We're working on that Andrea :-)
Tracy (in Ireland and would LOVE to see a few birth parties here) t -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Andrea Robertson Sent: Friday, September 30, 2005 6:41 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Birth Parties One of the reasons this has become "big news" in the UK is that there are still many hospitals around the country who restrict those who can be with a labouring women to one person or sometimes just two. This ancient policy has not really been challenged in many places and is accepted as being "just how it is". The justifications I have been given are: "there is no room", "safety", "can't have visitors wandering around" etc. I keep explaining in the many workshops that I have facilitated in the UK that we have had an "open door" policy in Australia since the early 80s and nothing untoward seems to have been reported. I know that crowd control measures are sometimes needed, but the general notion that a woman in labour should have whomever she wants around her, has been well accepted here. I think that many hospitals in the US have had similar restrictions. If it takes a silly article like this to get the doors opening to family and friends (even children !), then let them get on with it..... way overdue! Andrea Who is off to Ireland, where they definitely won't let more than person stay with a woman in labour! At 02:52 PM 30/09/2005, you wrote: >"Spectator Galleries" - now I have heard everything! >- don't get me wrong I am all for being surrounded by supportive loved >ones during labour and birth but this is a bit OTT don't you think?! > >Helen > ><http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/babies-the-life-of-the-party/2005/09/29/1 127804608683.html>http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/babies-the-life-of-the-pa rty/2005/09/29/1127804608683.html > >Babies the new life of the party >September 30, 2005 > > > Mothers are turning birth into a social occasion. Nina Goswami and > Catherine Elsworth report. > > > >Once it was the private preserve of mother and cherished newborn. Then dad >was allowed to join in. Now the birth of a baby is being transformed into >a truly social occasion. > >Attended by friends and family, "birthing parties" are becoming popular. >Mothers-to-be are sending out printed invitations and even hiring >photographers to record the event. > >The parties - which originated in the US, where maternity unit "spectator >galleries" have been built - have spread to Britain, where several private >and public hospitals host the events. > >One of the maternity units at the public Guy's and St Thomas' hospitals, >in central London, recently had a pregnant mother who invited seven >"guests" to view her child's birth. Extra chairs were needed in the >delivery suite. > >And the private Portland Hospital, also in central London, has seen such a >steady increase in extended family and friends attending births that it is >considering following the US example and introducing a "family area", or >"spectator gallery", in its maternity unit. > >Alex Heitt is the head of midwifery at the hospital, where celebrities >such as Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and Claudia Schiffer have given >birth. > >Heitt said: "If a mother is comfortable with having close friends and >family with her, then we would encourage it, as it helps to relax her, >which makes the birth a lot easier. At the moment we only have a space for >a bed or futon in the delivery room for people to rest upon - but we would >love to extend the facilities." > >A spokesman for Guy's and St Thomas' trust said: "There have been times >when the grandparents, sister, friend and partner have been in the >delivery room. > >"Both our private and NHS [public] mothers-to-be can have as many people >in the room as they want. There is no limit, except the size of the room. >Medical staff, however, do gauge whether it's safe to have a large number >of people in if it's a risky delivery." > >The public Queen Charlotte's Hospital, in west London, the private Birth >Centre in Tooting, south London, and the Hospital of St John and St >Elizabeth in St John's Wood, north London, have also had increasingly more >pregnant women inquiring how many people can be present at the birth. > >Andrea Dombrowe, from the Independent Midwives Association, has delivered >a baby while the parents' four other children, aged three to 12, were >present. "It was actually quite good as it helped to relax the mother. I >gave the children little jobs to do. One was videoing the birth, another >timing it, one passing me towels and the last one helping his mother sip >some water. > >"Often the father is not the best person to give the mother support, which >is why having friends she feels comfortable with around is important." > >While Britain is getting used to having more than one chair in the >delivery room, in the US "spectator galleries" are appearing across the >country. > >Barbara Bishop, a spokeswoman for St John's Health Centre in Santa Monica, >California, said: "We have designed our new labour and delivery area to >accommodate a more extended family, or just more people." > >Kate Bickert, 40, made sure her gallery was full when giving birth to her >first child at California Pacific Medical Centre, San Francisco. She >invited her husband, father, mother, sister, three of her close friends >and her massage therapist to lend support. Ben, a close friend of the >couple for 20 years, was asked along too, and he took his digital camera >to film Ella, now three, being born. > >Traci Cummings, 32, who gave birth to her son, Jet, in a Los Angeles >hospital recently, with three family members and a photographer present, >felt it was the "most natural thing in the world". > >"There was a real sense of security in having people you know and trust >around you. It was so great to see other people's expressions and share >this miraculous experience," she said. > >Throwing open the delivery room can also cause problems - and create >potential for "labour crashers". > >"The more people there are in the room, the harder it is to manage," said >Dr Elliott Main, chairman of obstetrics and gynaecology at California >Pacific Medical Centre. "Having a baby is a joyous thing but it's also a >lot of sweat and blood. This is not really an entertainment activity." > >But Heather Kirkpatrick, 39, from Palo Alto, California, who decided to >give birth to her son while three friends were present, recalled: "When >the doctor left the room, he said: 'Thanks for inviting me to the party."' > >Telegraph, London ----- Andrea Robertson Birth International * ACE Graphics * Associates in Childbirth Education e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] web: www.birthinternational.com -- 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.
