Exactly, Shelley.
In practice I do very few VE's as well, relying on all the external signs
we, as midwives, use everyday. However, having one's knowledge and
experienced completely disregarded is extremely disheartening.
We are organising a forum to try and alter the policy/guideline, but have
very little time to prepare...hence the plea for help :o)
Thanks
Sally
----- Original Message -----
From: "michelle gascoigne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 10:17 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Vaginal examinations
Introducing myself and replying at the same time. My name is Shelly I am a
midwife in England and the mother of two boys. We are thinking of a move
to Aus and so joined this list as it came recomended. I am on a few lists
in the UK.
Sadly for the medics much of what midwives do is art and not science. We
often do not have scientific evidence to back what we do (or more to the
point don't do). The good thing is neither do they so turn the tables and
ask them to provide the evidence for what they are suggesting. Much
routine and ritual care is just that and not based on any sound evidence.
A couple of excellent UK authors to check out are Soo Downe and Sara
Wickham. They write on normality as a rule. In practce I do very few VE's
and often have to discuss this with colleagues and at supervision. If you
watch women who are labouring (without an epidural) they move in certain
ways they say certain things and there are external physical signs of
progress. In the notes I write these in and explain why at this point is
will or will not be following the 'guidelines'. In the UK they are
generally guidelines and not policies.
Shelly
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sally @ home" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 2:31 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Vaginal examinations
Just to add to this...
There was an extremely heated discussion at a meeting with docs and
midwives where I work about how doing a VE is the only way to ascertain
progress in the normal labour of uncompromised healthy women. The
midwives now have to come up with evidence showing that doing a VE within
1- 4 hours of admission to hospital (then 4-6 hourly thereafter) is not
necessary as we are able to assess progress in different ways (all of
which have been poo-pooed by the medicos)...so...am needing the help of
all you wonderfully wise women out there.
Thanks in advance.
Sally
----- Original Message -----
From: "Sally @ home" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 10:30 PM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Vaginal examinations
Was wondering what guidelines others worked with regarding when to do
vaginal examinations...specifically in the hospital setting. And what
evidence they base their practice on.
Thanks in advance.
Sally
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