Take two - Letter to the Editor Canberra Times
Hi all, due to the strict instructions on letters submitted for publication at the CT - I have had to rejig the previous letter to the editor to less than 350 words !!! So here is the abridged version resubmitted !! Yours in birth, Tina Pettigrew Birthworks Independent CBE and aspiring B.Mid Midwife. Convenor, Aust B. Mid Student Collective. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BMidStudentCollective [EMAIL PROTECTED] " As we trust the flowers to open to new life - So we can trust birth" Harriette Hartigan. --- To the Editor, CT. I write on behalf of members of the Australian Bachelor of Midwifery Student collective, in response to the article 'Obstetrician fed up with the hostility' (CT 12/0102) in which retiring Canberra Obstetrician and Chair of the ACT Medical Board, Dr. Heather Munro, suggests that, graduates of the 3 year undergraduate midwifery education program, (Bachelor of Midwifery), will be under-skilled and require nursing in order to recognise sickness and ill-health in pregnant and birthing women. Dr Munro's suggestion is totally unfounded and demonstrates a gross misunderstanding of what constitutes Bachelor of Midwifery (B Mid) Education. As aspiring B Mid midwives, we strongly object to Dr Munro's inference that as B Mid graduates, we will somehow be deficient in certain aspects of our knowledge and skills because we are not nurses! The UK and New Zealand has for many years prepared the majority of their midwives via three and four year midwifery education programs. Other countries such as the Netherlands, France, Demark, Germany and Sweden, have always educated their midwives 'directly' as opposed to 'indirectly' via nursing and boast the highest of practice standards and report the lowest clinical outcomes in terms of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity in the world. Evaluations of these comprehensive three and four year midwifery programs shows that B Mid graduates are confident and competent midwives and when compared with their nurse-midwife peers educated via post-registration (nursing) programs, posses similar academic and practice standards. In New Zealand, all one-year post-registration (nursing) programs have now ceased in favour of the three-year Bachelor of Midwifery education programs - a move initiated by nurses themselves who considered their one-year midwifery program to be inad! ! equate!! As members of the Australian Bachelor of Midwifery Student Collective, we implore those who share Dr. Munro's sentiments and do not support the introduction of B Mid education programs, to please educate themselves and others as to the actuality of the B Mid so as to not perpetuate such myths, and to contribute to open, honest and constructive dialogue, in a spirit of discovery, sensitivity and respect for the benefit of all concerned. Yours sincerely, Tina Pettigrew, Prospective B Mid Student, Convenor, Australian Bachelor of Midwifery Student Collective. 30 William Street Leopold, Vic. 3224. (03) 52503065
Re: Intro Conference
Hi Nikki, Take a look at the Homebirth Access Sydney website: http://homebirthaccesssydney.com.au/main.html They're sponsoring the conference, and have registration and other information there on the site. Karen Radcliff -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
faith in the system
I suppose we all hope and/assume we are going to be looked after by the system and get high quality care. It is unthinkable that this might not bethe case for some (dare I say most??) I suppose it is the same when we go to a restuarantwe cant bring our selves to think that the cook may not have washed their hands or dropped something on the ground and then continue using it! I have a few friends who work in the resturant industry and they say that what goes on behind the scenes would make you want to eat at home forever! Scarry thought! Jo Bainbridgefounding member CARES SAemail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]phone: 08 8365 7059birth with trust, faith love...
