth want the option of >> choosing >>>> a traditional midwife." >>>> >>>> Time to stand up and be counted - do we support women having free > choice >> or >>>> do we only support women choosing from the the options we would like >> them to >>>> have? >>>> >>>> Working for true choice, >>>> >>>> Toni Cannard >>>> Vice President >>>> AIMS Australia Inc (Association for Improvements in the Maternity >> Services - >>>> A consumer action group) >>>> >>>>> From: "Bruce Teakle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>>>>> Subject: Support homebirth on Thursday >>>>> Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 15:21:50 +1000 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Bruce Teakle >>>>> Lindsay Rd >>>>> Mt Glorious 4520 >>>>> Ph 07 3289 0231 >>>>> >>>>> Dear supporters of homebirth, >>>>> >>>>> You should know by now that Claire is going to court on thursday,13 > th >> of >>>>> december for the Supreme court to force her to cease caring for >> pregnant >>>>> women. >>>>> >>>>> There is a telephone process underway to get as many supporters to > the >>>>> Brisbane Court by 9.15 am on thursday morning as possible. Please > think >>>>> about who you know who might come to support our right to a "SAFE, >>>>> RESPONSIBLE, CARING" choice in birthing, and put out the word. It's >> just >>>>> fine if people hear more than once. >>>>> >>>>> The Theme >>>>> >>>>> There are several purposes to our gathering. >>>>>> 1. To farewell Claire from our service, and grieve for the loss of > her >>>>>> care. >>>>>> 2. To celebrate the spirit of midwifery and its long tradition. >>>>>> 3. To bear witness to the action of the state in denying us Claire's >> care. >>>>>> 4. To express our dissatisfaction with the poor service of our >> political >>>>>> servants in regard to respecting women's right of choice in > birthing. >>>>> Hopefully this will include some coverage by the media, and we are >> working >>>>> at getting that to happen. >>>>> >>>>> The Image >>>>> >>>>> We will look (and be) powerful, in a way which is most likely to make >> our >>>>>> political servants take notice. >>>>> >>>>> I propose that we behave somewhat like we are seeing off the queen >> (Claire >>>>> is not the queen, actually sometimes she's just very naughty. >>>>> However.....). For some of us Claire is the person who has given us >> the >>>>> sort of loving care we are seeking in birth. For others, she may >> symbolise >>>>> the care we have had from another midwife or even what we think women >>>>> deserve. What we express in love and respect for Claire is symbolic > of >> our >>>>> feelings about the >model of care we seek. >>>>> >>>>> So let us dress and perform as if we are farewelling the queen. >> Flowers, >>>>>> children, kisses, tears, families, our best clothes. >>>>> >>>>> Don't get me wrong, this isn't wet and weak, this is a demonstration > of >> the >>>>> state interfering in the lives of ordinary loving families, for no >> reason, >>>>> and that does not look good. >>>>> >>>>> The Routine >>>>> >>>>> We turn up at 9.15. We can't afford to be late. Don't forget this is >> the >>>>> city at peak hour, and driving in, and finding parking is a slow, >> terrible >>>>> and expensive business. Consider taking the train from somewhere >>>>> convenient. The court is equal distances from Central and Roma > street >>>>> stations, both are very close. >>>>> >>>>> We arrive, assemble outside the court building, and prepare for >> Claire's >>>>> arrival soon after 9.30. When Claire arrives she walks the aisle we >> prepare >>>>> for her, kissing and farewelling. This is when our photo > opportunities >> are, >>>>> when we all need to be there and prepared. >>>>> >>>>> She goes into court with her barrister and those of us who can go in >>>>> (without children) to witness the proceeding. The court proceedings >>>>> (everyone already inside and assembled) should start at 10.00 and > take >> 10 >>>>> minutes. >>>>> >>>>> Claire will then have finished her 22 years of renegade traditional >>>>> midwifery. >>>>> >>>>> What next? I don't know. I'll let my beard grow back, and we can get >> back >>>>> to normal (whatever that was) for a few weeks. >>>>> >>>>> We certainly have a big job to do in january, with the competition >> policy >>>>>> stuff and so on, and preparing to get back onto our > representative's >>>>> agenda's after their holidays. This is a big task we have embarked > on, >> and >>>>> we won't be letting go. >>>>> >>>>> See you there on thursday. >>>>> >>>>> Best wishes from Bruce. >>>> >>>> _________________________________________________________________ >>>> Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at >> http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. >>>> >>>> -- >>>> This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >>>> Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. >>> >>> -- >>> This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >>> Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. >> >> -- >> This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >> Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
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