Re: [ozmidwifery] Re Episiotomy

[Mary Murphy]

Marilyn wrote  "..to see if it leads to practice change. By this  I mean if the study supports "hands off", then will US midwives change their practice? And if it supports "hands on" will Australian and Uk midwives change theirs?  Or will we have to do a repeat study here? Possibly the result will be ambiguous and claim there is no significant difference betweeen practices and so no change will happen anywhere. Interesting that's all."  Very interesting... my guess is it will take a generation to change,  we all believe we are doing what is right and I would guess that, just like me, midwives will do what appears appropriate at the time.  Some women say."Mary, your hand, your hand, put it back!", some support their own perineum and some don't want to be touched at all.  I think that what has to change is the "hospital position" where the women are semi-sitting, squashing their coccyx and putting all the vectors in the wrong places.  This leads to force being applied by the baby's head to the perineum at the wrong angle and also to "bed caused shoulder dystocia" or tightness. The bed is really the enemy of normal birthing.... but that is another issue.  cheers. MM