12 hour shifts
Hi Barb, I am not sure how they do the 12 hour shifts and the QNU but they must have negotiated it when they started. They began under the ABS agreements I think (before my time). They are rostered either a D or N. Mon to Fri they actually work 0800 to 1630 and the one who is on call for that shift does any labourers till 2000 when the N call person takes over. All their nights and weekend work are actually call shifts so if no one in, no one working. That is why the N person needs to come in and help with the clinic during the week unless they have worked all night and are sleeping. They are paid a salary and have to even their hours up eventually, can't get too far in credit or debt. Hope this helps, Judy From: Greg Barbara Cook To: Judy Chapman Subject: Re: 12 hour shifts Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 07:04:08 +1000 How can that be when the QNU and the Industrial Commission guidelines are very explicit. Only one hospital, Nambour has the QNU and the Industrial Commission approval for a 12 hour trial in its ICU. Is this an illegal process or is it part of the salary averaging which has IC QNU approval for the birth centre staff. If it is rostered 12 hour shifts It shouldn't be as it exposes us to incredible fatigue issues such as potentially horrific mistakes. Cheers Barb _ Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
re: homebirth conference
Hi Belinda, I'll be going to the homebirth conference, with hubby and 2 chilluns in tow! We plan to fly over on the Fri morning, hire a car, and then fly back Monday sometime, could look into hiring a larger people-mover if there are others interested in sharing that leg of the journey. Let us know! Look forward to meeting you there. Tania
RE: FW: request for protocols
Dear list A couple of weeks ago I forwarded this message. I haven't seen any response. I have to assume that either noone is interested or noone has time to respond. (I have attended 2 wonderful women for homebirths since then, so have been a bit caught up myself.) I don't want to let this one go. A service needs to have statements that describe what is to be expected in a particular situation - ie policies, procedures, protocols. If a midwife (or other health professional) works for a service (eg hospital) they are required to work within the policies and procedures (protocols) of that institution. That does not mean slavishly *doing* things to the customer (patient), as nothing (other than potentially lifesaving first aid) can be done without the consent of the person it is being done to. The midwife has the opportunity to explain a protocol (such as taking standard observations of temp, pulse, blood pressure, abdominal palpation and fetal heart rate), and ask permission to do this. There is a statement in the Vic Code of Practice for midwives that Each midwife has the professional responsibility to identify policies, procedures, or practices that are restrictive and/or detrimental to the standard of midwifery practice and woman-centred care. In identifying these issues, midwives must act to ensure that they are brought to the attention of the relevant authority. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF ANY HOSPITALS HAVE DEALT WITH SUCH CHALLENGES? What are midwives doing about this? If there was a complaint that a midwife had not followed hospital procedure, it would be good for the midwife's defence if she/he could show that the woman refused the procedure, and that the midwife had requested that the hospital review the protocol in the light of evidence. Any comment please? Joy Johnston 25 Eley Rd Blackburn South Vic 3130 Tel:03 9808 9614 Fax:03 9808 3611 M: 04111 90448 www.aitex.com.au/joy.htm Previous message: This request for a hospital protocol for care in first stage of labour has come to me from India. Many people on the list have voiced objections to 'restrictive' and 'medical' hospital practices. Would anyone care to suggest what should be included in a woman-centred, evidence based protocol? The inquirer would appreciate the literature on which such a protocol is based, and I am sure the ozmidwyves would appreciate being included in the discussion. Many thanks Joy Johnston -Original Message- From: aileen mathias [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2002 5:05 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject:reply Dear madam Johnston, I am a M.Sc nursing student at Fr. Muller's college of nursing, India. I would like to use the protocol for my research studies. Problem statement is ; Development of protocols on Nursing care of women in first stage of labour in a selected hospital in Mangalore. I will be glad if you can help me by sending your material the way you went about, the review of literature, need for the study, and background of the study etc. Here in India the development of protocol is not yet began since the people are educated and problem of consumer protection act our midwifery cntre Hospital, decided to develop a protocol in the labour room. So i would like to do on 1st stage of labour. Kindly if you know anybody who has done the study on protocol send their e-mail address or thier abstarct and litratures. Fr. Muller's is one of the big hospitals in South India. I would be grateful to you if you can send me the material. Thanking you, Sr.Aileen. Looking for a job? Visit Yahoo! India Careers Visit http://in.careers.yahoo.com -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
