[ozmidwifery] letter writing time
This deservesa few letters. I've sent mine, who's next? J Birth Choices - this week's NIShould you have a caesarean or is a natural birth better? Studies show 80 per cent of gynaecologists opt for a caesarean, according to Brisbane gynaecologist Dr Gino Pecoraro.The upside of a C-section is its quick and you can choose the delivery time, which can make it easier for your husband to be with you.The downside is there's more risk to the mother, due to blood clots, infection and also a risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis)."Generally, the procedure is very safe", Dr Pecoraro says. "In Australia, only one in 10,000 women die through childbirth, with these figures somewhat higher for caesarean births."While the upsides of a natural birth mean no scarring, the downside includes risks of uncontrolled tearing, a long and painful labour and sometimes incontinence."Dr Pecoraro warns there are dangers in having a caesarean for your first birth and then a vaginal delivery for subsequent babies."Women whose first birth is a caesarean - as choice or emergency - and then have a second birth vaginally have a slight risk (one in 200) of rupturing the scar on their uterus from the caesarean, which can be fatal". http://www.newidea.com.au/display.cfm?ObjectID=3FF2F948-001E-4286-83B27A2259069D2A For home birth information go to:Joyous Birth Australian home birth network and forums.http://www.joyousbirth.info/Or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth Centres in West NSW?
Blacktown has a birth centre but the doctors won't let waterbirths happen there. --- Sonja Barry [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Camden's birth centre closed to make way for caseload. You are able to book into Camden for your antenatal and postnatal care with a midwife. You see this midwife for all your antenatal visits and they catch your baby in hospital at Campbelltown. All have experience in the birth centre and with water birth. You meet their back up midwife once or twice antenatally incase your midwife is on days off when your baby is born. Your midwife will also visit you at home if you go home prior to 48 hours post birth. Need to be very quick to use this option as November is already booked out and we are booking in women due to have a baby in December January. We are still working towards getting births back at Camden. The powers that be call this current model with births at Campbelltown stage 2. Yet the minister opened stage 2 last week and was the only one of the speakers to mention stage 3!!! won't be letting him forget that he said that. Sonja - Original Message - From: Kelly @ BellyBelly To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 8:49 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Birth Centres in West NSW? A question from one of my members: I was wondering if there were any Birthing Centres in the Western Suburbs of NSW I know Nepean Hospital had one and closed it down about 2yrs ago due to lack of staff and also i think Campbelltown had one, but thats also closed down L I cant seem to find any information about it or anything?!?!?! Its really quite frustrating, i want to look into something, like a water birth (but im not prepared to do it at home!) for around my area and cant find a thing! Maybe i should ring a politician or something!? LOL Can anyone help? Kell, do you have any contacts up this way? I think I need to put together a Birth Centre list! Oh and I love seeing another one on my forum converted (in a nice way of course!) ;) ;) It's working!!! J Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support On Yahoo!7 Dating: It's free to join and check out our great singles! http://www.yahoo7.com.au/personals -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time
Id love to read your letter Janet if you would like to share it? 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: Wednesday, 3 May 2006 4:33 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time This deservesa few letters. I've sent mine, who's next? J Birth Choices - this week's NI Should you have a caesarean or is a natural birth better? Studies show 80 per cent of gynaecologists opt for a caesarean, according to Brisbane gynaecologist Dr Gino Pecoraro. The upside of a C-section is its quick and you can choose the delivery time, which can make it easier for your husband to be with you. The downside is there's more risk to the mother, due to blood clots, infection and also a risk of DVT (deep vein thrombosis). Generally, the procedure is very safe, Dr Pecoraro says. In Australia, only one in 10,000 women die through childbirth, with these figures somewhat higher for caesarean births. While the upsides of a natural birth mean no scarring, the downside includes risks of uncontrolled tearing, a long and painful labour and sometimes incontinence. Dr Pecoraro warns there are dangers in having a caesarean for your first birth and then a vaginal delivery for subsequent babies. Women whose first birth is a caesarean - as choice or emergency - and then have a second birth vaginally have a slight risk (one in 200) of rupturing the scar on their uterus from the caesarean, which can be fatal. http://www.newidea.com.au/display.cfm?ObjectID=3FF2F948-001E-4286-83B27A2259069D2A For home birth information go to: Joyous Birth Australian home birth network and forums. http://www.joyousbirth.info/ Or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Re: [ozmidwifery] massage in pregnancy
I guess this has already been answered but I have been overseas and am just now catching up. When I did massage years ago I was taught not to massage a pregnant woman's belly, not because of the risk of miscarriage but because of the risk of being blamed if a miscarriage should subsequently occur. Made sense to me. Cheers JudyJanet Fraser [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi all, can anyone recommend a form of massage particularly beneficial in pregnancy? I've been in contact with a massage student who's been told that she must never on any account massage a woman in pregnancy as it can cause miscarriage. Personally I know that's a crock but I'd love to be able to give her better info, perhaps on traditional and well evidenced forms of massage in pregnancy. TIA, J For home birth information go to:Joyous Birth Australian home birth network and forums.http://www.joyousbirth.info/Or email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Personals: It's free to check out our great singles!
