[ozmidwifery] criticing midwives

[Jo & Dean Bainbridge]

It was not my intention to criticise any midwife who works in high risk or even general labour ward Sadie. I am sorry that was interpreted that way. The difference is between a midwife that truly CARES for women and those who do not/ can not, not the location they work.   I would say that the job of midwife is one of the most demanding: having to adapt to the consistently changing circumstances : the well being of mother, well being of baby, demands/fears of mother and or support people, the particular medical staff who may be on duty at the time, do I give her a little longer- will I get racked over the coals by the OB, or will the woman turn on me after and say I put her thru hell-, we are short staffed this shift, the list could be endless....   It is not very hard to grasp why some midwives just get to the point of it not wanting to fight anymore.  This could be said for the midwife who truly believes in natural birth but is continually seeing women who scream for their epidurals as soon as the first contraction is over!  I have heard women saying that their midwife was a bitch because they didn't give them an epi when they wanted one!  The mw is doing her best to support the woman to have a natural birth and yet the woman doesn't want one!!  Then there are the mw who have spent their careers fighting the medical domination and getting shafted for doing so, hence get to the point of say "why bother?!".   I am glad to hear that you do go home feeling high from assisting women who have birthed in a high risk circumstance Sadie!  And so you should!!  I would certainly NOT consider what you do to be Ob nursing!  As I said before; you are not a good midwife JUST because you work in the BC!!  I have had a birth centre mw say to me "Why bother having a VBAC?  Just have an elective CS!"  choke, spew vomit!  What the hell was she doing in the BC??!!    Midwives do not need more criticism and don't need other mw turning on them...but there is a difference between those who care about the woman, and those who care when their shift finishes.  Just like there are doctors who truly care about a woman having an empowering birth and those who consider all women potential litigation suits!   Would it not be true that there are those out there who rather not be doing what they are doing?  As in all areas of all industries, there are some who just don't want to be there but know nothing else.    Again Sadie, I apologise for insinuating that you are not a good midwife.  I don't think Maureen meant any harm either...but you must admit that there are those in your profession who do not have the woman's best interests in mind and play a role in undoing the reputation that people like yourselves work towards: midwife being there for women.  But hey! we can not make everyone happy all the time can we?   any hard feelings???   Cheers Jo