----- Original Message -----
Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 2:56
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: E-News
8:11 - Postdates Pregnancies (May 24, 2006)
but the women are free to say
what they want and demand complete informed consent, and we can help them
navigate that rocky terrain.
Absolutely, the point I tried to make at our
meeting at work last week, but the powers to be and some
colleagues, think that women who don't ask or demand info, should only be
given the standard spiel to gain 'informed' consent, eg for Vit K. I try to
expand on anything and enlighten them to the whole spectrum of choice. I
consider myself to be advocate for all women within my care even if it is only
one antenatal visit or a phone enquiry. When being advocate for those who do
demand, who almost always are well informed, the
establishment seem to think that is OK, but talk about the same stuff to all
women, especially those who are basically un -knowledgeable about anything
related to their bodies and babies, then I am just being radical. I feel these
are the women who benefit from our advocacy the most. Its a
frustrating situation, to be criticised for empowering women to make these
decisions about themselves. I find it less rewarding advocating for those who
are already empowered to express their wishes.
Di
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 3:55
PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Fw: E-News
8:11 - Postdates Pregnancies (May 24, 2006)
I love that you use the word
mysogony Justine, and hi and thankyou to you Penny
too.
I was talking to a fellow midwife at my hosp
about it the other day. Sometimes we wanted to give the benefit of the
doubt...at worst that the actions of some Drs was paternalistic -
wanting to help the poor ladies from their suffering (while of
course making life litigiously safer for themselves and getting paid
more).
Then i also considered it was just ignorance on
the part of some doctors, unware of the amazing beuaty and awesome
transedence of anything worldly in natural birth and the power that this
gives women. They rarely get to see beautiful birth (which is why i
love working with student doctors in birth and getting in their ears).
Maybe they don't understand how good it can be for women, is it too
spiritual, too unscientific for them to get their head around?
But I am more and more convinced that there is
some phsycological women hate going on as well. And wanting to claim birth
into the male relm. Taking away this amazing opportunity for
empowerment. BIRTH ENVY? Or thinking that most women are
too weak to be able to birth without intervention. Or too stupid
to understand the details so he'll make the desicion for them. Or too smarty
pants and asking too many questions and taking up too much time so
needs to be put into place with some condeseding remark - if that doesnt
stop her she's too dangerous and needs to be told to go
elsewhere.
We spoke about a doctor with a very high
c/section rate. If according to him you are too short, too old , too
Asian etc- you are convinced through the course of antenatal "care"
that you can't possibly vaginally birth and an "elective" ("elective" for
whom?) c/s is booked on a day suitable to him. By the time we are meeting
the women - for shave and catheter they are absolutly convinced they
are doing the right thing. Which puts us in a really difficult possition.
1/2 an hour before surgery is not a great time to talk to women about their
alternative options. One woman - a 40 yr old Philipino primip was
told her baby was breech and needed to have a c/s - but it wasn't breech,
and the Dr knew it. But she was so sold on the idea that she couldnt birth
vaginally that she didnt really mind about where the baby was
lying. THIS WAS NOT HIS CHOICE TO MAKE.
We need to keep working on UNIVERSAL
(mainstream, free, accessable) opportunities for women to find
information and care and reduce the fear. In that town right now the
alternative voices women get to hear are only soft squeeks amongst the
bellow of the monolith.
Maybe we are scared sometimes to speak up in
our workplace if we want to keep our job and dont want to rock the boat, but
the women are free to say what they want and demand complete
informed consent, and we can help them navigate that rocky terrain. And
isn't it great when you get to work with a women who is making those
demands, and get to advocate for them - its very safe territory because we
are doing what our midwifery competancies demand.
Love Suzi
