Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
They really should get us to change our
language! Katy.
- Original Message -
From:
Stephen
Felicity
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 10:44
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts
onBirth Plans?
I believe that seemingly
small things, likesoftening theterm"birthplan" into
something along the lines ofbirth "preferences", etc,further
undermines and weakens the power a woman has to demand what she wants for her care, and firmly expect to
receive it. "Preferences" denotes a level of being ok with someone delivering
less than your "preferred" care - it's "preferred", but not
"compulsory". Women are already in an extremelyvulnerable and
disempowered position in a Hospital environment. Let's not increase that
by encouraging a lack of strength in the way they describe what they
want. It shouldn't have to be about pleasing the staff or making them
feel warm and fuzzy in order for the woman to receive the care she deserves
and wants. If things deviate from the birthplan (with the birthing
woman's genuine consent), it's not about blame or retribution. We just
want our care to match our needs. Simple, and not too much to
ask.
I don't understand the complaint about
birthplans being "too long", either. Unless they're a 20 page War and
Peace epic (and I've never seen one exceed 4 - 5 pages), it's quite
simplyNOT THAT HARD to flick through, locate the relevant point, and do
your best to adhere to it. There's farbulkier Hospy paperwork
whipped out and leafed throughduring birth. Most "long" (4 - 5
page) BPs are divided into specific sections which make it even easier to spot
the precise area you're looking for at the time. I don't see taking one
or two minutes to check a woman's BP to be too much to ask. In an
extreme emergency situation, the CP should be thoroughly well versed with the
BP anyway; so they should have a fairly good idea of what is desired, even in
the heat of the moment. The birthing woman will hopefully also have
support people there who can assist in referencing the BP in any
situation. In all reality it's usuallythe "well informed" women
who write "long" BPs so is the resentment of BPs we see sometimesin fact
a subtle dig at women daring to know their rights, their facts, and demand
nothing less? How can we be anything less than detailed about one of the most
specific and important moments of our lives that involves the wellbeing of
Mother, baby, and potentiallythe extended family and friends? It might
make things a little "harder" on the CP (though I REALLY don't see how), but
why should the birthing woman have to care, quite frankly?
Women aren't stupid. We know that if something in
birth goes haywire, and we hadn't expected it or thought about our desires in
that situation, then we go with what we believe is best at the time (considering
our careprovider's advicewhen makingour final decision). We
understand birth is a fluid, changeable and highly unique event, every time.
We don't expect to beunable to change our mind about something we
included on our plan. We don't need to be coy about asking for what we want;
it's fairly obvious who that level of shillyshallying suits - and it's not
birthing women.
Imagine birthing women reading Hospy birth
protocols and complaining they were "too long", "too concrete", and suggesting
wording rehashing. They'd be laughed out of town...but they're the ones
giving birth, and it's ok for US to question THEIR birth
documents?
- Original Message -
From:
Janet
Fraser
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:04
AM
Subject: *SUSPECTED SPAM* Re:
[ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
I always emphasise to
women that one of the reasons they need a birth plan to birth in an
institution is that the careprovider has one and their birth will run to it
if they don't provide an alternative. Let's not kid ourselves that birth
plans are respected though when even basic stuff like "Please don't offer me
drugs I will ask if I require pain relief" is ignored so frequently. Birth
plans SHOULD be treated with the same respect that living wills are accorded
and until then they are too often used as a way to pacify women and make
them feel that their birth is under their control when it isn't. I've heard
from too many women who've had birth plans laughed at and actually even
ripped up in front of them.
