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Firstly regarding my "What should I
do?" plea, a big thank you to Mary, Lois, Sally, and Laraine for your wise words
and encouragement. I truly believe I'm fully converted to the kind of birthing
we are all wanting for women, so wherever I may work every woman I have
contact with is going to get something wonderful from me. I know my
time will come for community practice, so my happy family and I will
venture back to South Freo - Happy families is what this world
needs.
To Maxine, regarding changing policies
for women, babies, and support people in c/s.
I wrote a research proposal
during my post-grad midwifery course last year, I suggested in part
it would expose the harm resulting from the common practice of
separating the mother and babe following a c/s (elective and non-elective) and
it's huge effect on the mother-baby relationship (including early B/F and
even post-natal depression). The references I used were many. The work of
Marshall Klaus & John Kennell was my framework for the paper (they
published in the 1970s regarding an early sensitive period between mother and
her baby, that ensures further development of attachment). There is
solid evidence to suggest any hospital policy/practice that blocks or
disturbs early and sustained mother-infant contact, should be
re-evaluated.
The health care institution I was
working at last year has actually looked at some of these practices, and now all
mothers and babies are kept together following a c/s (unless either requires
urgent care else where). The mother and baby go together back to the ward and
are "recovered together" - sometimes the first bath is given at the bedside. If
for some reason the woman needs to be "recovered" in the OT, then the midwife
stays with her and the baby - everyone loves a baby and so the OT staff crowd
around to goo and gar!
If I can help you with any of this
please contact me.
Fran
Gratwick.
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