MIDWIFERY DISCUSSION GROUP - MELBOURNE
Reminder - as advertised in Birth Matters: Date: Friday 1 February, 7pm for start at 7.30pm Topic: 'THE SYSTEM': SURVIVAL SKILLS FOR MOTHERS AND MIDWIVES At: Johnstons' home 25 Eley Rd Blackburn South (Melway Map 61 G5) Tel: 03 9808 9614 All welcome
Re: Midwifery Resolution
Dear Jo I am saying I see that there is a general need to educate women's groups and ohthercommunity groupsabout the comparative risks and benefits of our current maternity service and a woman centred system where women have equal access to midwifery care TO GAIN THEIR AND generalsupport in demanding such a service!I think that no matter what happens there are many women who will never acknowledge their part and the risks that they and their infants ran in taking the intervention partciularly the social caesarian path. Therefore there will also be women who have trouble coming to terms with their birth and some who will continue to advocate Elective ceasars as safe regardless. But having read about the history of midwifery in NZ and spoken with Kiwi women I see the loss of knowledge of natural child birth and homebirth as a mainstream option is greater here in Australia than was in NZ prior to their gaining the legislative changes that gave NZ universal access to midwives. Therefore to gain the necessary ground swellfor Australain women to gainuniversal equal access there is a need for increased exposure to the benefits and safety of midwifery careto counter the general acceptance of medical intervention in childbirth as normal and safe!!Denise - Original Message - From: Dean Jo Bainbridge To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, January 15, 2002 10:35 AM Subject: Midwifery Resolution "we need also to get out and talk to the mothers of whatcould have and should be!!" I have found through talkng to women whom have had cs and told that "if they didnt their baby would have died" (when in fact it is highly likely that that may not have been the case...) they whole heartedly believe because they cant not bring them selves to believe that those who are meant to help us may actually have their own interests at heart other than the woman's. If women are told that they may have been subject of F.O.L. (fear of litigation) rather than F.T.P. or worse, that the fetal distress that required the cs was actually cause because of being made to lie on their back to be monitored (due to hospital plicy) etc. Then you HAVE to ensure that there is a support for these women after they become 'enlightened'. The danger is removing the ignorance wich is bliss and then leaving women to get through it themselves. You can not go back in time and do things differently and this is something that can cause a great deal of emotional trauma. I understand how frustrating it is when we hear those women say " but I cant havethe baby if the doctors not there!" (check out one of the 'quality' current affairs programs about a woman who gave birth in a car park because there was no doctor avaliable...were there no midwives??? This is/was going to air this week. It is only going to perpetuate the myth that it cant be done without the doctor.) I have no answers. I am as frustrated asyou. When I tell my birth story (my third bub) people say "oh, you were apart of the minority: -6 hour labour, intact peri, breathed baby out, no drugs etc... In fact an Australian study had only 9 women out of 242gave birth with NO MEDICAL PROCEDURES used during labour/birth. 3.7%Compared with the general stat of about 25% being cs, then those who do give birth natuarlly are theminority. The problem is that we all know that this shouldnt necessarrily be the case, and that if women stopped placing their trust and the entire responsiblity on the profession who are going to do what they have been trainned to do...interevene, then it is not going to change. We all know that this government will not see midwifery on an equally respect level as ob; so all we can do is keep pushing. Women are being used and manipulated by society, peers, fears, television, lawyers, I could go on they are losing their ability to birth naturally both physically (by this I mean the change in lifestyles has resulted in more OP presenting bubs for example) and also EMOTIONALLY. I think all I am saying is that if we are going to educate women to how their births should/could be then we have to be responsible to those who have been left feeling betrayed. Betrayal can cause a great deal of psychological problems. Women as mothers are isolated enough in this society. Jo Bainbridgefounding member CARES SAemail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]phone: 08 8365 7059birth with trust, faith love...
