[ozmidwifery] Ridiculous Story in the Good Weekend

[Julie Clarke]

Hi Below is my response to the SMH Good Weekend article – hope they are inundated with lots of letters - SMH Letters  [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can tell it pressed my buttons J Do you like my last point? Hug to all Julie -----Original Message----- From: Julie Clarke [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, 14 July 2003 3:34 PM To: SMH Letters Subject: Ridiculous Story in the Good Weekend   Mia Freedman in her article criticising “Birth Plans” and “Natural Birth” reveals herself as a woman who had unrealistic expectations about labour and birth, an unpreparedness to understand and work with her body during labour, along with bizarre ideas about maintaining appearances (her hairdo) instead of embracing the use of a hot shower for pain relief.  What a strangely old-fashioned aspect that was to her birth story. I had heard stories from some of my friends who were like Mia and it taught me that attitude was everything when it comes to birthing – luckily, I was able to learn from their mistakes, made smart choices. With enough courage and determination had a natural birth in the squatting position with my first baby and then a homebirth waterbirth with my second baby, all the while cared for by wise and wonderful midwives.  So Mia was “spitting the dummy” when her birth wasn’t quick and easy, didn’t go according to plan and rather than accepting the responsibility for her own behaviour, she is turning her anger on to others and blaming those who endorse natural birth. Well there is a little more to it than the superficial tone to your article Mia.  Becoming pregnant is a very grown up thing to do, fortunately there is usually about 9 months to realise this.  Many women approach it as a personal growth experience both physically and emotionally, they listen and learn from experienced mothers, read a wide variety of books, attend good quality birth and parenting preparation sessions, accept the responsibility for decision-making and choose wise options. Many couples recognise the time during the pregnancy when changes to lifestyle need to occur, they talk more about the future, they plan all sorts of things together (only one of these elements is a birth plan) and they will often discover a maturing of their relationship.  They become closer and work more as a team together – this is exactly what a baby needs from it’s mum and dad – isn’t it?   Julie Clarke T. (02) 9544 6441