Re: [ozmidwifery] query
Nancy tell us more about what you have, where you are and what prices you are asking. Perhaps pictures or brand names would be good Andrea Quanchi On 03/05/2006, at 10:28 AM, Nancy San Martin wrote: Hello Andrea, I am a midwife in far north NSW, used to be independent until insurance ceased. Now I have a fair bit of equipment to sell and was wondering if I could publish the list on ozmid? I have a pregnancy rocker and birthrite birth stool as well as many smaller items. I thought it might be good for both myself and buyers - getting good stuff at good prices. Please let me know if this is possible. Thanks for considering. Kind regards, Nancy San Martin -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrea Robertson Sent: Wednesday, 3 May 2006 9:09 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] Nitrous oxide - potential dangers for midwives Hi everyone, The article published in MIDIRS March 2006 on Nitrous Oxide - no laughing matter is now available on our website. You can access it directly here: http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea27.html or though My Diary: http://www.birthinternational.com/diary/index.html This is a very important health and safety issue for midwives and I urge everyone to read it and circulate it widely. A similar article will be published in the Midwifery Matters journal of the Association of Radical Midwives in the UK in June (I have been advised). Regards, Andrea -- 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. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
[ozmidwifery] new idea
heres my letter i tried to be nice and respectful and kept trying to keep in mind that everyone has good intentions theyre just obviously uninformed and scared !! it worked for a second and then i was just furious again hahaha we'll see what my reply is Hi, I am a 4th year medical student and feel the need to write after reading your recent article on caesareans vs vaginal birth. While I'm sure this was an attempt to provide useful information to your readers about an obviously thought-provoking issue of great interest to your readers, the result I'm sorry to say is a biased article that provokes fear and perpetuates many myths. In the current era of sky-rocketing intervention rates and theterrible hospitalbirth experiences that go with them, it is little wonder that 80% of gynaecologists would choose a caesarean ! Obstetrician/Gynaecologists are usually only called on to deal with problems and complications of pregnancy and birth and as such, often develop a skewed view of the inherent risks, despite the evidence. This does not mean however, that other women should be encouraged to make this choice. There are many medical complications, only a very small number of which are pointed out in the article, associated with caesareans. This is not to mention the psychological complications that can come with caesareans due to separation from their babies and the difficulty of caring for a small baby while recovering from major abdominal surgery. We only need to look to the US, with around a 30% caesarean rate and still rated 31st for perinatal mortality rates to see that caesarean sections are not the safe and inert procedure they are often made out to be and do not help countriesto keep more babies alive.The point made about scheduling the day of birth is a particularly sad one. It is shocking that our society puts the health and wellbeing of their babies (who will be born when they are fully ready to be) behind their quest for instant gratification and control over their lives. If ever, this is one time that we should give over to nature and forget our need to schedule, organise and plan everything to the minute detail. It is also sad that our 'husbands' may not be able to make time to be with us when their child is born unless it fits neatly into a schedule !The statistic given for uterine rupture during a vaginal birth after caesarean is in fact quite accurate (1 in 200.) The reasons it is biased are firstly, because very few readers have any experience with which to guage this against (for example that common interventions like amniocentesis that arerecommended every day havedouble this risk of miscarriage ie 1 in 100,) that half of all uterine ruptures occur in women who have not everhad a prior caesarean and that not all uterine ruptures are fatal anyway.The risks given for 'natural birth' are particularly misleading and fear provoking and are extremely dangerous suggestions to be putting out to a generation of women. The risk of 'uncontrolled tearing' which we call a 3rd or 4th degree tear is in fact very low. This does however, become a more common problem when the birth process is interefered with by cutting the perineum - another intervention. The risk of urinary incontinence has been shown time and time again to be unrelated to the mechanism of delivery. Women who undergo caesarean sections experience urinary incontinence at the same rates as those who have vaginal births. And yes, as you have pointed out, caesareans are usually relatively quick but what you fail to mention is the long period of recovery and pain that goes with this surgery and the fact that women who have vaginal births are usually much quicker to be up and about and leave hospital.I hope that you will think again before printing information of this nature again. It does discredit New Idea to those who know the evidence surrounding these issues. Although there may be no outright lies in this article, it is blindingly biased and really unhelpful in helping women and families in their birth journey. I also hope that you will be printing an apology and some evidence, perhaps care of a midwife, as they are the experts of normal birth, not us medical people. If not I will be recommending to all the GPs, hospitals and birth centres that I'm involved with not to buy or allow your magazine in waiting rooms, due to it's fear-provoking and over-simplified articles.Regards Emily Dorman New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.
