Re: Re: [ozmidwifery] How long before synto is used?

[sally @ home]

You know, a lot of the time I feel trapped between a rock and hard place!! I 
know that what has been said is not a personal attack, but working in "the 
system" (and how bad am I for succumbing to that?) makes me, by default, 
part of the problem. This I find very hard. I worked for 14 years as an 
independent midwife, it was hard yakka but extremely rewarding in all 
regards...I loved it. However, I was bearly able to keep food on the table, 
and paying bills was a nightmare.My belief was to keep my bookings 
manageable so that I could be there for all the women I worked with. In that 
time I never missed a birth. I believed I was working truly 'with woman'.
In 2000 I went from homebirthing into a Level 3 referral hospital, because 
it was my misguided belief that I may learn something. (I had never worked 
with women with high risk pregnancies) and I really needed some financial 
stability in my life. The culture shock was immense and I spent the first 
few months wondering what the heck I had done. The midwives I worked with 
worked under the most horrendous conditions and time and time again I saw 
them raw with grief because they felt they were unable to give the care 
these women needed and were entitled to.
Last year I started work at a brand new hospital in Berwick. A 'low risk' 
midwifery led unit...we endeavor to work with women in the true sense, we 
buck the system as much as we are able, which is often, and we bend the 
rules constantly, however,it is hard given that the medical profession, 
especially anaesthetists, have us over a barrel...this is where the rock and 
the hard place come in. We buck the system and we are hauled over the coals 
by the 'programme' and the medical establishment, we tow the line and we are 
shot down in flames by people who regard anything to do with hospitals as 
anti birthing women. Considering the hard work and effort we go to to work 
with and enable women to achieve the experience that is their right, I find 
some of what has been said quite insulting. Sure, there are midwives out 
there that are more medical model than midwives in the true sense, but this 
can be said for all people from all walks of life, and yes some policies etc 
are frustrating to work within, but  unfortunately we can't work without 
them. Working in 'the system' is hard enough, it is a constant battle and an 
exhausting one at that. I am saddened by what I am reading and it just fuels 
my belief that midwifery is not where I want to be anymore.

Sally
--
This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics.
Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.