----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, April 09, 2004 3:46
PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] criticing
midwives
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