Re: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time
Dear New Idea, Unsurprising as it is to see a surgeon promoting unnecessary surgery as on a par with a normal physiological process refined by millions of years of evolution, it is poor and irresponsible journalism to present these dangerous misconceptions in a major womens magazine unchallenged. While Dr Pecoraro responsibly mentions that caesareans come with a higher rate of maternal death than vaginal births (and some other uncommon risks), he omits to mention the long list of other potential complications arising from surgery. This is an insult to your readers, since at least 1 in 3 Australian women (and 1 in 2 in many private hospitals) will have experienced this surgery and many will have had to manage the complications he clearly views as unimportant.[1] Let me list a few: significantly increased risk of hysterectomy significantly increased risk of PND and PTSD significantly increased risk of rehospitalisation Most scarily of all however Dr Pecoraro entirely omits the equally long list of dangers to babies from surgery. As babies born by elective caesarean are by definition premature, or they would already have left their mothers bodies by the more optimal path by which they entered, they not only have to deal with major narcotics passing into their bloodstream from the anaesthesia administered to their mothers, but they are unprepared to breathe and do not receive the massaging benefit that vaginal birth gives to expel mucus and help wet lungs to breathe as well as the host of friendly flora which babies need to inhabit their gut which can only be taken up in a vaginal birth. No doubt Dr Pecoraro would be the first to say that the ultimate goal from birth is a healthy baby, yet clearly the least healthy babies of all are born via unnecessary surgery. Healthy babies also deserve healthy mothers and no woman with a massive wound in her belly could be considered a model of health by any standard, could she? Especially if that surgery was not performed as a life saving measure for her or her baby but because a surgeon told her it was safer. Let me list some for you: approximately five times the rate of severe breathing problems occurring in comparison with vaginally birthed babies[2] · significant problems from epidural anaesthesia such as lowered neurobehavioral scores on newborn, decrease in muscle tone and strength, respiratory depression in baby, foetal malpositioning, foetal heart rate variability, increased need for forceps, vacuum and caesarean deliveries and episiotomies[3] Difficulties with breastfeeding and bonding are also surely crucial in the early life of a baby and are far more likely with caesareans. NI should be very careful what they see fit to promote because irresponsible promotion of unnecessary surgery does not save or enhance lives. Promotion of woman-centred care provided via the midwifery model, with its attendant lowering of caesareans and raising of womens joy in birth is what is desperately needed in this country. Your readers deserve accurate, unbiased information from which to begin their researching, not rubbish like this which serves no ones interests but that of surgeons. Janet Fraser [1] Other things being equal, is a caeserean section always more hazardous to the mother's health than vaginal birth? A quick summary by Olubusola Amu, Sasha Rajendran and Ibrahim I Bolaji,BMJ 1998;317:462-465 ( 15 August )http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7156/462 "Caesarean sections are not without complications and consequences. Maternal risks in the short term include haemorrhage, infection, ileus, pulmonary embolism, and Mendelson's syndrome. The prevalence of hysterectomy due to haemorrhage after caesarean section is 10 times that after vaginal delivery, and the risk of maternal death is increased up to 16-fold. Long term morbidity including formation of adhesions, intestinal obstruction, bladder injury, and uterine rupture is often underestimated during subsequent pregnancy. There is evidence suggesting decreased fecundity, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, placenta praevia, and worse infant outcome in subsequent pregnancies, although the effect on non-reproductive health is unclear and contradictory. Feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and failure in not completing a natural process may affect bonding between mother and infant, particularly if the operation was conducted under general anaesthetic" [2] High Rate of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Seen in Babies Born by C-Section From Medscape: WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Mar 01 - The incidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns delivered by cesarean section is nearly five times higher than that observed among babies delivered vaginally, according to a database analysis of deliveries at the Illinois Masonic Medical Center, in Chicago. Among 25,318 deliveries between 1992 and 1999, 4301 were
[ozmidwifery] Strengths of Midwifery In Australia
Hi all. I am a 1st year B.Mid student writing the obligatory essay on Midwifery in Australia. No easy feat really and I need to outline some strengths and weaknesses. Well there is plenty out there about what is wrong with Midwifery Services and what the threats are (New Idea anyone?) but not a lot talking about what is right with it, besides the inherent fact that it works!! So I thought I'd do a little bit of a survey and ask you all what you think are the strengths. What do you all see as being great about being a Midwife in Australia?? Your feedback would be most appreciated. Renee -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: [ozmidwifery] new idea
You go girl! From: Emily [EMAIL PROTECTED]Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auTo: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auSubject: [ozmidwifery] new ideaDate: Wed, 3 May 2006 01:06:55 -0700 (PDT) heres my letter i tried to be nice and respectful and kept trying to keep in mind that everyone has good intentions theyre just obviously uninformed and scared !! it worked for a second and then i was just furious again hahaha we'll see what my reply is Hi, I am a 4th year medical student and feel the need to write after reading your recent article on caesareans vs vaginal birth. While I'm sure this was an attempt to provide useful information to your readers about an obviously thought-provoking issue of great interest to your readers, the result I'm sorry to say is a biased article that provokes fear and perpetuates many myths. In the current era of sky-rocketing intervention rates and theterrible hospitalbirth experiences that go with them, it is little wonder that 80% of gynaecologists would choose a caesarean ! Obstetrician/Gynaecologists are usually only called on to deal with problems and complications of pregnancy and birth and as such, often develop a skewed view of the inherent risks, despite the evidence. This does not mean however, that other women should be encouraged to make this choice. There are many medical complications, only a very small number of which are pointed out in the article, associated with caesareans. This is not to mention the psychological complications that can come with caesareans due to separation from their babies and the difficulty of caring for a small baby while recovering from major abdominal surgery. We only need to look to the US, with around a 30% caesarean rate and still rated 31st for perinatal mortality rates to see that caesarean sections are not the safe and inert procedure they are often made out to be and do not help countriesto keep more babies alive. The point made about scheduling the day of birth is a