I also recommend to women
that they take their birth plan to "important people" in the institution and
have it signed so that in labour t
Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
I believe that seemingly small things, likesoftening theterm"birthplan" into something along the lines ofbirth "preferences", etc,further undermines and weakens the power a woman has to demand what she wants for her care, and firmly expect to receive it. "Preferences" denotes a level of being ok with someone delivering less than your "preferred" care - it's "preferred", but not "compulsory". Women are already in an extremelyvulnerable and disempowered position in a Hospital environment. Let's not increase that by encouraging a lack of strength in the way they describe what they want. It shouldn't have to be about pleasing the staff or making them feel warm and fuzzy in order for the woman to receive the care she deserves and wants. If things deviate from the birthplan (with the birthing woman's genuine consent), it's not about blame or retribution. We just want our care to match our needs. Simple, and not too much to ask. I don't understand the complaint about birthplans being "too long", either. Unless they're a 20 page War and Peace epic (and I've never seen one exceed 4 - 5 pages), it's quite simplyNOT THAT HARD to flick through, locate the relevant point, and do your best to adhere to it. There's farbulkier Hospy paperwork whipped out and leafed throughduring birth. Most "long" (4 - 5 page) BPs are divided into specific sections which make it even easier to spot the precise area you're looking for at the time. I don't see taking one or two minutes to check a woman's BP to be too much to ask. In an extreme emergency situation, the CP should be thoroughly well versed with the BP anyway; so they should have a fairly good idea of what is desired, even in the heat of the moment. The birthing woman will hopefully also have support people there who can assist in referencing the BP in any situation. In all reality it's usuallythe "well informed" women who write "long" BPs so is the resentment of BPs we see sometimesin fact a subtle dig at women daring to know their rights, their facts, and demand nothing less? How can we be anything less than detailed about one of the most specific and important moments of our lives that involves the wellbeing of Mother, baby, and potentiallythe extended family and friends? It might make things a little "harder" on the CP (though I REALLY don't see how), but why should the birthing woman have to care, quite frankly? Women aren't stupid. We know that if something in birth goes haywire, and we hadn't expected it or thought about our desires in that situation, then we go with what we believe is best at the time (considering our careprovider's advicewhen makingour final decision). We understand birth is a fluid, changeable and highly unique event, every time. We don't expect to beunable to change our mind about something we included on our plan. We don't need to be coy about asking for what we want; it's fairly obvious who that level of shillyshallying suits - and it's not birthing women. Imagine birthing women reading Hospy birth protocols and complaining they were "too long", "too concrete", and suggesting wording rehashing. They'd be laughed out of town...but they're the ones giving birth, and it's ok for US to question THEIR birth documents? - Original Message - From: Janet Fraser To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:04 AM Subject: *SUSPECTED SPAM* Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans? I always emphasise to women that one of the reasons they need a birth plan to birth in an institution is that the careprovider has one and their birth will run to it if they don't provide an alternative. Let's not kid ourselves that birth plans are respected though when even basic stuff like "Please don't offer me drugs I will ask if I require pain relief" is ignored so frequently. Birth plans SHOULD be treated with the same respect that living wills are accorded and until then they are too often used as a way to pacify women and make them feel that their birth is under their control when it isn't. I've heard from too many women who've had birth plans laughed at and actually even ripped up in front of them. I also recommend to women that they take their birth plan to "important people" in the institution and have it signed so that in labour there are no arguments about having aspects of it implemented that are not usual - no drugs, physiological third stage, no vit k or hep b etc. It's worth considering the argument in "Birthing from Within" that writing a birth plan indicates mistrust of the CP. I don't agree necessarily although experience has shown that institutions don't cope at all well in general with women having plans so p
Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
The "problem" of birth plan
seeming too hard to read at the time (yes, also at a loss to understand this
one)can also be solved by what I suggest to women -that they have
copies of the signed plan attached to their record. So as soon as that woman
rings the institution, the complete stranger who has to care for hercan
pull out her record and read her birth plan. It's just not that hard! It's not
like most women birth under 15 mins after arrival so fitting in 5-10 mins of
reading to ensure that the client is serviced and supported in the way she most
wants doesn't seem a big ask. Ideally, CPs will know the woman and know the plan
already but we know how difficult it is to implement caseload midwifery so
reading the birth plan is going to have to suffice : )
J
- Original Message -
From:
Stephen
Felicity
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 10:44
AM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts
onBirth Plans?
I believe that seemingly
small things, likesoftening theterm"birthplan" into
something along the lines ofbirth "preferences", etc,further
undermines and weakens the power a woman has to demand what she wants for her care, and firmly expect to
receive it. "Preferences" denotes a level of being ok with someone delivering
less than your "preferred" care - it's "preferred", but not
"compulsory". Women are already in an extremelyvulnerable and
disempowered position in a Hospital environment. Let's not increase that
by encouraging a lack of strength in the way they describe what they
want. It shouldn't have to be about pleasing the staff or making them
feel warm and fuzzy in order for the woman to receive the care she deserves
and wants. If things deviate from the birthplan (with the birthing
woman's genuine consent), it's not about blame or retribution. We just
want our care to match our needs. Simple, and not too much to
ask.
I don't understand the complaint about
birthplans being "too long", either. Unless they're a 20 page War and
Peace epic (and I've never seen one exceed 4 - 5 pages), it's quite
simplyNOT THAT HARD to flick through, locate the relevant point, and do
your best to adhere to it. There's farbulkier Hospy paperwork
whipped out and leafed throughduring birth. Most "long" (4 - 5
page) BPs are divided into specific sections which make it even easier to spot
the precise area you're looking for at the time. I don't see taking one
or two minutes to check a woman's BP to be too much to ask. In an
extreme emergency situation, the CP should be thoroughly well versed with the
BP anyway; so they should have a fairly good idea of what is desired, even in
the heat of the moment. The birthing woman will hopefully also have
support people there who can assist in referencing the BP in any
situation. In all reality it's usuallythe "well informed" women
who write "long" BPs so is the resentment of BPs we see sometimesin fact
a subtle dig at women daring to know their rights, their facts, and demand
nothing less? How can we be anything less than detailed about one of the most
specific and important moments of our lives that involves the wellbeing of
Mother, baby, and potentiallythe extended family and friends? It might
make things a little "harder" on the CP (though I REALLY don't see how), but
why should the birthing woman have to care, quite frankly?
