Carolyn,
You are amazing...after being completely denigrated by the medicos and some
of my colleagues for believing that women DO NOT need V'E's every 4 hours to
assess progress of labour, what you have written is a breath of fresh air,
with your permission I would like to forward your previous email to my
colleagues, to make those who practice obsteric nursing aware and to support
those who truly work with women.
Have you got some info on Taylorism, I would like saome background on it.
Thanks heaps.
regards
Sally
----- Original Message -----
From: "Gail McKenzie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au>
Sent: Friday, December 29, 2006 5:07 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] What happened with this birth?
WOW!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you thank you thank you. Carolyn, that was just
what I needed. Are you going to the homebirth conference this year? If
so, I would dearly love to catch up with you & everyone else who
contributes to the ozmidwifery site. maybe we can wear a flower or
something so we recognise each other.
Much love and admiration, Gail xxxxxxxxxxxx
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
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