----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 8:19
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] crystal
therapy
Dear Denise,
EM in Queensland means endorsed
midwife.
Perhaps I did not explain myself properly. I
believe many of us see pathological pain states in labour more often than we
care to admit. I believe this occurs because most of us in Australia work
in pathological birth environments where there is a lack of endorphins between
midwives and midwives; midwives and mothers; doctors and midwives; doctors and
mothers. Particularly where the woman feels
intimidated, frightened, where there is no trust, no continuity of care; no
informed consent; no love in the medicine......
Odent helps me to understand this fully when
he says "women can undilate with one unkind glance....He states "If
the method of the mammals be inefficient in any particular instance there must
always be teams capable of doing epidurals to compensate for the lack of
endorphins; to use drips to compensate for a deficiency of hormones from the
posterior pituitary; to perform cesarean sections to rescue babies in
distress....but it should not become the usual way to be born". By saying
this it could be said that he is inadvertantly supporting these
methods. However you and I know that this is not the case. He legitimises
the womens pain because the environment is so pathological in comparison
to what the normal birth process requires.
On more occasions then we care to admit,
many midwives in the hospital environment feel powerless to keep a
safe space for the woman; to allow the complex cascade of hormones to be
released in the womans time and not our time; to limit the use
of abusive language to women. All to often we succumb to
the patriacial domination of the environment in which we all
work.
The use of the language "severe pathological
pain" occurs in Oxorn and Foote (1986) The authors refer to this pain
state being associated with "a malpresentation; or when the uterine
action is abnormal as in the incoordinate uterus, where the propagation
wave does not start at the pacemaker part of the uterus. They talk
about "cervical dystocia, obstructed labours, contractile waves with inverted
gradients where the normal contraction begins in the lower segment and moves
upward. The polarity of the uterus is reversed and the is no effacement or
dilatation of the cervix. Pain may be present all the time and is out of
proportion with the intensity of the contractions". We have all seen women
like this and some of us have not appreciated the extent of their pain because
it does not show up on the monitor, or we cannot palpated the contractions; or
they are just prostin pains. These women are deemed not in labour,
therefore it does not legitamise their pain.
Denise as you have inferred, and I wholeheartedly
support, the environment is not conducive to normal birth. My
continuation on this note is that the womans pain does become pathological in
many instances and does require extraordinary means to releive it because the
environment for birth is so abnormal. "Failure to progress" becomes the physical manifestation of a woman who
is spiritually unsupported.
It is these above situations that I am referring
to when I am describing pathological pain states. It is my belief that it is
our lack of continuity of care that is utimately responsible for why pethidine
and epidurals become so necessary to some women and many
midwives.
I can not remember the last time I initiated the
use of pethidine or epidural to a birthing women. I am fortunate that the
births I often attend are unmedicated and normal. I put the hard yards
in, I dont deliver obstetric solutions from the desk. I strive to be totally
connected to the energy surrounding the birth . I once had a birth bag
which carried the odd bit of aromotherapy, rescue remedy, crystals....I
wish to reestablish these modalities in a legitimate way....
On a positive note I delivered my first baby 3
years ago at the Birth Centre at the Royal Womens in Brisbane. I had
a waterbirth, no drugs, no stitches, I breastfeed for 12months, I had
Tania Nairn and Trish Schneider (DON of RWH) as my midwives who were
experienced, supportive women who had an incredible faith in the power of
the normal birthing process. I was informed; I used alternative therapies to
deal with my pain (rescue remedy, water, homeopathics, aromotherapy) The birth
centre gave me a choice to use these modalities.... Why should it only be
available at the birth centre and not to all women who wish to achieve an
unmedicated normal birth.............God Bless. Jennie.
P.S I Have just read the Revelations in the bible
and God forbid the crystals are mentioned in a positive way........I will
remain ever so delighted with the fact that Jesus was born in a manger
and my baby received the same care, my son has been given the
opportunity to remain deeply contented to humanity. I thank my midwives for
that now and always........
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, March 13, 2003 12:36
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] crystal
therapy
Dear Jennie
I commend your efforts particularly as student
midwife in the context of meidcalised australian birthing "services" but
Please can you not say childbirth contractions are "pathological pain
states"
mild, moderate or
severe
though what is done to women when they are
having contractions I would consider pathological in that it shows a
lack of understanding of childbirth and how to work with contractions
and labour in general.
To say such things is to in advertently support
the use of the treatments you are
trying to avoid
By the way what is EM ??
Denise Hynd
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Tuesday, March 11, 2003 4:56
AM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] crystal
therapy
Dear List,
I have recently been using crystals at work
with some success. Several of my patients have said "they gave me
something to focus on; they gave me something to hold on to; I felt
protected; I think they really did work thankyou.....However, the sceptics
have engaged their will and notified the NPC that they feel this
therapy makes us look unprofessional, practicing witchcraft,
there is no strong evidence to support their use....etc.... Thus I am
no longer able to use the crystals in my work until I find some
evidence to support their use.
Therapies such as pethidine and
epidurals are sold to all women as "safe modalities for pain
relief" instead of being used appropriately to rescue mothers in
severe pathological pain states. It is a shame that my strong critics
have nothing else to offer women, a sad reflection on our profession.
These drugs are offered without any conscious recognition for the
evidence available that demonstrates an increased incidence of PND;
decreased breastfeeding rates;....etc or as Michel Odent
predicts ever increasing levels of violence in our society due to a
generation of offspring who did not have access to the level of oxytocin
that promotes bonding and a capacity to love: feeling numb
on the inside; not being able to complete tasks; disconnected
from society; increase in youth suicide........drug abuse.........the
list goes on. But "thats ok....its protocol so lets not concern ourselves
with the evidence that suggests these therapies should be avoided in the
majority of women"
I need your support to help me work
towards achieving safer outcomes for women. I would appreciate any
information or evidence any of you may have which may help me
develop a protocol for the use of complementary therapies such as crystals
etc.... or send me a copy of a protocol you have developed in your working
environment. Kind regards Jennie Want (RN.EM.BMid..Masters of Midwifery
student)
