Interesting readings
I’m marking time. I’ve confirmed with SATAC that my application is in and ranked and in consideration. So now it’s just over a week to go. I feel hugely nervous already and I’m not even there yet. I am also kicking myself for missing Mama Mid(wife) Madness on her trip to my small corner of the world!!!
We got our notice of not having our tenancy renewed today and I’m so annoyed and upset. I don’t need the move - this is as much home as I’ve had in years and it is awful to think that I have to up stakes and move again. I only just last week sorted out the last of my changes of address and now I’ll have to do it again.
On midwifery/medical stuff - What’s making us sick is an epidemic of diagnoses (New York Times), Downs screening urged for all women (CNN - but it really makes me question the point, when there isn’t going to be a requirement for counselling based on the outcome of the test, nothing can be done to treat the genetic disorder, many babies with Downs are born gravely ill and parents may think that in knowing there is a cure, and such a huge investment for such a small number of babies (must point out that my nephew is a Downs baby), Questions about prenatal ultrasound and the alarming increase in autism (Midwifery Today).
The Lancet has also come out with more of a series of articles on maternal health. All well and good but smacking of imperialism yet again. Sure the answer to better outcomes for women and babies is for them to be born in a hygeinic, stress free manner in the best of health… and these things are not the reality faced by millions if not billions of women worldwide. Suggesting that all women need to do is birth in a hospital is just so insanely stupid that it reminds me that the medical fraternity is gazing down on the rest of the world from a lovely ivory tower, where healthcare is near and societal structures make it ok for a woman to birth with complete strangers.
