I agree completely Jo. I have been reading this whole thread and feel really frustrated. So many things have gone through my head about what to write, but I feel so disheartened at the moment by all the horror stories I have been reading and hearing.
One thing I find so frustrating is the whole being 'allowed' to do this and the hospital 'letting' the woman do that. It's like we're on detention at school and we're the naughty girls that don't know anything. Surely, if as much time and effort went into building up women's confidence in themselves and their ability to birth and know their bodies, as goes into 'policy' and 'protocol' writing, then there would not be a need for this conversation. I think we, as women, need to take back the power and start saying, "we are 'allowing' you to do this to MY body, I am 'letting' you do that to my baby, I will decide when the time is right for any procedure" I so admire women like Amy that do take back the power, for women only lose it because hey give it away. On that note, Amy, you wrote, "I felt like I lost her support when I took the reigns and bucked against hospital protocol. It was like I had offended her...that she felt compromised by me asserting myself." ~ but I think the reality is that you never had her support and she shouldn't have been offended as SHE was the one causing the offence against you. She was comprimising you, your baby and your birth by not listening and supporting you, you being the true expert. When women take back their power and 'care providers' realise that they are not the true experts, then that will be the time when birth becomes more empowered, safer and peaceful with a lot less serious and endangering outcomes. Love Abby >>Surely the > woman would know and wouldn't need it confirmed - so the hosp needs > evidence > because women can't be trusted to tell the truth. Gggrrrrrr! The more I > read > about this the more frustrating it gets. > > > > I supported at a homebirth last year where SROM occurred at 36 weeks, > mum > new that midwife wouldn't deliver at home before 37 weeks. Got checked > at > hosp, signed herself out (they wanted her to stay until labour started > and > to birth there) bed rest for 8 days - constant water trickling - 37 +1 > labour started - 4 hours, beautiful healthy baby born in lounge room. > > > > Times, clocks, protocols, policies, it's all a load of rubbish. > > > > Jo -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
