RE: [ozmidwifery] RE: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website
I disagree strongly with this section of the RWH website (below). I think many women who birth without pain relief are dismissed as having been lucky to have had an easy labour. Women who birth naturally are often not credited with managing their own pain and are not recognised as having informed themselves to labour in less pain-causing ways in the first place. It's as if pain is something that can be objectively measured and only managed with medical intervention. - Original Message - and if they manage to achieve delivery without any form of pain relief, they receive some mythical 'badge of honour'. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] RE: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website
Gosh it gets worse The options available for pain relief during labour have increased dramatically since that time but it has only been in the second half of this century that they have been made readily available for women. The reality is that about 2 thirds of normal, healthy pregnant women suffer severe or intolerable pain during labour, and only about 2% of women are fortunate enough to describe little or no discomfort. However, despite this many women are still made to feel guilty or inadequate if they ask for pain relief, and if they manage to achieve delivery without any form of pain relief, they receive some mythical 'badge of honour'. In no other situation would anyone deliberately allow someone to suffer so severely for so long without attempting to relieve their pain. It is, of course, always the expectant mother's decision as to whether she will have anything during labour, but this can only be done in an informed fashion if she has been told her options and the pros and cons of each before she goes into labour. Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support From: Kelly @ BellyBelly [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, 30 August 2006 9:44 PM To: 'ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au' Subject: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website I found this on the RWH website in the section about the cons of epidurals: 6. Some people believe that epidurals may increase the duration of labour, or increase the likelihood of needing forceps or a Caesarean section. The evidence for or against this belief is very controversial. It is almost impossible to do unbiased studies to confirm or deny this belief. Women who have excessive pain and ask for an epidural may be the ones with bigger babies or smaller pelvises and thus be more likely to need forceps or a Caesarean section anyway. In addition, even if labour is prolonged, is it better to have a 9 hour labour in agony, or a 13 hour labour in relative comfort (as long as the baby and mother are monitored and both are well)? I would suspect the latter. In conclusion I think it is important to stress that no-one can predict how they will feel during labour, and some labours are far more painful than others. Women who ask for pain relief during labour should not be made to feel guilty or inadequate, as if they have failed, but rather reassured and given the pain relief they require. The attitude of '...no, you'll be fine...let's hold of for a few more hours and see how you go...' is no longer appropriate unless the baby is about to pop out any second. Eck. Love their choice of wording too. http://www.rwh.org.au/rwhanaes/whatis.cfm?doc_id=2392 Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support
Re: [ozmidwifery] RE: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website
Given that they have a 1 in 3 c-sec rate and have got rid of their BC while pretending to "extend it's ethos" throughout the new buildings, what part of this surprises you, Kelly? The only thing I love about RWH is how unashamedly they promote this rubbish and how conveniently they put protocols and stats on their website so you can show consumers why not to go there. I can barely read their crap, it makes me inarticulate with rage. J - Original Message - From: Kelly @ BellyBelly To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2006 9:50 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] RE: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website Gosh it gets worse The options available for pain relief during labour have increased dramatically since that time but it has only been in the second half of this century that they have been made readily available for women. The reality is that about 2 thirds of normal, healthy pregnant women suffer severe or intolerable pain during labour, and only about 2% of women are fortunate enough to describe little or no discomfort. However, despite this many women are still made to feel guilty or inadequate if they ask for pain relief, and if they manage to achieve delivery without any form of pain relief, they receive some mythical 'badge of honour'. In no other situation would anyone deliberately allow someone to suffer so severely for so long without attempting to relieve their pain. It is, of course, always the expectant mother's decision as to whether she will have anything during labour, but this can only be done in an informed fashion if she has been told her options and the pros and cons of each before she goes into labour. Best Regards,Kelly ZanteyCreator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to ParenthoodBellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support From: Kelly @ BellyBelly [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, 30 August 2006 9:44 PMTo: 'ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au'Subject: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website I found this on the RWH website in the section about the cons of epidurals: 6. Some people believe that epidurals may increase the duration of labour, or increase the likelihood of needing forceps or a Caesarean section. The evidence for or against this belief is very controversial. It is almost impossible to do unbiased studies to confirm or deny this belief. Women who have excessive pain and ask for an epidural may be the ones with bigger babies or smaller pelvises and thus be more likely to need forceps or a Caesarean section anyway. In addition, even if labour is prolonged, is it better to have a 9 hour labour in agony, or a 13 hour labour in relative comfort (as long as the baby and mother are monitored and both are well)? I would suspect the latter. In conclusion I think it is important to stress that no-one can predict how they will feel during labour, and some labours are far more painful than others. Women who ask for pain relief during labour should not be made to feel guilty or inadequate, as if they have failed, but rather reassured and given the pain relief they require. The attitude of '...no, you'll be fine...let's hold of for a few more hours and see how you go...' is no longer appropriate unless the baby is about to pop out any second. Eck. Love their choice of wording too. http://www.rwh.org.au/rwhanaes/whatis.cfm?doc_id=2392 Best Regards,Kelly ZanteyCreator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to ParenthoodBellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support
Re: [ozmidwifery] RE: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on Website
This reminds me of what a woman was told in private antenatal classes that rating pain from 1 to 10 with 10 the worst pain you can imagine, then labour will probably sit at about 20. How's thatfor getting the adrenaline going and inhibiting endorphins! No wonder some of these women walk in at 1cm wanting an epidural.Michelle"Kelly @ BellyBelly" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Gosh it gets worse The options available for pain relief during labour have increased dramatically since that time but it has only been in the second half of this century that they have been made readily available for women. The reality is that about 2 thirds of normal, healthy pregnant women suffer severe or intolerable pain during labour, and only about 2% of women are fortunate enough to describe little or no discomfort. However, despite this many women are still made to feel guilty or inadequate if they ask for pain relief, and if they manage to achieve delivery without any form of pain relief, they receive some mythical 'badge of honour'. In no other situation would anyone deliberately allow someone to suffer so severely for so long without attempting to relieve their pain. It is, of course, always the expectant mother's decision as to whether she will have anything during labour, but this can only be done in an informed fashion if she has been told her options and the pros and cons of each before she goes into labour. Best Regards,Kelly ZanteyCreator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to ParenthoodBellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support From: Kelly @ BellyBelly [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, 30 August 2006 9:44 PMTo: 'ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au'Subject: RWH - Pain Relief Comment on WebsiteI found this on the RWH website in the section about the cons of epidurals:6. Some people believe that epidurals may increase the duration of labour, or increase the likelihood of needing forceps or a Caesarean section. The evidence for or against this belief is very controversial. It is almost impossible to do unbiased studies to confirm or deny this belief. Women who have excessive pain and ask for an epidural may be the ones with bigger babies or smaller pelvises and thus be more likely to need forceps or a Caesarean section anyway. In addition, even if labour is prolonged, is it better to have a 9 hour labour in agony, or a 13 hour labour in relative comfort (as long as the baby and mother are monitored and both are well)? I would suspect the latter.In conclusion I think it is important to stress that no-one can predict how they will feel during labour, and some labours are far more painful than others. Women who ask for pain relief during labour should not be made to feel guilty or inadequate, as if they have failed, but rather reassured and given the pain relief they require. The attitude of '...no, you'll be fine...let's hold of for a few more hours and see how you go...' is no longer appropriate unless the baby is about to pop out any second.Eck. Love their choice of wording too.http://www.rwh.org.au/rwhanaes/whatis.cfm?doc_id=2392 Best Regards,Kelly ZanteyCreator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to ParenthoodBellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support Do you Yahoo!? Take part in Total Girls Ultimate Slumber Party and help break a world record
