[ozmidwifery] thanks everyone

[Jo & Dean Bainbridge]

I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their replies and thoughts on the topics that I have suggested and those that have spawned off of topics.   The thing that I love most about oz mid is the discussions  offer food for thought.    As a consumer I am in a position where I can sit back and observe what is going on.  It is important for me to be able to listen to the opinions of care providers and hear what your experiences are.  And then do the same from the women.  I understand the need for consumers to push for change (and support the MC in their goals to achieve 1to1 care by a known midwife for those who want it.) but I also know how crucial it is to unite with those who are willing to offer these services.  Women I feel kind of know what they want or don't want based on what they know.  It is a shame that all options are not known/presented or offered.  Reading the Essential Baby cs forum is a real eye opener to hear the opinions of women who chose their cs based on 'safety and facts' (god forbid you contradict what they say or even question it...!  I once said that they should be mindful of the information they give to women as it is not always applicable or even correct for some -most- women reading this forum...  I was 'slammed' with hate mail for weeks and the best bit was a comment that I was "obviously a midwife" with the same tone you would use for a horrible type of infection or something!....some midwife must of pissed her off!!)    There is a conference coming up in Adelaide which is focusing on midwifery things...water birth, etc and I am very glad to hear that we were successful in getting free admission for the general public on one of those days.  It is fine and dandy to get mw enthused to introduce things like water birth, but the powers that be say "women don't want it" but women don't know about it!!! By not involving women in these sorts of things does nothing to help the cause.  Get women involved in things - ask them if they want to attend any conferences you may be planning...at little to no cost- even if it is a revenue loss for you- because when both factions are enthused and motivated then more can be done.    Next time you are going to educate yourselves about something...ask some mums to come too.  See if you can, sneakily if required, introduce an antenatal class on water birth and advertise it in a general public forum and get women demanding it, echoing your call for it....   Ah! once again I am rambling on.....just task avoidance I suppose!  Got a few reports to write...unless anyone else would like to do them for??  They are juicy ones!!  PND links with child birth experience; Obstetric procedure policies feed back; report on the importance of implementing 1on1 midwifery care....any takers??  No?...oh well. cheers wonderful women Jo