particularly sad one. It is shocking that our society puts the health and wellbeing of their babies (who will be born when they are fully ready to be) behind their quest for instant gratification and control over their lives. If ever, this is one time that we should give over to nature and forget our need to schedule, organise and plan everything to the minute detail. It is also sad that our 'husbands' may not be able to make time to be with us when their child is born unless it fits neatly into a schedule ! The statistic given for uterine rupture during a vaginal birth after caesarean is in fact quite accurate (1 in 200.) The reasons it is biased are firstly, because very few readers have any experience with which to guage this against (for example that common interventions like amniocentesis that arerecommended every day havedouble this risk of miscarriage ie 1 in 100,) that half of all uterine ruptures occur in women who have not everhad a prior caesarean and that not all uterine ruptures are fatal anyway. The risks given for 'natural birth' are particularly misleading and fear provoking and are extremely dangerous suggestions to be putting out to a generation of women. The risk of 'uncontrolled tearing' which we call a 3rd or 4th degree tear is in fact very low. This does however, become a more common problem when the birth process is interefered with by cutting the perineum - another intervention. The risk of urinary incontinence has been shown time and time again to be unrelated to the mechanism of delivery. Women who undergo caesarean sections experience urinary incontinence at the same rates as those who have vaginal births. And yes, as you have pointed out, caesareans are usually relatively quick but what you fail to mention is the long period of recovery and pain that goes with this surgery and the fact that women who have vaginal births are usually much quicker to be up and about and leave hospital. I hope that you will think again before printing information of this nature again. It does discredit New Idea to those who know the evidence surrounding these issues. Although there may be no outright lies in this article, it is blindingly biased and really unhelpful in helping women and families in their birth journey. I also hope that you will be printing an apology and some evidence, perhaps care of a midwife, as they are the experts of normal birth, not us medical people. If not I will be recommending to all the GPs, hospitals and birth centres that I'm involved with not to buy or allow your magazine in waiting rooms, due to it's fear-provoking and over-simplified articles. Regards Emily Dorman New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time
great letter janet gee they didnt know what they had coming when they put in that little article did they??[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear New Idea,Unsurprising as it is to see a surgeon promoting unnecessary surgery as on a par with a normal physiological process refined by millions of years of evolution, it is poor and irresponsible journalism to present these dangerous misconceptions in a major womens magazine unchallenged. While Dr Pecoraro responsibly mentions that caesareans come with a higher rate of maternal death than vaginal births (and some other uncommon risks), he omits to mention the long list of other potential complications arising from surgery. This is an insult to your readers, since at least 1 in 3 Australian women (and 1 in 2 in many private hospitals) will have experienced this surgery and many will have had to manage the complications he clearly views as unimportant.[1] Let me list a few:significantly increased risk of hysterectomy significantly increased risk of PND and PTSD significantly increased risk of rehospitalisation Most scarily of all however Dr Pecoraro entirely omits the equally long list of dangers to babies from surgery. As babies born by elective caesarean are by definition premature, or they would already have left their mothers bodies by the more optimal path by which they entered, they not only have to deal with major narcotics passing into their bloodstream from the anaesthesia administered to their mothers, but they are unprepared to breathe and do not receive the massaging benefit that vaginal birth gives to expel mucus and help wet lungs to breathe as well as the host of friendly flora which babies need to inhabit their gut which can only be taken up in a vaginal birth. No doubt Dr Pecoraro would be the first to say that the ultimate goal from birth is a healthy baby, yet clearly the least healthy babies of all are born via unnecessary surgery. Healthy babies also deserve healthy mothers and no woman with a massive wound in her belly could be considered a model of health by any standard, could she? Especially if that surgery was not performed as a life saving measure for her or her baby but because a surgeon told her it was safer. Let me list some for you:approximately five times the rate of severe breathing problems occurring in comparison with vaginally birthed babies[2] · significant problems from epidural anaesthesia such as lowered neurobehavioral scores on newborn, decrease in muscle tone and strength, respiratory depression in baby, foetal malpositioning, foetal heart rate variability, increased need for forceps, vacuum and caesarean deliveries and episiotomies[3] Difficulties with breastfeeding and bonding are also surely crucial in the early life of a baby and are far more likely with caesareans.NI should be very careful what they see fit to promote because irresponsible promotion of unnecessary surgery does not save or enhance lives. Promotion of woman-centred care provided via the midwifery model, with its attendant lowering of caesareans and raising of womens joy in birth is what is desperately needed in this country. Your readers deserve accurate, unbiased information from which to begin their researching, not rubbish like this which serves no ones interests but that of surgeons.Janet Fraser [1] Other things being equal, is a caeserean section always more hazardous to the mother's health than vaginal birth? A quick summary by Olubusola Amu, Sasha Rajendran and Ibrahim I Bolaji,BMJ 1998;317:462-465 ( 15 August )http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7156/462 "Caesarean sections are not without complications and consequences. Maternal risks in the short term include haemorrhage, infection, ileus, pulmonary embolism, and Mendelson's syndrome. The prevalence of hysterectomy due to haemorrhage after caesarean section is 10 times that after vaginal delivery, and the risk of maternal death is increased up to 16-fold. Long term morbidity including formation of adhesions, intestinal obstruction, bladder injury, and uterine rupture is often underestimated during subsequent pregnancy. There is evidence suggesting decreased fecundity, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, placenta praevia, and worse infant outcome in subsequent pregnancies, although the effect on non-reproductive health is unclear and contradictory. Feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and failure in not completing a natural process may affect bonding between mother and infant, particularly if the operation was conducted under general anaesthetic" [2] High Rate of Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension Seen in Babies Born by C-Section From Medscape: WESTPORT, CT (Reuters Health) Mar 01 - The incidence of persistent pulmonary hypertension in newborns delivered by cesarean section is nearly five times higher than that observed among babies delivered vaginally, according to a database analysis of deliveries at the
[ozmidwifery] Fwd: International Midwives Day. Urgent notice.
