Dear Andrea I was wondering if you might feel comfortable to share you letter to the hospital (whilst protecting privacy of course). As a student midwife learning in the hospital setting (our uni has withdrawn our insurance for the homebirth setting, annoying as I am a homebirth mum myself!), it can be difficult to determine what policies are sensible, are which ones are completely unnecessary (most I would suspect!).
Also, I am interested in learning 'basic skills that allow women to remain upright' (you said you would outline these in your letter)..........and wonder who I will learn these from :o) It would be great to see an example of how to argue our case to the hospitals. Thankyou Holly -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Andrea Robertson Sent: Monday, January 06, 2003 10:17 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Not going with couples to hospital Hello Sue, We are all aching in our hearts from reading you story- it is one we all have encountered and it is intensley frustrating, harrowing, unfair and inhumane. Last week I accompanied a friend of mine to a birth in our local hospital and the staff we ecnountered there were awful. The parents have called the initial midwife who greeted us "the Russian Hitler" - she behaved in excatly the same ways that you described. I was considering how we were going to get rid of her anf find another one when a Kiwi midwife arrived - plain sailing from there on. I am going to write to the hospital today to describe what I see as violations of human rights. I will be pointing out the specific problems we encountered and requesting that they immediately update their staff on women's rights, the legalities of rigid policies, basic skills that enable women to remain upright and active while checks are done and improving communication. If nothing changes rapidly, then I am prepared to take this a lot further.... Perhaps you could do the same. You have already written your letter (to the list) and it would be easy to send it to the hospital - several departments so that they cannot fob you off. If no-one knows what went on, they cannot do anything about it, and you owe it to them to point out what a tricky legal position they are potentially creating for themselves. Sending them your report will also help you to feel that you have done something positive and that some good may come from this terrible experience. I hope that with a bit of space and time to recover (and more debriefing if necessary) you'll feel strong enough to keep going in some way. Women can't afford to lose advocates like yourself, and we are all poorer as a community when the caring souls and sensitive beings depart the scene. There will be some good that comes out of this experience ..... With best wishes, Andrea At 09:44 AM 6/01/2003, Sue Cookson wrote: >Hi Lieve, >Just thought I'd respond to your comment about not going with couples into >hospital - I take it that means if a transfer is needed. >In 1995 a policy was brought in that any health professional could report >anyone to the Department of Community Services, it seems that birthing >unassisted or attended by anyone but a registered midwife is putting your >baby 'at risk' and warrants reporting, as does {dirty} lotus births and >probably a range of other things - maybe not taking all the 'advice' you are >bullied into will become one. This did occur to one couple I know of >earlier this year, and DOCS, as underfunded and overworked as they are, did >visit the couple who now have a permanent file on themselves. > >We all know that there is no law in Australia to make it illegal for couples >to choose to give birth on their own or with chosen support people like >there is I believe in France, and has been in England. But as I said in my >initial letter of grief to this ozmid line, the blinkered beliefs of the >medicalised system of childbirths leads to all sorts of bother for those of >us who wish to negotiate our way through the maze of ritualised medical >assault. Reporting couples to DOCS is another form of that. > >So if the couple is accompanied harassment can occur. If the couple is not >accompanied, ... same thing... in this area anyway. And having supported >another couple in the same hospital only 2 weeks before to a terrific birth >well supported by the medical team, I wasn't too worried about staying with >them. > >I have over the years attended quite a few hospital births, but believe me, >this one was the worst of the worst. > >Sue > > > > > Dear Sue, > > > > I think I understand your feelings trough and through. I worked in a > > hospital for 20 years . They kicked me out because I was always > fighting for > > the parents, to keep medicalisation off and to get some of a breastfeeding > > management. > > Then I started as independent midwife and the first years I continued > > fighting the rules in the hospitals I met. It caused me a lot of pain and > > struggle and periods of disencouragement. The looks, the comments, the > > gossips behind my back, I know it all. I got out of energy and thought > about > > quitting my midwifery. > > Last year I learned to let it go. People know I will not go with them > to the > > hospital. It was a large step for me, because I want to be with them > all the > > way, but I had to survive myself. I will do my homebirths and I am happy > > with every birth that goes how the parents intend it to be. > > > > We have a duty to ourself to, to survive as a midwife and as a human. > We are > > not superwoman. > > It will be a pity when you leave the list, just when you need so much the > > support of those who meet the same things. Maybe you can find a way > yourself > > by sharing your grieves to live with the situation and to make something > > good of it. > > > > I wish you a lot of strength to live with things you can't change at the > > moment and be sure, you change things although you are not always aware of > > it, just by your way of thinking and being. > > > > Much love and support > > Lieve > > > > > > > > > > > > > >-- >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. ----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com -- 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.
