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.
I so relate to what you have said Sally. It is hard to work in the system
and maintain your integrity as a midwife.
Considering the vast majority of midwives do work 'in the system' most of us
do our best to provide the best we can within whatever restrictions we have
to toe the line to.
The system needs midwives like you who know how to challenge, and how to
help your sisters challenge, so that in time we can change it. Please don't
give it up.
Sue
----- Original Message -----
From: "sally @ home" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 11:56 AM
Subject: Re: Re: [ozmidwifery] How long before synto is used?
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
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