Carol Chapman [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: "Carol Chapman" [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: "MC NSW \(E-mail\)" [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: "Anne Saxton \(E-mail\)" [EMAIL PROTECTED],"Rosalee Shaw \(E-mail\)" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Subject: International Midwives Day. Urgent notice.Date: Wed, 3 May 2006 19:10:58 +1000Dear AllTo attract media for Belmont Birthing Service on International Midwives Daylocal birth support group and Maternity Coalition members are sendingflowers en masse to the midwives.We did this as a media stunt 2 years ago at John Hunter Hospital andachieved a fantastic floral display. It was wonderful and got us a good longsegment on the news that covered midwives scope of practise and the directentry midwifery courses!! Excellent awareness raisingWe are asking as many people as possible to send/deliver (if you livenearby) flowers to the BBS (2nd floor, Belmont District Hospital).If you can help please do. Please have your flowers at the BBS before 10:15am on Friday (Thursday pm would work), media has been advised to arrive at10:30 for photos. etc.If you live in the area, be advised that 'Florist de Belmont' on thePacific Hwy Belmont is donating some flowers and has offered that anyflowers purchased there will be arranged for free. Very kind I thought.Best Wishes and the deepest gratitude to our midwife friends reading this.Have a happy International Midwives Day and know that you are well loved andmuch appreciated.Best WishesCarol xxCarol ChapmanBranch PresidentNSW Maternity Coalition Inc.phone 02 4942 8602Mobile 0422 107 045www.maternitycoalition.org.au Get amazing travel prices for air and hotel in one click on Yahoo! FareChase
[ozmidwifery] Midwifery Strengths
Title: Midwifery Strengths Dear Renee I will give a strength from the consumer perspective! The power of the relationship between a woman and a midwife. When it works there is nothing a woman cannot do. The impact of that trust and that belief in being with woman has the capacity to transform lives. Read Andrew Bissits afterward in Having a Great Birth in Australia He comments on the trust and the relationship women have with midwives providing 1-2-1 care. Something the vast majority of other carers (and midwives in fragmented models) cannot achieve. Gee I wish I was writing this essay (shame I dont want to be a MW!) I would approach the core of strength from the perspective of when midwives actually do as the word means be with woman So to be with her one should know her, and put her as central to the process. To do this she comes first and Hospital protocols after and Drs timeframes after etc. I guess the real strength is when practice is optimal. Kind regards Justine Caines Hi all. I am a 1st year B.Mid student writing the obligatory essay on Midwifery in Australia. No easy feat really and I need to outline some strengths and weaknesses. Well there is plenty out there about what is wrong with Midwifery Services and what the threats are (New Idea anyone?) but not a lot talking about what is right with it, besides the inherent fact that it works!! So I thought I'd do a little bit of a survey and ask you all what you think are the strengths. What do you all see as being great about being a Midwife in Australia?? Your feedback would be most appreciated. Renee
Re: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time
Here is my letter...pretty tame but hopefully to the point. My brain is still not functioning very well. no wonder really, after 6 months of no more than 2 hours sleep at a time! I have just read the article NI published 'Birth Choices'. UnfortunateIy, I found it to be a very uneducated and misinformed article. Gino certainly did not present a balanced view on the real choices a mother faces for the birth of her child nor was his information evidence based, but rather his own personal opinion. In our day of the wonderful WWW, one only has to do a quick search to see the innaccuracy of his article. This article was certainly a disservice to the many mums to be that are also NI readers. It would be great if NI could present a more balanced and researched article with input from different ObGyn's, midwives and also mothers, the true experts on childbirth. A panel to share equally would be wonderful. Professionals from all walks eg. a conventional ObGyn, an alternative ObGyn, a hospital midwife and an independent midwife, a mum who chooses c-sections and a mum that has birthed at home, maybe even a mum that freebirthed. I think a really important point to remember, that is often forgotten when discussing childbirth choices, is that Gino, along with every other male or female 'professional' that hasn't given birth, can not ever fully give a true presentation of choices in childbirth. He or she is not a woman that has been pregnant or birthed a baby. As women, we are so different to men and those differences play a huge part in childbirth. Pregnant women and labouring mothers have so many different hormones, experiences and feelings that play in their every waking moment. This is something that no one can explain or understand unless they have been there. Statistics and 'evidence based studies' can never represent a womans journey through pregnancy and birth. You see, a choice is not that easy these days, it is no longer so black and white. A doctor may see a physically healthy mum and baby as the most important outcome, but the emotional state of a new mum, the bond her and her baby make and so many other factors come into play in a truly healthy and good outcome which leads to a good life and future for both mum and baby. I look forward to seeing a better, more informed and balanced article in the near future. Have a lovely day Abby Hogarth ~ Blackheath, NSW ~ mother of two beautiful girls 1st born via caeserean 2nd a beautiful and healing homebirth Janet Fraser [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear New Idea, -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] new idea
