I shed a few tears too when I read your e-mail.
While smiling with happiness for the parents of this healthy little boy my tears were for YOU when I saw you signing yourself “finished now as a caseload midwife”.
Aren’t there enough women around who have experienced the benefits of one-to-one midwifery care who will get up and fight for continuing this service?
Couldn’t the caseload midwives get together with the women and form a branch of the Maternity Coalition and get this mysogynistic act into the newspapers?
Access the Maternity Coalition’s website now www.maternitycoalition.org.au and arrange for some support from them in setting up a group to lobby your state department of health.
All the best
Jan Robinson
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Jan Robinson Phone/fax: 011+ 61+ 2+ 9546 4350
Independent Midwife Practitioner e-mail: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
8 Robin Crescent www: midwiferyeducation.com.au
South Hurstville NSW 2221 National Coordinator, ASIM
__________________________________________________________________________
On 28/9/03 8:00 PM, "Janet Caulfield" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Dear All,
I want to share with you my most recent experience,
I was looking after a client that was G4P3 the last child was to a new partner. I also delivered the last child and after a prostin induction post dates; she rapidly progressed to a normal birth of a male baby.There at no time was anything to highlight any concern during the pregnancy or delivery.
The Last child nearly 2years old now, also has some very severe disabilities, and has many hospitalizations, prior to getting pregnant with a diagnosis of a type of Cerebral Palsy they received Genetic Counselling. But during the pregnancy they were given another diagnosis as well and that is of a type of Muscular Dystrophy. It is an understatement to say that this woman and her partner was concerned. Everyday they spend in hospital with their son, they see other sick children many of which have poor outcomes due to a birth trauma so their veiw of birth is now very different than during their last pregnancy.
The Question they asked me was whether to have a normal delivery or an elective Ceasarian Section. I maintained that the outcome for this child was already preordained in a way and that a normal vaginal birth was still a safe option for them. The GP backup also had the same veiws.But as they were very concerned I organized an appointment with a specialist. (disappointed but very understanding of their position,not sure i wouldnt make the same descision given the same circumstances). I was very nervous about this babies health (although i never said so to the parents) I was sure the type of birth would not change the health status of this infant.
This Client was also my last caseload client in a very successful program I had been involved with for the past 5 years( being closed by the hospital administration)
The outcome was that the clients respite care was cut back so other things influenced the parents descision plus the fact that i was so certain the outcome in the babies health wouldnt be any different... They opted for an induction and a vaginal birth... The induction was to arrange for respite care for their other child which is having palliative care.
This amazing woman had a normal birth after a ARM and a 3hr 30min labour,.
AND THE MAIN THING IS THE BABY BOY IS BEAUTIFUL AND HAS BEEN CHECKED OUT AS BEING WELL,
he holds his head up and is acting as he should ( the other child has atony of his muscles)
I am so pleased that the outcome was good, and had a few tears shed with relief.
Now this woman is home with no wounds and her other child returns in the morning, he is extremely heavy and takes up a lot of time. I cant imagine how she would have managed if she had had an elective C/S...
Janet
Finished now as a caseload midwife :)
Moving soon to the Kimberley's vive ala change
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