Women aren't stupid. We know that if something in
birth goes haywire, and we hadn't expected it or thought about our desires in
that situation, then we go with what we believe is best at the time (considering
our careprovider's advicewhen makingour final decision). We
understand birth is a fluid, changeable and highly unique event, every time.
We don't expect to beunable to change our mind about something we
included on our plan. We don't need to be coy about asking for what we want;
it's fairly obvious who that level of shillyshallying suits - and it's not
birthing women.
Imagine birthing women reading Hospy birth
protocols and complaining they were "too long", "too concrete", and suggesting
wording rehashing. They'd be laughed out of town...but they're the ones
giving birth, and it's ok for US to question THEIR birth
documents?
- Original Message -
From:
Janet
Fraser
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:04
AM
Subject: *SUSPECTED SPAM* Re:
[ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
I always emphasise to
women that one of the reasons they need a birth plan to birth in an
institution is that the careprovider has one and their birth will run to it
if they don't provide an alternative
RE: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans?
I understand what you are saying completely and agree completely, in an ideal world that would happen. So how do we change attitude towards birth plans in hospitals? 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: owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au [mailto:owner-ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au] On Behalf Of Janet Fraser Sent: Friday, 23 June 2006 10:54 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans? The problem of birth plan seeming too hard to read at the time (yes, also at a loss to understand this one)can also be solved by what I suggest to women -that they have copies of the signed plan attached to their record. So as soon as that woman rings the institution, the complete stranger who has to care for hercan pull out her record and read her birth plan. It's just not that hard! It's not like most women birth under 15 mins after arrival so fitting in 5-10 mins of reading to ensure that the client is serviced and supported in the way she most wants doesn't seem a big ask. Ideally, CPs will know the woman and know the plan already but we know how difficult it is to implement caseload midwifery so reading the birth plan is going to have to suffice : ) J - Original Message - From: Stephen Felicity To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Friday, June 23, 2006 10:44 AM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Your thoughts onBirth Plans? I believe that seemingly small things, likesoftening thetermbirthplan into something along the lines ofbirth preferences, etc,further undermines and weakens the power a woman has to demand what she wants for her care, and firmly expect to receive it. Preferences denotes a level of being ok with someone delivering less than your preferred care - it's preferred, but not compulsory. Women are already in an extremelyvulnerable and disempowered position in a Hospital environment. Let's not increase that by encouraging a lack of strength in the way they describe what they want. It shouldn't have to be about pleasing the staff or making them feel warm and fuzzy in order for the woman to receive the care she deserves and wants. If things deviate from the birthplan (with the birthing woman's genuine consent), it's not about blame or retribution. We just want our care to match our needs. Simple, and not too much to ask. I don't understand the complaint about birthplans being too long, either. Unless they're a 20 page War and Peace epic (and I've never seen one exceed 4 - 5 pages), it's quite simplyNOT THAT HARD to flick through, locate the relevant point, and do your best to adhere to it. There's farbulkier Hospy paperwork whipped out and leafed throughduring birth. Most long (4 - 5 page) BPs are divided into specific sections which make it even easier to spot the precise area you're looking for at the time. I don't see taking one or two minutes to check a woman's BP to be too much to ask. In an extreme emergency situation, the CP should be thoroughly well versed with the BP anyway; so they should have a fairly good idea of what is desired, even in the heat of the moment. The birthing woman will hopefully also have support people there who can assist in referencing the BP in any situation. In all reality it's usuallythe well informed women who write long BPs so is the resentment of BPs we see sometimesin fact a subtle dig at women daring to know their rights, their facts, and demand nothing less? How can we be anything less than detailed about one of the most specific and important moments of our lives that involves the wellbeing of Mother, baby, and potentiallythe extended family and friends? It might make things a little harder on the CP (though I REALLY don't see how), but why should the birthing woman have to care, quite frankly? Women aren't stupid. We know that if something in birth goes haywire, and we hadn't expected it or thought about our desires in that situation, then we go with what we believe is best at the time (considering our careprovider's advicewhen makingour final decision). We understand birth is a fluid, changeable and highly unique event, every time. We don't expect to beunable to change our mind about something we included on our plan. We don't need to be coy about asking for what we want; it's fairly obvious who that level of shillyshallying suits - and it's not birthing women. Imagine birthing women reading Hospy birth protocols and complaining they were too long, too concrete, and suggesting wording rehashing. They'd be laughed out of town...but they're the ones giving birth, and it's ok for US to question THEIR birth documents? - Original Message - From: Janet Fraser To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 10:04 AM
