Hi Vida, and thanks!
I can see why you do what you do, and several of the amazing midwives i have met here in Darwin, are all that and more.They are not in the slightest following a "medical model" although when you say that i also know what you mean.
In my philosophy and i'm sure ther are alot of other students and already trained midwives who also view pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period with a hollistic view, many midwives who attend alot of home births are like this.
You sound like you would make a fantastic midwife, the "mecialised training" means yes, you learn things like, BP's, palps, VE's etc, but just because you learn these does not mean you do them routinely. Many midwives i know, so not do ve's etc at all. Same goes for me, what i learn in skilss through my degree gives me skills, but does not make me the midwife i am, that's all to do with my philosophy, no amount of mecialised midwifery training is ever going cahnge how i see pregnancy and birth. But i will have the skills should i need them, i also have the skills to know when things are deviating for normal and seeking help.
I have recently brought Andrea Robertsons book, the midwife companion, and i have to say this book will never leave my side. I do find it hard training to do things that are different from my philosophies, BUT i know these are necesary and it's books like Andreas which really help me to stop feeling disheartened.
I'm probably starting to ramble now, it is nice to meet you though, someone with similar philosophies to my own. Feel free to email me anytime to swap stories etc!
PS if yo haven't already buy Andreas book, i think you will really love it.
Kirsten
Darwin.
~~~start life with a midwife~~~
----- Original Message ----- From: "Vida Rye" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, September 05, 2004 9:02 AM
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] doula article
Kirsten said:I apologise i left NZ in 2002, as of then i should state i knew of nodoulas, although there could have been. I find the whole thing rather confusing, can i ask why you choose to be a doula and not a midwife? (I'm seriously asking, not being sarcastic either.)<<<<<<
No need to apologise Kirsten at all - I assure you I did not take offence
:o) - just thought I should say "Hi" so that people know that there are a
couple/few doulas at least in NZ and I was explaining how I see things
having moved to NZ as a doula already..... Only yesterday I have found
another CBE and "doula" in NZ who contacted me from Auckland and I also
spoke with a disillusioned midwife here who wants to know more about being a
doula....
You ask a huuuuge question..... I see the Doula and the Midwife as two
distinct roles that do however complement one another. I have no passion to
learn about the clinical aspects of pregnancy/birth care although I do
strongly believe in having a good knowledge about the natural physiological
aspects. I am proud to be a laywoman whilst at the same time I constantly
strive to improve my knowledge and experience by attending workshops/courses
about pregnancy and birth, and by being with women. Pregnancy, labour and
birth for me cover the emotional/mental/spiritual/practical/physical - a
really holistic look at things. In my experience, I do not see the majority
of midwives getting alongside women who are pregnant and preparing for
labour/birth on an emotional and spiritual level - most are too overworked
to be able to invest this much time in doing that and some don't have the
inclination to either - or they may see birth as much more a
medical/clinical event than that - and that is ok if the women that they are
supporting also see it in that way. However, there are many women who *do*
see the experience in a more holistic way. I think there are many midwives
that have become medicalised without actually realising it, and equally (as
in any walk of life/vocation/job there are the opposite extremes) there are
many who have a wonderful philosophy towards pregnancy/labour/birth.
Midwives usually have to work within the policies/procedures of their
hospital or Trust Board or whatever governing body they are under. There
are always *far* too many politics involved when it comes to working for
these bodies - something very simple is made much more (dangerously, in my
view) complicated. I have chosen not to be part of that. Being an
independent "consumer" (as I am called!) I feel I have more power to make a
difference...
I am self-employed and offer myself "out there" for the woman and her
partner to "choose" to have me if they feel that they need that extra
support, and I also offer my services voluntarily/or on sliding scale so
that it is not just those that can afford that get.... I have a passion for
my role and I share with them my experiences and try to encourage them to
take the responsibility for the birth of their baby back from "the medical
world" and to learn about the natural physiology of birth, about their own
bodies and to give them tools to really use together. I aim to enable them
to challenge their assumptions about labour and birth and turn their
negative connotations into positive ones ... to stop seeing the midwife or
medical team as the people that "get them through" the uncomfortable/painful
event that gets them the wonderful bit - their baby!! I encourage them to
work *with* their midwives so that those midwives can truly become the
"Guardians" of birth. With women depending on themselves and their partners
to work through labour, midwives will be less tired and frustrated and in
the long term we will develop a *confident* birthing population rather than
one that is based on *fear*.... There are tools out there written in plain
English which can help women and their partners learn about and trust their
own bodies and reduce their fear. I am currently 7 months pregnant and
working with my husband through "The Pink Kit" which I think is a wonderful
resource (see www.birthingbetter.com) and we are also learning hypnobirthing
relaxation techniques so that we can change our outlook on birth together to
be positive through and through, whilst at the same time we are also
realistic about the *small* percentage of birth situations that do require
medical assistance - and thankfully we do have the expertise and skills out
there in our midwives and doctors for those times. I have seen labour/birth
be a painless and joyful process from start to finish - the mind is a *very*
powerful thing that we all underestimate. If only we would listen to it
more......
I hope that explains a bit where I am coming from...
Best wishes
Vida www.nurturenz.com www.kiwidoula.com
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