[ozmidwifery] Intervention

[Mary Murphy]

Monica wrote: > the women I work with have such a different focus from what is often > described here- they want intervention, they want it now!! Our very > competitive VBAC rate and lscs rate (for a tertiary referral hospital) are > in defiance of our women's wishes." Hi Monica, that is the disadvantage of having an Australia wide  medical model instead of a midwifery model.  Women are full of fear when they think about labour and birth.  The medical model only reinforces that fear and the impersonal nature of our larger ante-natal clinics increases their sense of alienation.  Tthe midwifery model gives a woman a sense of empowerment and while she may in the end need/want medical intervention, her sense of self has been strengthened and she makes an informed decision rather than one based on "just in case".  Everyone throws up their hands and says "but that wouldn't work in our hospital".  It can, but no one is willing to put themselve out there and do it.. neither hospital administrations or health depts or obstet/midwifery depts.  the landscape would look so much different and the outcomes would improve immensely.  Cheers, MM >