One
of my favorite quotes is Gandhi
First
the ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you and then you
win.
Similar
to a quote I read on JB
"All
truth goes through 3 stages: Firstly it is ridiculed, second it is violently
opposed, thirdly it is held to be self-evident"
Well
done for advocating for this woman Joy. We were discussing the National
competancy standards at work recently and I held that it is not possible to
uphold these in the truest sense whilst working within an obstetric model of
care. We cannot truly be women's advocates and work within hospital
blanket policies.
I
was attending a very nice normal birth recently with absolutely no adverse
factors and had discussed with the woman leaving the third stage to happen
naturally unless otherwise indicated. All was well untill Ob comes in
uninvited, unrequested, sees synto drawn up but not given, babe in mum's
arms placenta already pushed out by mum (next contraction post baby) and in
kidney dish, still attached to baby.
Ob
goes ballistic and insists on synto being given, saying "there are no
medals for haemorrhaging" even though the blood loss was minimal and well
within norm, and placenta already out. (so what exactly do we give
synto for again????)
My
point being that within the obstetric model- the 'boys' hold the power, the
management backs them up. At the bedside is not a good time to be arguing
policy. I tried to discuss with my cnm the fact that I was responsible
for giving a drug that was not necessary, so if the woman had an adverse
reaction and we were sued, I would be wrong for giving the drug that was not
medically indicated. Was just told that I am covered under hosp policy and
have to work within them - this does not fit with what I hear about court
procedings.
Sorry
this is a bit rambling - but wanted to add my support to you Joy for holding
up under pressure and I agree that perhaps YOU should instigate a meeting to
discuss this.
Sue