That's an excellent letter Emily. You will certainly rock the medical world when you are unleashed! Your passion is wonderful. Love Abby Emily [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: heres my letter i tried to be nice and respectful and kept trying to keep in mind that everyone has good intentions theyre just obviously uninformed and scared !! it worked for a second and then i was just furious again hahaha we'll see what my reply is -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] new idea
Go Emily! :-) - Original Message - From: Emily To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 6:06 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] new idea heres my letter i tried to be nice and respectful and kept trying to keep in mind that everyone has good intentions theyre just obviously uninformed and scared !! it worked for a second and then i was just furious again hahaha we'll see what my reply is Hi, I am a 4th year medical student and feel the need to write after reading your recent article on caesareans vs vaginal birth. While I'm sure this was an attempt to provide useful information to your readers about an obviously thought-provoking issue of great interest to your readers, the result I'm sorry to say is a biased article that provokes fear and perpetuates many myths. In the current era of sky-rocketing intervention rates and theterrible hospitalbirth experiences that go with them, it is little wonder that 80% of gynaecologists would choose a caesarean ! Obstetrician/Gynaecologists are usually only called on to deal with problems and complications of pregnancy and birth and as such, often develop a skewed view of the inherent risks, despite the evidence. This does not mean however, that other women should be encouraged to make this choice. There are many medical complications, only a very small number of which are pointed out in the article, associated with caesareans. This is not to mention the psychological complications that can come with caesareans due to separation from their babies and the difficulty of caring for a small baby while recovering from major abdominal surgery. We only need to look to the US, with around a 30% caesarean rate and still rated 31st for perinatal mortality rates to see that caesarean sections are not the safe and inert procedure they are often made out to be and do not help countriesto keep more babies alive. The point made about scheduling the day of birth is a particularly sad one. It is shocking that our society puts the health and wellbeing of their babies (who will be born when they are fully ready to be) behind their quest for instant gratification and control over their lives. If ever, this is one time that we should give over to nature and forget our need to schedule, organise and plan everything to the minute detail. It is also sad that our 'husbands' may not be able to make time to be with us when their child is born unless it fits neatly into a schedule ! The statistic given for uterine rupture during a vaginal birth after caesarean is in fact quite accurate (1 in 200.) The reasons it is biased are firstly, because very few readers have any experience with which to guage this against (for example that common interventions like amniocentesis that arerecommended every day havedouble this risk of miscarriage ie 1 in 100,) that half of all uterine ruptures occur in women who have not everhad a prior caesarean and that not all uterine ruptures are fatal anyway. The risks given for 'natural birth' are particularly misleading and fear provoking and are extremely dangerous suggestions to be putting out to a generation of women. The risk of 'uncontrolled tearing' which we call a 3rd or 4th degree tear is in fact very low. This does however, become a more common problem when the birth process is interefered with by cutting the perineum - another intervention. The risk of urinary incontinence has been shown time and time again to be unrelated to the mechanism of delivery. Women who undergo caesarean sections experience urinary incontinence at the same rates as those who have vaginal births. And yes, as you have pointed out, caesareans are usually relatively quick but what you fail to mention is the long period of recovery and pain that goes with this surgery and the fact that women who have vaginal births are usually much quicker to be up and about and leave hospital. I hope that you will think again before printing information of this nature again. It does discredit New Idea to those who know the evidence surrounding these issues. Although there may be no outright lies in this article, it is blindingly biased and really unhelpful in helping women and families in their birth journey. I also hope that you will be printing an apology and some evidence, perhaps care of a midwife, as they are the experts of normal birth, not us medical people. If not I will be recommending to all the GPs, hospitals and birth centres that I'm involved with not to buy or allow your magazine in waiting rooms, due to it's fear-provoking and over-simplified articles. Regards Emily Dorman New Yahoo! Messenger with Voice. Call regular phones from your PC and save big.
