Hello Maria...and welcome! Vicki -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Maria Helena Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2002 7:52 PM To: ozmidwifery Subject: [ozmidwifery] Friends in Light
I have just joined the list and the first e-mail I get is Ricardo`s! Ric is a dear friend and a knight in shining armour that fights galently in favour of all women giving birth in Brazil. He was telling you about our project `Amigas na Luz` which could be translated to Friends in Light, but in Brazil the popular term to describe a woman who gives birth is `to be shedding light`... Well, the idea of making this project with doulas is because in urban centers, like Ric said, the birthing process is the domain of doctors and very seldomly nurse-midwives. This scenario is very hostile to women, specially because in the big cities the quality of healthcare has become not at all woman centered as shown in our high cesarean rates. The humanization of birth has to start with the woman at the center of the birthing choices, and most women are not informed of her options. Doctors simply have no time to explain what is going on with pregnancy during pre natal visits, nor do they care what kind of assistance a woman receives during labor and birth. What is important is to deliver the baby the best way he thinks possible, usually disregarding the needs and fears of the mother, less to say disregard evidence based medicine!. And from a cultural point of view, very much intertwined with our colonial past, women become passive and accept that doctors decisions and any complications as God`s will. Since we urge to take actions to change this, as NGO we started working the idea to make a program with volunteers, from the comunity where the Hospital is based, so they can act as an interface between the Hospital and the woman. There will be a minimal training for them to be considered doulas, since this is a very intuitive knowledge, but most of all they will be prepared to shed the woman with confort and information. Our intention is that the doulas will not substitute neither the nurse-midwife (if there is any available) nor any family members chosen by the woman herself. She will be there mostly for emotional support and to make the woman feel respected. Like a friend! We hope that we can sensibilize society and policy makers and help shed some light in the hospitals and doctors. Maybe I am a dreamer in thinking this way...who knows? Maria Helena -- 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.
