Hi everyone, It is some time since I have written to ozmid, but I now have a question for you all. Some of you may remember that I wrote of the homebirth of my grandson, here in Bright in the north-east of Vic. Now his mum, my daughter, is 18/40 with twins - exciting news, of course! She is well, and has no risk factors, other than it being a twin pregnancy - a complex factor, rather than a complicating factor as Lynne Staff pointed out at "Celebrating Midwifery". As Bright is a VERY small hospital without specialists, the plan is for the babies to be born at either Wangaratta or Wodonga. S had her first obstetric visit yesterday and the ob said that his main concern was the health of the babies, he would be putting in an epidural at the start of labour in case he needed to put his hand in "up to there (indicating his upper arm) to turn the second baby, and you wouldn't want that without an epidural." Furthermore he said that he would induce her at 38/40 if the babies hadn't been born by then. I'm stunned (but I guess not surprised) that he seems to be giving her no choice at all. (I wasn't with her at this visit.) Her referral letter from her GP stated that she previously had a homebirth and didn't want intervention - maybe he's trying to assert his power because of this. There are several obstetricians and S plans to see one in the other town also, to see what his thoughts are, but as she doesn't have private health cover, she will get whoever is on call at the time anyway! We're looking for stories/information/research of non/minimal intervention twin births and hints to achieving a twin birth/s without unnecessary intervention. As her support crew, S will have her partner (this is all new to him) her previous MIPP, myself and my other daughter who has just started BMid. I thought I could try ringing the maternity units and talk to the midwives informally (midwife to midwife) about the policies and procedures of the units and of the different obs. Sorry this is so long, but any information would be appreciated. Yours in birthing, Joy
Joy Cocks RN (Div 1) RM CBE IBCLC BRIGHT Vic 3741 email:[EMAIL PROTECTED] -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
