Hi Kate In light of Lindsay's comments of a midwife being in a post-surgery ward (after so many c/s!!) Then I think you could really open up the scope of practice under what midwifery is.
Use the ACMI Guidelines for consultation and referral www.acmi.org.au to establish what midwifery is and is not, it is a melding of guidelines from Canada, NZ and the Netherlands. The idea of what a midwife does in either the home or a primary unit without medical care is perhaps a good place to start. I truly believe very few midwives know. I spoke at a conference the other day about caseload midwifery and a midwife came up and said I was inspirational, she then said it didn't effect her as she worked on the "Early Discharge Program". I was gob smacked, did she not understand that there is no EDP with one to one midwifery!!!!! I have heard comments re knowledge of epidurals induction etc etc being a midwives role and that it is just that way now. That is a cop-out. Nothing changes with that sort of defeatist approach. I am acutely aware of how hard change is and how far against best practice appropriate care etc we are but in various pursuits over the last 20 or so years when we accept way less than we should that's what midwives and women continue to suffer. Naturally there will be some elements of midwifery that stay with a woman no matter what (so don't stone me over the high risk women needing midwives I acknowledge and very much support this). You can still acknowledge the 'with womanness' of midwives regardless of the birth mode, but I think you have an opportunity to comment on the clinical aspects of our out of control obstetrically dominated maternity system that has midwives working as post surgical nurses and obstetric handmaidens!! Kindest Justine Justine Caines National President Maternity Coalition Inc PO Box 105 MERRIWA NSW 2329 Ph: (02) 65482248 Fax: (02)65482902 Mob: 0408 210273 E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.maternitycoalition.org.au -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