Re: *****SUSPECTED SPAM***** Re: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time
And Janet - Original Message - From: Janet Fraser To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 6:22 PM Subject: *SUSPECTED SPAM* Re: [ozmidwifery] letter writing time Dear New Idea, Unsurprising as it is to see a surgeon promoting unnecessary surgery as on a par with a normal physiological process refined by millions of years of evolution, it is poor and irresponsible journalism to present these dangerous misconceptions in a major womens magazine unchallenged. While Dr Pecoraro responsibly mentions that caesareans come with a higher rate of maternal death than vaginal births (and some other uncommon risks), he omits to mention the long list of other potential complications arising from surgery. This is an insult to your readers, since at least 1 in 3 Australian women (and 1 in 2 in many private hospitals) will have experienced this surgery and many will have had to manage the complications he clearly views as unimportant.[1] Let me list a few: significantly increased risk of hysterectomy significantly increased risk of PND and PTSD significantly increased risk of rehospitalisation Most scarily of all however Dr Pecoraro entirely omits the equally long list of dangers to babies from surgery. As babies born by elective caesarean are by definition premature, or they would already have left their mothers bodies by the more optimal path by which they entered, they not only have to deal with major narcotics passing into their bloodstream from the anaesthesia administered to their mothers, but they are unprepared to breathe and do not receive the massaging benefit that vaginal birth gives to expel mucus and help wet lungs to breathe as well as the host of friendly flora which babies need to inhabit their gut which can only be taken up in a vaginal birth. No doubt Dr Pecoraro would be the first to say that the ultimate goal from birth is a healthy baby, yet clearly the least healthy babies of all are born via unnecessary surgery. Healthy babies also deserve healthy mothers and no woman with a massive wound in her belly could be considered a model of health by any standard, could she? Especially if that surgery was not performed as a life saving measure for her or her baby but because a surgeon told her it was safer. Let me list some for you: approximately five times the rate of severe breathing problems occurring in comparison with vaginally birthed babies[2] · significant problems from epidural anaesthesia such as lowered neurobehavioral scores on newborn, decrease in muscle tone and strength, respiratory depression in baby, foetal malpositioning, foetal heart rate variability, increased need for forceps, vacuum and caesarean deliveries and episiotomies[3] Difficulties with breastfeeding and bonding are also surely crucial in the early life of a baby and are far more likely with caesareans. NI should be very careful what they see fit to promote because irresponsible promotion of unnecessary surgery does not save or enhance lives. Promotion of woman-centred care provided via the midwifery model, with its attendant lowering of caesareans and raising of womens joy in birth is what is desperately needed in this country. Your readers deserve accurate, unbiased information from which to begin their researching, not rubbish like this which serves no ones interests but that of surgeons. Janet Fraser [1] Other things being equal, is a caeserean section always more hazardous to the mother's health than vaginal birth? A quick summary by Olubusola Amu, Sasha Rajendran and Ibrahim I Bolaji,BMJ 1998;317:462-465 ( 15 August )http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/317/7156/462 "Caesarean sections are not without complications and consequences. Maternal risks in the short term include haemorrhage, infection, ileus, pulmonary embolism, and Mendelson's syndrome. The prevalence of hysterectomy due to haemorrhage after caesarean section is 10 times that after vaginal delivery, and the risk of maternal death is increased up to 16-fold. Long term morbidity including formation of adhesions, intestinal obstruction, bladder injury, and uterine rupture is often underestimated during subsequent pregnancy. There is evidence suggesting decreased fecundity, increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, placenta praevia, and worse infant outcome in subsequent pregnancies, although the effect on non-reproductive health is unclear and contradictory. Feelings of inadequacy, guilt, and failure in not completing a natural process may affect bonding between mother and infant, particularly if the operation was conducted under general anaesthetic" [2] High Rate of Persistent Pulmonary
[ozmidwifery] article FYI
Leanne Wynne Midwife in charge of Women's Business Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862 Breast-Feeding Duration Linked to Alcoholism in Adulthood Reuters Health Information 2006. © 2006 Reuters Ltd. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Early weaning, along with a number of factors, appears to predispose adults to alcohol abuse and hospitalization for an alcohol-related diagnosis, according to data from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort. Previous research demonstrated a link between short duration of breast-feeding and alcoholism in men, Dr. Holger J. Sorenson and colleagues at Copenhagen University and the US examined this relationship in a larger cohort that included women and took into account other environmental and familial factors. The Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort includes 3245 men and 3317 women born between 1959 and 1961. Thirty-four percent of offspring had been breast-fed for no more than 1 month, according to the report in the American Journal of Psychiatry for April. After follow-up through 1999, the researchers found that 98 men (4%) and 40 women (1.2%) were hospitalized with an alcohol-related diagnosis. Of the 138 cases, 2.8% were weaned by 1 month and 1.7% were breast-fed for longer periods (odds ratio 1.65). The investigators report that significant predictors in the multivariate model were male gender, maternal prenatal smoking, unwanted pregnancy (at the time of conception), maternal psychiatric hospitalization for alcohol abuse, maternal psychiatric hospitalization with other diagnoses, and low parental social status when the child was 1 year old. After controlling for all covariates, there was still an increased likelihood of alcohol abuse associated with early weaning (odds ratio 1.47). Dr. Sorenson's group proposes several factors that could explain the relationship between early weaning and alcohol abuse, such as decreased physical and psychological contact between the mother and the infant. The researchers add that low intelligence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with short duration of breast-feeding, and may increase the risk of alcoholism. They also note that breast milk contains long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and that a decrease could affect brain development. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163:704-709. -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
