Hi Rachael, I sometimes share your frustrations in wondering why on earth women choose OB's to care for them - particularly when they whinge about them so much! However what women are after is continuity of care because they want some feeling of certainty over who is going to be with them when they birth in short it gives them a feeling of security and the other main reason is the perceived "quality" of the care because an OB is regarded in Australia as the highest qualified of anyone to deal with pregnancy and birth. The other astonishing fact is that OB's don't even need to lift a finger to "market" themselves... it's all done for them by our medically supportive system.
Yesterday I had a reunion with a group who had received mixed care; some by midwives some by private OB's and when they shared their stories and discovered such big differences in the way they had been cared for; the proof is in the pudding after all isn't it? A couple of them were saying "I'm definitely going to a birth centre or have midwifery care next time!" You might ask well why didn't they learn about this in the preparation classes, well they did, but they often say they are not able to change late in the pregnancy because they have already paid completely up front well in advance to the OB and they worry about getting their money back, they assume they can't, or they cannot get into a midwifery program or a birth centre at a very late stage of pregnancy. The reunion confirms a lot for them as they share their stories, one of the lovely couples yesterday had had a wonderful homebirth with the terrific midwives at St George hospital and the rest of the group were thrilled for them and listened to all the details "It was a wonderful 6 hour labour, relaxing in a pool in the lounge room and the midwife just stayed quietly next to me and it was very peaceful..." Warm hug Julie Julie Clarke Childbirth and Parenting Educator ACE Grad-Dip Supervisor NACE Advanced Educator and Trainer Transition into Parenthood 9 Withybrook Pl Sylvania NSW 2224. T. (02) 9544 6441 F. (02) 9544 9257 Mobile 0401 2655 30 email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.julieclarke.com.au -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dan & Rachael Austin Sent: Monday, 8 January 2007 10:19 AM To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au Subject: [ozmidwifery] How do you deal with your fustrations? I get so fustrated when I know people who choose subordinate (in my opinion) levels of care. What I mean is, healthy women who choose care under an obstetrician. They get roped into the high tech repeated u/s, monitoring, for the "just in case" ignorant way of thinking. They end up having highly intervened vaginal births (but they see as 'natural birth' because it is vaginal) or worse a necessary unnecessary cs. Does this make sense? I have been up most of the night stewing over this, because a 4 of my rellies have recently choosen this type of care to end up with the same results... and they think I'm weird because I choose to birth at home! OK so I'm a midwife (new at the game, but still), so maybe the extra knowledge helped me to make 'good' or appropriate choices for me, but what stops women from investigating choices for themselves? Why do they so blindly give themselves to medical men in every sense of the word? Do women really believe that they don't have the power to birth themselves and that they really need help? Do they really think nature got it that wrong? AHH!! How do you get 'over it'? How do you talk with these women about birth in social conversatin without lecturing them? Hope this makes sense.. i'm tired! -- 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.
