Hi Abby: While on the one hand I agree with you that there ought to be at least an overview if not an introductuction to alternative/complementary therapies in a midwifery course I can also understand why this has been left out. I also agree with you with regard to the evidence based discussion. There are papers by Thompson and also Sara Wickham and others of course that discuss the hierarchy of evidence that can sabotage research at least in my opinion. If we limit ourselves to the randomised controlled trial as the only acceptable evidence to use or even the most acceptable, then we are surely hobbling ourselves; of course we don't do that but it seems at times that we dream of this limitation.
Since my midwifery qualification was obtained at an alternative midwifery school (by Australian standards at least, mainstream now in the USA but with a pretty alternative origin) we did study alternative therapies from time to time as they applied to midwifery. However, many of us who had prior study in these areas from massage, acupressure, to herbs, homeopathy, naturopathy, and essential oils felt that the surface of these areas of study had barely been touched and what people who had no prior learning were left with was a cookbook approach: one size fits all if you will. This was, we felt of little benefit to the women we served beyond opening our minds to the possibility of alternative remedies. It was also possibly a disservice to these therapies. We were exposed to the works of leaders (and often the leaders too) in these fields (such as Susan Weed) and aware of further studies we could follow. I guess my point is, that even in a homebirth based alternative midwifery education there is insufficient time to give more than lipservice to alternative therapies. There are also limitations on how many alternative therapies can be used in a hospital situation and by whom. To become licensed we also had to be competent to use the medical pharmacopia of midwives, these medicines can do far more harm if used inapropiately and so detailed study must be done because they also save many lives and are an important part of a birth kit. There is quite simply only so much time and beyond this a student has to take it upon herself to study further. Since I haven't studied midwifery in Australia, I don't know how much time is spent on the history of the profession, or the history of medicine and alternative therapies in Australia. At Seattle Midwifery School we seemed (at the time) to spend an inordinate amount of time on the history, sociology, philosophy, and jurispudence of it all. If you go to the MANA website you can find out the limitations of midwifery practice state by state in the USA. Because of these limitations many midwives have honed their practice of these "ancient arts" if you will, not because they were superior to modern medicines but quite simply because 1. they worked at least to some degree and 2. they (the midwives) could not be arrested (for practising medicine without a license) for carrying them. MANA is establishing a data base and hopefully will collect data on the use of alternative therapies. marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Abby and Toby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, October 23, 2004 6:51 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] BMid Info Session > Hi, > > Today I attended the information session for the direct entry BMid at UTS. > Sounded interesting, lots of people there, but I must admit I was > disappointed to learn the NO "alternative" therapies will be taught. No > herbs or anything. I find it so hard to accept that, in a course teaching > about "natural" birth, "alternative" things can't be taught because they > are apparently not evidence based but all medical interventions will be > taught?? > Sorry to rehash this subject I really don't want to get in another arguement > about it. I went with a positive outlook and came away very disappointed. I > find it hard to understand how learning to "facilitate" natural birth would > include all medical interventions, but not all the natural tools we can use. > > How can student midwives learn to really be "with woman" if they are not > given a chance to learn all the skills involved? To me it does still seem so > medical. > > I really believe that the proof is there with "alternative" therapies, maybe > just not the type of "evidence" that the medical professionals will accept. > > I really am feeling so disappointed as I was excited to go and see what was > happening and maybe even get a little more tempted to study midwifery here, > but now I just feel disillusioned. > > Love Abby > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
