>From a woman wanting a VBAC in my forums, who is also a dear friend and I hope to support her if she gives birth some time around the Australian Doula Conference:
I was just told at my midwife appt this week that the hospital has changed policies in the past few months and now required constant fetal monitoring of all induction, VBAC and higher risk births. Now, I am all for making sure our babies are healthy and doing well during labour, BUT our hospital seems to have variations of women's positions during monitoring which is frustrating. One midwife told me I would have to stay in bed, another said that some women are able to be on the fit ball & may not be able to roam heaps but are able to change positions and get more comfortable. I have in my birth plan a clear indication that I don't want to be monitored constantly, that I want to be able to have breaks & shower etc etc... she said today the only option for that would be once my membranes were released & attaching a monitor to the baby's skull. And I don't know how I feel about that either. ...this is Redlands Public, but apparently its gone through all of QLD Health public systems that "higher" risk pregnancy's need constant monitoring during labour. I told the midwife today that under no circumstances would I agree to constant monitoring. I asked her what they could do about it & she said nothing really... >>> Why is the answer always 'There's nothing we can do about it'? Makes my blood boil - if enough people care we CAN do something about it... -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe.