Re: A question about NZ midwifery
Dear [EMAIL PROTECTED] Contact the NZ college of midwiives thru their web site http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm Denise Hynd - Original Message - From: Jayne [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 6:46 AM Subject: Fw: A question about NZ midwifery Could anyone help with this query? TIA Jayne Maori Midwives in New Zealand From: Shabd Simran Khalsa-Baldwin [EMAIL PROTECTED] I am in search of information about or contacts for Maori Midwives in New Zealand. I am moving a city in small city in new Zealand called Dunedin at the end of January and am hoping to get involved with the Midwives of the area. I am currently a Doula and a midwifery student, I would of course love to find an apprenticeship while I am there but most of all I hope to find a contact person who can give me some direction and info about the scene there. If anyone has ideas or information for me it would be much appreciated. Please contact me by email at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or by phone at 541-485-6267 -- 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.
further to the 12 hour shift
To all, I hope this email doesn't result in more hate mail and virus poisoned posts which seems to occur when one posts differing views on this list but in view of Judy's posting of my initial reply I felt it was also necessary to post my response to balance the debate and I have also asked some other questions To the aspiring midwives who inquire about pay rates may I humbly suggest contacting the various registration boards and the associated state, dare I say it, Nursing unions around Australia to see exactly where 'they' view direct entry midwives in relation to pay scales, employment opportunities and accountability. Sorry but that's the system in place at present. I have heard whispers from some noted quarters 'not on par with registered nurse/midwife but along with enrolled nurse level' which is rather unkind. As various nursing/midwives conference motion agenda items are being prepared may I also suggest midwives specifically direct any midwifery related agenda items to be discussed at the next conference start submitting to the local branch of QNU and associated unions. Get involved! One I have already submitted through our local QNU branch is along the lines that graduate midwives be supported in the post graduate year similar to what Queensland Health presently offers graduate nurses. Presently here in the SE Qld we have produced excellent graduate midwives but alas they are having trouble gaining employment in metropolitan hospitals which provides supported practice and instead are re-entering nursing or working in rural areas without support with mid clients few and far between. Cheers Barb To: "Judy Chapman" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: Re: 12 hour shiftsDate: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 16:19:22 +1000Judy,No problems there Judy because its the "on call" status after their 8 hour shift which is allowable in the award. However, these midwives will have to be careful fatigue doesn't come into their practice because there is no protection for them from the QNC.When you described 12 hour shifts (without the on call factor) on ozmidwifery I knew it was not possible in QLD. Could you please correct this fact on the list before other unionised participants on the list expire?How many times does the on call midwife get 'called' in? Do the midwives prefer this system? The reason why I am asking is I am the only practicing midwife on the Industrial Policy committee of the QNU which has looked at several applications for 12 hour shifts in many areas but each QNU conference the submissions get voted down by members. We are currently reviewing a submission made last conference where after working 12 hours or more nurse/midwives will be required to have a full 24 hours off to prevent fatigue. What is your opinion of this?Recently, I saw an application to the SBU that QH wanted to close the McKay birthing teams project as quote 'it wasn't meeting clients needs'. Do you know anything about that?
Re: midwifery resolution
In a message dated 16/01/02 4:36:49 PM AUS Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I began mine with "..oh did anyone catch the story of the woman yesterday who was drugged, starved, strapped down, had her vagina repeatedly invaded, she was mutilated, objects inserted into her AND to make things worse she was 9 months pregnant!!!" everyone was up in arms and really upset by this. Then I told them that it happens in labour rooms everyday and nobody considers this abuse?? Infact we often passivley allow it to happen. Well said Jo !!! I've used similar examples in my work with women and it is very powerful. It makes them sit up and really take notice of what it is your trying to convey to them Re: lack of consent, violation, and rape !! Time and time again I've used this abstract 'story telling' as a teaching tool - then projected the same 'story' into the context of birthing and POW ! Yours in birth, Tina Pettigrew Birthworks Independent CBE and aspiring B.Mid Midwife. Convenor, Aust B. Mid Student Collective. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BMidStudentCollective [EMAIL PROTECTED] " As we trust the flowers to open to new life - So we can trust birth" Harriette Hartigan. ---
