----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 30, 2002 5:25
PM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] here is a hot
one
good
on you Jo, you're spot we need to do this together, we have a local group here
and sadly I am often the only midwife who attends the meetings and all I can
think of is where is everyone else? Last week I put up a notice to set up a
working party of midwives to look at our local maternity service, no one has
put their name on the list as yet, basically it pisses me off, I know all the
reasons why but to be perfectly honest I'm not interested in the excuses any
more, maternity services in this country as a rule are appalling and we as a
collective have an opportunity to change things for the better, I honestly
believe in NMAP and what it stands for and have a great respect for all those
who have put the work into it, the least I can do is raise it at any
opportunity I can and speak in favour of it, whenever I tell any consumers
about it, they think it is a great idea. It worries me though when I get
blank looks from many of the midwives I work with, it just all seems a bit too
much for them, bad luck I believe in it and for as long as I can I will push
for NMAP.
yours in midwifery pete malavisi
here is a topic that will get many of you
annoyed at me! ( thought it was about time)
I have noticed a trend happening and wanted to
point this out. There has been discussion in the past of the lack of
consumer support and push for change. Yes, I agree to and extent as
most of the community are oblivious to what is going on. Those
consumers who do now are usually slogging their arses off to get
change...with no real benefits to themselves in any way other than
satisfaction that SOMEONE else may not end up with a scar on her belly for
no reason (unlike the one on my belly that I can never get free
of)
Now here is the juicy bit......I am starting to
realise that it appears that there is a large portion of midwives who lament
about the way birth is today, they know what it happening and yet when there
is something like NMAP being suggested it suddenly is left up to consumers
to do the work. I am referring to situations like last week when here
in SA a meeting was held to see what to do next with NMAP
implementation........two consumers (who work beyond their limits anyway)
and one uni lecturer attended......no midwives. I know that women are
the ones who will benefit from something like NMAP, but hey! there are
midwives that will be in far greater positions career wise (money wise) job
satisfaction wise and so forth if NMAP does get implemented.
I suppose what I am saying is that yes,
consumers need to demand change BUT WE ARE NOT THE ONES WHO SHOULD BE LEFT
TO PUT OUR CHILDREN IN CARE (sorry about caps!) or drag the children to
meeting after meeting with pollies; we are not the ones who should be using
our home computers and resources and so forth without reimbursement; we are
not the ones who should be putting families and friends second to trying to
improve maternity services alone!
Here in SA we have some very strong and
determined women who are not going to benefit from something like NMAP but
we are the ones who are working tirelessly to get it happening. I
would like to ask all SA midwives if you agree with the NMAP and would
like to see it happen here in SA then BE THERE TO SUPPORT US SUPPORT
YOU! There is only so much that Cheryl, Megan, Jen, Emma, Carolyn and
myself can do guys! Now those of you who know me know that I am not
really a bitch (well most of the time), but I am just about ready to say
"stuff it" and go and dig in my rose garden and not do anything other than
take the occasional phone call in reference to CARES SA. Those
of you who know me know how passionate I am about women's rights to the best
type of care - midwifery care.....but at the moment I am looking around and
not seeing any midwife fighting for NMAP with us. I know that many of
you are fighting within the system, but we as consumers need to know that
you support us by being there at meetings or something! I know you
work and have families BUT SO DO WE!!!!!!!!!
Anyway, I will sit back and wait for the
hate mail to come rolling in....I am not attacking those of you who are
active; just those who are sitting back and letting others fight a fight for
you! I have read about maintaining passion for midwifery...but not
seen much commitment and support for those consumers who are trying to
keep the option of midwifery alive.
cheers guys!
Jo Bainbridge
founding member CARES
SA
email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
phone:
08 8388 6918
birth with trust, faith &
love...