RE: [ozmidwifery] article FYI
Dear Leanne of Women's Business, Thank you for consistently sending to ozmid very interesting articles. This most recent article about bottle feeding and alcoholism backs up the idea of the baby bonding to the bottle instead of an emotional relationship with a human. Very interesting indeed - the benefits of breastfeeding go way beyond the contents, Warm hug Julie Julie Clarke -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of leanne wynne Sent: Thursday, 4 May 2006 10:26 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] article FYI Leanne Wynne Midwife in charge of Women's Business Mildura Aboriginal Health Service Mob 0418 371862 Breast-Feeding Duration Linked to Alcoholism in Adulthood Reuters Health Information 2006. C 2006 Reuters Ltd. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Apr 21 - Early weaning, along with a number of factors, appears to predispose adults to alcohol abuse and hospitalization for an alcohol-related diagnosis, according to data from the Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort. Previous research demonstrated a link between short duration of breast-feeding and alcoholism in men, Dr. Holger J. Sorenson and colleagues at Copenhagen University and the US examined this relationship in a larger cohort that included women and took into account other environmental and familial factors. The Copenhagen Perinatal Cohort includes 3245 men and 3317 women born between 1959 and 1961. Thirty-four percent of offspring had been breast-fed for no more than 1 month, according to the report in the American Journal of Psychiatry for April. After follow-up through 1999, the researchers found that 98 men (4%) and 40 women (1.2%) were hospitalized with an alcohol-related diagnosis. Of the 138 cases, 2.8% were weaned by 1 month and 1.7% were breast-fed for longer periods (odds ratio 1.65). The investigators report that significant predictors in the multivariate model were male gender, maternal prenatal smoking, unwanted pregnancy (at the time of conception), maternal psychiatric hospitalization for alcohol abuse, maternal psychiatric hospitalization with other diagnoses, and low parental social status when the child was 1 year old. After controlling for all covariates, there was still an increased likelihood of alcohol abuse associated with early weaning (odds ratio 1.47). Dr. Sorenson's group proposes several factors that could explain the relationship between early weaning and alcohol abuse, such as decreased physical and psychological contact between the mother and the infant. The researchers add that low intelligence and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with short duration of breast-feeding, and may increase the risk of alcoholism. They also note that breast milk contains long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids and that a decrease could affect brain development. Am J Psychiatry 2006;163:704-709. -- 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.
Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth Centres in West NSW?
Title: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth Centres in West NSW? Justine states: "Bankstown Hospital is an un-sung heroHave a look at the NSW Mothers and Babies Report. Bankstown has a 4% epidural rate (Go beat that!)They have some wonderful midwives and lovely water births." Rosebud Hospital must be another unsung hero. ZERO epidural rate, alot of wonderful midwives who run a warm friendlypregnancyclinic lovely peaceful waterbirths.Plus the Mother Baby Unit for women who are experiencing parenting difficulties,special prenatal care program for young women,in out patient support services for feeding/sleeping/settling issues and a largely wholistic care approach. With kind regardsBrenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au - Original Message - From: Justine Caines To: OzMid List Sent: Tuesday, May 02, 2006 9:15 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth Centres in West NSW? There is a Birth Centre at Blacktown and at AuburnAlso one at BankstownBankstown Hospital is an un-sung heroHave a look at the NSW Mothers and Babies Report. Bankstown has a 4% epidural rate (Go beat that!)They have some wonderful midwives and lovely water births. Jan Robinson had a client who birthed twins in water there!! (Must say Im impressed)Why not employ an IPM and Birth at the Birth Centre?? This would ensure continuity but enable the location the woman is comfortable in.E-mail off list for some contacts.JC
RE: [ozmidwifery] new idea
Great letters everyone! But remember when anyone is spouting stats on rupture rates, the 1 in 200 ruptures are not all fatal ruptures. In fact the .2% was an 'estimated' rate (quote) from the 2001 Australian vbac management study. There were NO maternal deaths, only hysterectomies and there were no feotal mortalities: only morbidities. So we must be very clear that when we discuss vbac that by using the 1 in 200 stat, we are not confusing women to think they have a 1 in 200 chance of having their baby die due to rupture. Cheers Jo -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.5.1/327 - Release Date: 4/28/2006 -- This mailing list is sponsored by ACE Graphics. Visit http://www.acegraphics.com.au to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Re: [ozmidwifery] query
Hello Nancy, I have a new partner in my midwifery practicetrying to build a kit. Would you email me off line with your phone number, I'm sure she will be very interested. With kind regardsBrenda Manning www.themidwife.com.au - Original Message - From: Nancy San Martin To: Andrea Robertson ; ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 10:28 AM Subject: [ozmidwifery] query Hello Andrea,I am a midwife in far north NSW, used to be independent until insuranceceased. Now I have a fair bit of equipment to sell and was wondering if Icould publish the list on ozmid? I have a pregnancy rocker and birthritebirth stool as well as many smaller items. I thought it might be good forboth myself and buyers - getting good stuff at good prices.Please let me know if this is possible.Thanks for considering.Kind regards,Nancy San Martin-Original Message-From: [EMAIL PROTECTED][mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrea RobertsonSent: Wednesday, 3 May 2006 9:09 AMTo: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.auSubject: [ozmidwifery] Nitrous oxide - potential dangers for midwivesHi everyone,The article published in MIDIRS March 2006 on "Nitrous Oxide - no laughing matter" is now available on our website. You can access it directly here:http://www.birthinternational.com/articles/andrea27.htmlor though My Diary:http://www.birthinternational.com/diary/index.htmlThis is a very important health and safety issue for midwives and I urge everyone to read it and circulate it widely. A similar article will be published in the "Midwifery Matters" journal of the Association of Radical Midwives in the UK in June (I have been advised).Regards,Andrea--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.
