Sally, It is up to wonderful women midwives like you to keep women's chances alive - don't give up! What hope will we have if the best chance we have at choice no longer wish to work in the system? We need to infiltrate the system to get anywhere. Don't underestimate the power and ability you have to change things, along with all of us sticking together. Power in numbers, power in beliefs.
Best Regards, Kelly Zantey Creator, BellyBelly.com.au Gentle Solutions From Conception to Parenthood BellyBelly Birth Support - http://www.bellybelly.com.au/birth-support -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of sally @ home Sent: Saturday, 17 June 2006 1:56 PM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: Re: Re: [ozmidwifery] How long before synto is used? You know, a lot of the time I feel trapped between a rock and hard place!! I know that what has been said is not a personal attack, but working in "the system" (and how bad am I for succumbing to that?) makes me, by default, part of the problem. This I find very hard. I worked for 14 years as an independent midwife, it was hard yakka but extremely rewarding in all regards...I loved it. However, I was bearly able to keep food on the table, and paying bills was a nightmare.My belief was to keep my bookings manageable so that I could be there for all the women I worked with. In that time I never missed a birth. I believed I was working truly 'with woman'. In 2000 I went from homebirthing into a Level 3 referral hospital, because it was my misguided belief that I may learn something. (I had never worked with women with high risk pregnancies) and I really needed some financial stability in my life. The culture shock was immense and I spent the first few months wondering what the heck I had done. The midwives I worked with worked under the most horrendous conditions and time and time again I saw them raw with grief because they felt they were unable to give the care these women needed and were entitled to. Last year I started work at a brand new hospital in Berwick. A 'low risk' midwifery led unit...we endeavor to work with women in the true sense, we buck the system as much as we are able, which is often, and we bend the rules constantly, however,it is hard given that the medical profession, especially anaesthetists, have us over a barrel...this is where the rock and the hard place come in. We buck the system and we are hauled over the coals by the 'programme' and the medical establishment, we tow the line and we are shot down in flames by people who regard anything to do with hospitals as anti birthing women. Considering the hard work and effort we go to to work with and enable women to achieve the experience that is their right, I find some of what has been said quite insulting. Sure, there are midwives out there that are more medical model than midwives in the true sense, but this can be said for all people from all walks of life, and yes some policies etc are frustrating to work within, but unfortunately we can't work without them. Working in 'the system' is hard enough, it is a constant battle and an exhausting one at that. I am saddened by what I am reading and it just fuels my belief that midwifery is not where I want to be anymore. Sally -- 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.
