Midwifery Resolution

[Dean & Jo Bainbridge]

"we need also to get out and talk to the mothers of what could have and should be!!" I have found through talkng to women whom have had cs and told that "if they didnt their baby would have died" (when  in fact it is highly likely that that may not have been the case...)  they whole heartedly believe because they cant not bring them selves to believe that those who are meant to help us may actually have  their own interests at heart other than the woman's.  If women are told that they may have been subject of F.O.L. (fear of litigation) rather than F.T.P.  or worse, that the fetal distress that required the cs was actually cause because of being  made to lie on their back to be monitored (due to hospital plicy) etc.  Then you HAVE to ensure that there is a support for these women after they become 'enlightened'.  The danger is removing the ignorance wich is bliss and then leaving women to get through it themselves.  You can not go back in time and do things differently and this is something that can cause a great deal of emotional trauma.  I understand how frustrating it is when we hear those women say " but I cant have the baby if the doctors not there!"  (check out one of the 'quality' current affairs programs about a woman who gave birth in a car park because there was no doctor avaliable...were there no midwives???  This is/was going to air this week.  It is only going to perpetuate the myth that it cant be done without the doctor.)  I have no answers.  I am as frustrated as you.  When I tell my birth story (my third bub) people say "oh, you were apart of the minority: -6 hour labour, intact peri, breathed baby out, no drugs etc... In fact an Australian study had only 9 women out of 242 gave birth with NO MEDICAL PROCEDURES used during labour/birth.  3.7%   Compared with the general stat of about 25% being cs, then those who do give birth natuarlly are the minority. The problem is that we all know that this shouldnt necessarrily be the case, and that if women stopped placing their trust and the entire responsiblity on the profession who are going to do what they have been trainned to do...interevene, then it is not going to change.  We all know that this government will not see midwifery on an equally respect level as ob; so all we can do is keep pushing. Women are being used and manipulated by society, peers, fears, television, lawyers, I could go on....  they are losing their ability to birth naturally both physically (by this I mean the change in lifestyles has resulted in more OP presenting bubs for example) and also EMOTIONALLY.  I think all I am saying is that if we are going to educate women to how their births should/could be then we have to be responsible to those who have been left feeling betrayed.  Betrayal can cause a great deal of psychological problems.  Women as mothers are isolated enough in this society. Jo Bainbridge founding member CARES SA email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 08 8365 7059 birth with trust, faith & love...