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Hi Vida
I just wanted to say how impressed I am with what you are doing and offering these women (cool website as well). I wish you had of existed when I had my own children. While I had a wonderful midwife providing continuity of care, she also cared for 3 other women a month (which does not seem like a lot) and had a young family herself. While her visits ranged from 1 hour to 1.5 hours, she already invested more time than the average midwife and had other commitments in her life as a woman, mother and wife. I don't think she would have been interested in doing the housework or helping me catch up on some sleep as well, so I can see how doula's and midwives do complement each other very well. I also think that some midwives are more 'holistic' than others. Speaking from a midwife, I would find your presence very reassuring and helpful. While I strive to offer continuity of care to the best of my ability and under the constraints in which we work, there are limitiations to all that we can cover and in what detail.
I am NZ trained and like Kirsten, never knew any doula's existed back home. I may have been ignorant but I never came across any, and neither were they spoken of - in the workplace or at uni so 'out of sight, out of mind' almost... While I think that NZ women are very fortunate in comparison to their Australian counterparts, there are also many gaps that need filling, of which I can see a definite place for the doula. Moving to another country also gives us a greater understanding of different practices and environments and helps to peice together, the big picutre. Anyway, enough rambling... great work and thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Kim Stead
Midwife : Birth-Wise Midwifery
-------Original Message-------
Date: 5/09/2004 9:49:19 a.m.
Subject: RE: [ozmidwifery] doula article
Kirsten said:
>>>>>>I apologise i left NZ in 2002, as of then i should state i knew of no
doulas, although there could have been. I find the whole thing rather
confusing, can i ask why you choose to be a doula and not a midwife? (I'm
seriously asking, not being sarcastic either.)<<<<<<
No need to apologise Kirsten at all - I assure you I did not take offence
:o) - just thought I should say "Hi" so that people know that there are a
couple/few doulas at least in NZ and I was explaining how I see things
having moved to NZ as a doula already..... Only yesterday I have found
another CBE and "doula" in NZ who contacted me from Auckland and I also
spoke with a disillusioned midwife here who wants to know more about being a
doula....
You ask a huuuuge question..... I see the Doula and the Midwife as two
distinct roles that do however complement one another. I have no passion to
learn about the clinical aspects of pregnancy/birth care although I do
strongly believe in having a good knowledge about the natural physiological
aspects. I am proud to be a laywoman whilst at the same time I constantly
strive to improve my knowledge and experience by attending workshops/courses
about pregnancy and birth, and by being with women. Pregnancy, labour and
birth for me cover the emotional/mental/spiritual/practical/physical - a
really holistic look at things. In my experience, I do not see the majority
of midwives getting alongside women who are pregnant and preparing for
labour/birth on an emotional and spiritual level - most are too overworked
to be able to invest this much time in doing that and some don't have the
inclination to either - or they may see birth as much more a
medical/clinical event than that - and that is ok if the women that they are
supporting also see it in that way. However, there are many women who *do*
see the experience in a more holistic way. I think there are many midwives
that have become medicalised without actually realising it, and equally (as
in any walk of life/vocation/job there are the opposite extremes) there are
many who have a wonderful philosophy towards pregnancy/labour/birth.
Midwives usually have to work within the policies/procedures of their
hospital or Trust Board or whatever governing body they are under. There
are always *far* too many politics involved when it comes to working for
these bodies - something very simple is made much more (dangerously, in my
view) complicated. I have chosen not to be part of that. Being an
independent "consumer" (as I am called!) I feel I have more power to make a
difference...
I am self-employed and offer myself "out there" for the woman and her
partner to "choose" to have me if they feel that they need that extra
support, and I also offer my services voluntarily/or on sliding scale so
that it is not just those that can afford that get.... I have a passion for
my role and I share with them my experiences and try to encourage them to
take the responsibility for the birth of their baby back from "the medical
world" and to learn about the natural physiology of birth, about their own
bodies and to give them tools to really use together. I aim to enable them
to challenge their assumptions about labour and birth and turn their
negative connotations into positive ones ... to stop seeing the midwife or
medical team as the people that "get them through" the uncomfortable/painful
event that gets them the wonderful bit - their baby!! I encourage them to
work *with* their midwives so that those midwives can truly become the
"Guardians" of birth. With women depending on themselves and their partners
to work through labour, midwives will be less tired and frustrated and in
the long term we will develop a *confident* birthing population rather than
one that is based on *fear*.... There are tools out there written in plain
English which can help women and their partners learn about and trust their
own bodies and reduce their fear. I am currently 7 months pregnant and
working with my husband through "The Pink Kit" which I think is a wonderful
relaxation techniques so that we can change our outlook on birth together to
be positive through and through, whilst at the same time we are also
realistic about the *small* percentage of birth situations that do require
medical assistance - and thankfully we do have the expertise and skills out
there in our midwives and doctors for those times. I have seen labour/birth
be a painless and joyful process from start to finish - the mind is a *very*
powerful thing that we all underestimate. If only we would listen to it
more......
I hope that explains a bit where I am coming from...
Best wishes
Vida
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