I thought I was the only one who thought that the ACMI was fairly silent . I want to see lots of articles in the papers shouting about the benefits of mid. care, and yes I am a member. Leigh ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mary Murphy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: "ACMI" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 9:35 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Presenting a united front
> As a Fellow of the Australian College of midwifes and a member and worker > for 20 yrs, I must also say that I am disappointed in the deafening silence > of the ACMI Executive about the overall state of maternity services. As a > midwife in private practice, I see that the insurance issue and my own > conditions of employment are up to me to fight for. I don't expect that the > ACMI should do that. However, when the majority midwives are (for all kinds > of personal reasons) colluding in the medicalisation of births of the the > women of Australia, I feel like a raging lioness, wanting to protect my > young. Medicalisation causes the majority of babies in Australia to be > born imprinted in a drug filled haze. In todays West Australian newspaper > it stated that W.A. had the 2nd highest illegal drug problem in Australia. > Is it any wonder! Women who wish to birth naturally without drugs and the > midwives who support them are seen to be deviates. After attending the > births of 4 women in the last 2 weeks, a 3rd baby , 5.2kgs, no tears, no > drugs, who was told to have a C/S because she wouldn't be able to birth the > baby; a primip who birthed a 3.6kgs baby in 7 hrs, no tears, no drugs; a > primip who birthed a 3.8kg baby in 6 hrs, labial tears, no drugs and a > primip who birthed a 4.4kgs baby in 12hrs, no tears or drugs- all > waterbirths. Waterbirths are not allowed in our hospitals or our birth > centre because they are "dangerous", yet it is O.K to fill them up with > epidurals or drugs by another route, or even to indoctrinate women to the > idea that planned caesareans are "risk free", then blame them for choosing > that option... or even giving them that option. Some of the women above had > personal histories which may have caused a planned casarean, or an > instrumental delivery if they had stuck with the medical model and their > midwives had gone for the epidural, hospital birth scenario. Patience and > encouragement allowed them to triumph and experience real healing in their > births. What is happening out there? Where is our professional body > upholding what is right, not just what is politic? I would like to see so > much more public comment from the Executive of the ACMI about the state of > maternity care (or lack of true care). It truly is a toothless tigeress. > MM > > -- > 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.
