Pam England comments to parents that "when you hit your thumb with a hammer, you probably say "Ouch" or chant some profanity" as vocalisation through pain is both a distraction and a release. I'm sure you could use this comment with parents and professionals. kathy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kathy McCarthy-Bushby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> Sent: Friday, August 05, 2005 4:19 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] sounds during labour/birth
> You could say "now you and i both know that women make noise in labour as a > coping mechanism, to help them release or express their pain and to > encourage them to work with their body". Or you could remind them that > "whatever works for the woman to labour and give birth is good enough". Or > you could ask them "do they make noise when they are eating, happy, sad, in > pain, making love or playing sport?". Another one I say if staff who say to > me "gee, your woman was noisy" is "Oh really i didn't notice". Another > important thing to do I believe is close the door. > > A reference I have found very helpful was Pam England's "Birthin from > within" on page 239 there is this great story which tells the story of a > midwife talking to an antenatal class about making noise and the importance > of encouraging freedom of expression and sadly what can happen when we stop > the woman from making noise. > > "My sister was in good, strong labor and labor had been progressing well. > Nearing the end of labor, she was about seven centimeters dilated.......she > began wailing and moaning through contractions, on her hands and knees, just > like you showed us. Her nurse came in and said "I'm sorry, but you're making > the doctor nervous. Try to be quiet. > My sister managed to be quiet, but soon after her labor petered out. The > birth changed directions. After labor slowed down, she was given pitocin, > which led to an epidural. And we always wondered what happened." > > I use this in antenatal classes mainly to help women understand that noise > is ok and to let the guys know it's ok too. Maybe, we could encourage the > men to support their partners by saying they'd prefer that their partner be > free to labor and express herself in the manner that she needs to do so to > birth their baby. > kathy > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "JoFromOz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> > Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:28 PM > Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] sounds during labour/birth > > > > Kate &/or Nick wrote: > > > > >So how do you challenge a midwife or ob who insists on no noise? > > > > > >Kate (student midwife) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Give them ear plugs! > > > > Jo > > > > -- > > 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. > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
