Re: [ozmidwifery] place of birth and outcome[long]

[Marilyn Kleidon]

Dear Jan:   I think you have hit the nail firmly on the head. At least it seems to me that hospital midwives are caught in the duality of being the obstric/labour and delivery nurse and being the midwife and because that is the system here, this duality is not acknowledged. I probably shouldn't be saying this because I am desperately trying to get a job in the system but am finding it quite difficult with my training/education as a homebirth midwife because I don't have the OB nurse skills: I have observed but not managed inductions, epidurals (set up the tray for the anesthetist) etc.(though I have caught babies born vaginally after the intervention). And with the high use of these interventions (which are obstetric interventions) hospitals seem to want midwives with these skills. So, it doesn't surprise me that some midwives find it hard to think outside the box of obstetric nursing when they find themselves in that corner. Probably because I come from a system where midwifery and OB nursing or labor and delivery nursing are 2 seperate professions it is hard for me to merge the 2 in my brain. Also, I don't wish to put down obstetric nurses, I think they are the heart and soul of the birth suites in US hospitals. Usually they provide one on one care to the woman in their care and interface with the woman's care provider whether she/he be midwife, family practice doc or OB.   marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2003 11:26 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] place of birth and outcome[long] Happy New Year,   This year I have attended 6 births Some dec babies were late [10.12 and 15 days] and 1 jan baby early [38plus]   and 2 on time which resulted in one baby on the 2nd of jan and then 5 births in 4 days.   2 pg homebirths; 1 mg home birth; one private hosp vbac; and 1pg birth centre ; and 1 birth centre mg. ONLY 4 of these 6 women had nvds.   All had myself with them and were cared for at home even if planning a home birth.All were well prepared for normal birth I think all could have had a normal birth.   So whats the piont of this Can you guess who had the c/s and who had the forceps I really think u could and if so why do we continue to practise like we do ? or why don't things change.  Sue Cookson explained the abuse of her client last week and I again witnessed the same the horizontal abuse towards MIPP is horrific why?    WHERE ARE THE MIDWIVES IN THE MEDICAL MODELS i REALLY EXPECT THEM TO STAND UP AND PRACTISE OR TAKE ON THEIR HANDMAIDEN ROLES OF PATHETIC DRS HELPERS,AND[ ALL THIS WELL U HAVE A LIVE BABY STUFF BE HAPPY,] AS WHAT THEY DO . One couple said to me they thought the midwife was the ctg technician that mw was her mw for 8 hrs. There are fantastic mws working in the system BUT they are rare perhaps women are punished if they have a MIPP with them ? What can we do to prevent abuse to women during childbirth tired angry mw who isn't content with 6 healthy babies sorry about length please Hospital midwives give me some insight . jan