That news article is good old fear-mongering at its finest. The pity is
not that this woman birthed on the toilet, but that she didn't get
reported as saying I birthed on the loo! What a story for the
grandkiddies! ;) ;)
Amanda W wrote:
During my first year out as a fully fledged midwife I was giving
handover when I heard my buzzer go another midwife answered it and
then it went again so I went in and the multi who I had just put in
there was in the process of catching her own baby whilst sitting on
the toilet. Talk about the who har that came out from that, A
PERFECTLY CAPABLE WOMAN CATCHING HER PERFECTLY HEALTHY BABY WHILST
SITTING ON THE TOILET I honestly couldn't see the big deal but I was
dragged over hot coals by the NUM because of it and consequently with
all the negative comments left birth suite and went back to postnatal.
I now work in a much bigger more progressive birthing unit where
birthing on the toilet or on the toilet floor isn't a negative thing
at all. I can distinctively remember a so called senior midwife
'telling' me I better write damn good notes. If anyone can tell me
what the big deal is about birthing on the toilet I would love to hear.
P.S The mother I am talking about wasn't at all distressed about the
event even more of a reason that it wasn't a big deal.
Amanda Ward
Creative Memories Consultant
Ph. (07) 3261 4354
Mob, 0417 009 648
Email. [EMAIL PROTECTED]
From: Janet Fraser [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Reply-To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Mum Gives Birth In Toilet - Monash Medical
Centre
Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:37:36 +1100
It reminds me of the article a couple of years ago criticising the
lower rate of epidurals in Tassie. Some of us think that's good ; ) I
hope this woman gets some debriefing and FWIW I always tell hospy
birthing mamas to birth in the loo although perhaps not directly into
the toilet itself... I wonder why she couldn't just catch the baby?
Whatever. More media crap about the dangers of birth. Of course if
she'd been at home.. The ambulance is probably a good indication that
this birth was being viewed as a medical emergency : )
J
- Original Message -
From: Stephen Felicity
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Mum Gives Birth In Toilet - Monash
Medical Centre
Yep. A fast, intense birth can be traumatic; but it's also a
healthy, normal event regardless. It all sounds a bit ridiculous and
comical. Personally I'd be thankful for the privacy and lack of
intervention that birthing in a toilet provides! The comment about
not even being offered a panadol suggests the Mama wanted a managed
(medicated) birth and perhaps she's distressed that she didn't get
that; maybe in time it will become something she is thankful for,
instead. A healthy undrugged baby born effectively from a healthy
undrugged woman (even if into a toilet) is a wonderful thing! :)
- Original Message -
From: Susan Cudlipp
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 5:02 PM
Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Mum Gives Birth In Toilet - Monash
Medical Centre
Oh Puleeeze!!!
Talk about over dramatising.
Many many bubs enter the world in toilets as we all know - while
I feel sympathy that this woman was unprepared for a very fast birth,
I feel for the midwives who are being blamed for this very normal
turn of events.
Sue
- Original Message -
From: Kelly Zantey
To: ozmidwifery@acegraphics.com.au
Sent: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:33 AM
Subject: [ozmidwifery] Mum Gives Birth In Toilet - Monash
Medical Centre
Mum gives birth in toilet
Jane Metlikovec
January 24, 2007 12:00am
A MOTHER says her baby daughter was born in a hospital toilet
bowl and had to be rescued after staff ignored her screams for help.
Kay, 24, was in the final stages of labour when she was rushed
by ambulance to Monash Medical Centre on Tuesday last week.
In a statement to the Herald Sun yesterday, the hospital said
it regretted the birth did not go according to plan.
At the hospital, the Mt Waverley mother of two was told to wait
in a standard share room instead of being directed to a birthing
suite, despite having contractions fewer than two minutes apart.
A midwife saw me when I came in and pressed on my stomach
once. Nobody checked if I was dilated. I didn't even get offered a
Panadol, Kay said.
An hour after arriving, distressed and screaming in agony, she
went to the toilet, where she gave birth to a girl.
Her husband Michael, who had become frantic, had hit an
emergency buzzer in panic to try to get help, but he said none came
in time so he kicked down the locked door and ran in, pulling the
infant from the toilet bowl.
Kay said she
