As one who constantly sees the grey (or perhaps a rainbow of possibilities) I don't think you could have said it better. Nothing to add.
marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Margie Perkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, November 03, 2002 4:36 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] axa > While I am passionate about women giving birth, vaginally and without intervention (and particularly at home), I've got lots of very mixed feelings about elective caesareans. On the one hand I see them as the ultimate in intervention and therefore anathema to my ordinary stance. Also as something which our community is 'selling' to women. That women often take the elective Caesaean as a poorly informed choice. That these women are sadly missing out on something wonderful and sacred. That it is an unfair use of resources. That we are not given colostomy bags because we can't be bothered pooing. That it should not be there as a choice. That it would be better if women were supported through there worries and fears about giving birth. That it would be wonderful if women stopped wanting/needing all that time managed 'control' which is cited as a reason for choosing an elective casarean. > > On the other hand given the general lack of one to one midwifery care and emotional/psychological support available to women and the routine scare-mongering way in which vaginal births are 'managed', women are not, in the main, well supported to give birth to their babies. I wonder about links between previous sexual abuse and elective choice. About sexually transmitted diseases (which are still socially taboo) yet very prevalent. About family stories which go back generations and inculcate fear. > > If I have been abused letting go and trusting my body may be difficult. If I have genital herpes would I want the uncertainty of a lesion at birth time and the need to explain to everyone why my vaginal birth plans didn't happen. If I grew up on stories of grandmother's death in child birth and mother's 'need' for caesarean and aunty's haemorrhage would I doubt the birth process. > > As a doula I meet women with all these dilemmas. And my should(n't) mentality about elective caesareans gets all waffly and unclear. It is not just in birth that things are awry and each woman faces things the way she sees best for her. Some people face amazing challenges and over come fears while others choose not to put themselves way way out of ordinary comfort zones. I can only say for me what is my way forward. > > I can also recognise these kinds of issues and respect, love and support women: to be clear about what they want, to challenge themselves (if they want to) and to be non-judgemental about different ways of being. > > What I think SHOULD be the case is that women have midwives, doulas, friends and services to support them and encourage them in their own personal birth journey. Perhaps then we might begin to tackle some of the broader issues which birth puts us in contact with. > > Not sure I've put all this very clearly - I keep seeing the grey while still veering from black and white. > > Margie > > > > At Sun, 3 Nov 2002 17:22:19 +1030, > Jo & Dean Bainbridge ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: > > I have often thought that those who want elective cs for no > > medical reasoning then it should be considered 'cosmetic' and > > should be treated like cosmetic surgery....YOU pay! Perhaps the > > cover should be more costly for those who elect surgery? The > > argument that cases of FTP and CPD would increase: but that would > > be obvious and the medicos would have allot of explaining to do > > to justify it. > > There will always be loop holes for women and doctors to get their > > sections, but it could be a deterrent. Elective CS cost insurance > > companies thousands of possibly unnecessary dollars. It should be > > structured like car insurance: those who live in high crime areas > > have to pay more- therefore those who elect unnecessary surgery > > should pay more. > > There should be a strict criteria which allows emergency cs as > > exempt from charges. As I said before the chances are the 'emerg' > > cases will increase but they are leaving themselves open for close > > scrutiny..... > > What concerns me about insurance companies power over care is that > > there are reports that doctors who are 'allowing' vbac will be > > facing higher insurance costs due to the increase > > risks.........call me biased but THAT IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN!!!!! > > well, there is my 5c worth (about all I have got!) > > Jo Bainbridge > > founding member CARES SA > > email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > phone: 08 8388 6918 > > birth with trust, faith & > > love...erns+me+about+insurance+companies+power+over+care > > > > -------------------------------------------------------- > > Looking for a free email account? > Get one now at http://www.freemail.com.au/ > > -------------------------------------------------------- -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
