Can I come too? :) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kristin Beckedahl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 2:42 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] What happened with this birth?
> > Gee Carolyn...I'd like to have coffee with you one day or two....! :-) > > Kristin > > > > >From: "Heartlogic" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au > >To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> > >Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] What happened with this birth? > >Date: Fri, 29 Dec 2006 13:24:40 +1100 > > > >Dear Gail, > > > >Firstly, your instincts are spot on. > > > >This is a very distressing story. It is not a coincidence that these > >women's labours stalled following his VE's, that is absolutely to be > >expected and is the result of a mindless disruption of the women's optimal > >state of neurophyiological functioning. Taylorism, that is an industrial, > >efficiency management model, has no place in the dynamic fluid process of > >birth, sadly it has become merged into the 'health' care system with this > >sort of unconscious abuse becoming more common. > > > >'Discussions' with the doctors at that stage will do nothing except breed > >resistence and further intervention; in mindless individuals it can even > >result in payback situations where intervention will be done just because > >you are the midwife. The right to rule is still endemic in the maternity > >services. > > > >the first thing to understand is that these people really believe they are > >doing the right thing. > >the second thing to understand is that they are taught all about the > >abnormalities of birth, they have absolutely no idea about normal > >physiology as applied to birth (gross generalisation, I know) > >the third thing is that they are terrified of birth > >the fourth thing is that they are taught throughout medical school that > >they are the boss of everything and the government and health departments > >agree and structure everything (I know, there are exceptions) to reinforce > >that idea > >the fifth and probably MOST important thing is that they do get taught > >about 'patient' autonomy and the need for consent. > > > >So, here is where it gets interesting and where our opportunity lies. > > > >It is vitally important that you use every moment with birthing women to > >help them understand the situation, without making it combatative and > >engendering a siege mentality and ask them what they want to have happen, > >how they would like things to go, so they can say what they want - be left > >alone, checked in another hour a few more hours, more time, a bath, move > >freely, have the baby listened to by doppler in the shower/bath etc if > >women have the information that can help them with the deeply damaging > >throw away lines that get trotted out like 'stillbirth' 'brain damage' etc, > >then women can say what they want and we as midwives can support them in > >that and remember to DOCUMENT what women want. To do things against > >rational people's will is abuse. To argue about medical intervention with > >midwives is a nuisance and an affront to power beliefs. > > > >Getting strategic is important. Learning tactical support of birthing women > >is a midwifery art form and a very challenging one. It is crucial that you > >avoid blame, judgement and criticism as these emotional states are damaging > >for everyone and lead to despair. It is useful to come from the point of > >view that they mean well but are ignorant about birth physiology and are > >taught to look for problems. Neuroscience and quantum physics teaches us we > >find what we are looking for. That also means we make it up if it is not > >there. > > > >Our job is to work with women and their processes, to give women > >information to make their own decisions and to help them actualise their > >decisions and to help doctors know what women want. :-) makes it so > >simple really. Simple does not, however, mean easy. > > > >Every time you find yourself with a pregnant and/or birthing woman ask > >questions of yourself like 'how can I best inform her of her options?' ' > >how can I best explain the process of birth so she knows what to expect?' > >'how can I support her with what she wants?' ' how can I best let her know > >how well she is doing so that she can feel secure in asking for more time > >if she needs it?' " how can I best let her know her rights so she feels > >powerful and in control of her process?' some women, no matter what doors > >you open, will succumb to medical pressue. That is just the way it is and > >all we can do is support her through her experience with love, compassion > >and kindness. > > > >One last thing, make friends with that doctor. It is not 'sucking up' it > >is working with integrity. Everyone wants to do a good job. Approach that > >person, say you feel uncomfortable about the interaction - open dialogue. > >We need to be friends with each other. Focus on creating a healthy > >workplace. Over time, you may have more influence as trust deepens between > >you. We need to focus on the long term with our doctor midwife > >relationships. Remember that he is scared of birth and wants to control it > >- the women get in the way of that and get caught in the melee. He is doing > >the best he can with what he knows. Doctors are not enemies, they are, in > >the main, ignorant about normal birthing physiology. Power dynamics, > >history and politics have put them where they don't belong. We as midwives > >have to work with that reality to the best of our ability. Birthing women, > >when they have accurate information, can call the tune. However, if someone > >is doing something that is not medically 'right', then it is important to > >put in a formal complaint and have the matter seen to. > > > >Hope this helps, warmly, Carolyn > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- From: "Gail McKenzie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au> > >Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 11:04 AM > >Subject: [ozmidwifery] What happened with this birth? > > > > > >>It's been so interesting for me to read about this birth and Andrea's > >>woman's experience too. I am a newly qualified student midwife currently > >>working in birth suite doing my rotations. I have come across both these > >>types of births and each time I instinctively knew the mother & baby only > >>needed to reorientate their head-space. Unfortunately, hospital protocol > >>& "time" would not allow for it. I even had a "discussion" with the > >>doctor about giving more time as the labours were going so beautifully > >>until then (coincidentally, both stalled when VE performed by him???????) > >> > >>Outcome was 1 enemy for me & 2 very unhappy women getting C/S. If it > >>wasn't for websites like this one the next 12 months would be the longest, > >>most unhappiest of my life. You are all keeping me sane & knowing that my > >>instincts are not wrong. Thank you, ladies. > >> > >>Gail xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx > >> > >>_________________________________________________________________ > >>Advertisement: It's simple! Sell your car for just $20 at carsales.com.au > >>http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Fsecure%2Dau%2Eimrworldwide %2Ecom%2Fcgi%2Dbin%2Fa%2Fci%5F450304%2Fet%5F2%2Fcg%5F801577%2Fpi%5F1005244%2 Fai%5F838588&_t=757768878&_r=endtext_simple&_m=EXT > >> > >>-- > >>This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >>Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > >> > > > > > >-- > >This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > >Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > _________________________________________________________________ > Advertisement: Meet Sexy Singles Today @ Lavalife - Click here > http://a.ninemsn.com.au/b.aspx?URL=http%3A%2F%2Flavalife9%2Eninemsn%2Ecom%2E au%2Fclickthru%2Fclickthru%2Eact%3Fid%3Dninemsn%26context%3Dan99%26locale%3D en%5FAU%26a%3D23769&_t=754951090&_r=endtext_lavalife_dec_meet&_m=EXT > > -- > This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. > Visit <http://www.acegraphics.com.au> to subscribe or unsubscribe. > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.409 / Virus Database: 268.15.28/605 - Release Date: 12/27/2006 > > -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. 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