Things that annoy me about being a baby.midwife
Gestational diabetes screening with no other indications
GBS screening in general
The huge number of appointments pregnant women attend (WHO recommends 2-3, average that I’ve seen is 12)
Multiple ultrasounds for low-risk women
CTG monitoring for low-risk women
The use of the word "delivery"
Having clocks in the room
Lack of options for women to have continuity of care
Women being told their babies are due at 38wks
Anyone except someone experienced in balloting babes estimating their size
The change in the definition of "natural" to include everything short of a c-section
People who talk to everyone in the room except the woman - especially those that talk over the woman as she is labouring
Women birthing on beds, jacked up to eye level, so her previously-private parts are the centre of attention
Not washing your hands before doing anything
Not asking permission before touching - mother or babe
Hmmmm…. in response… becuase I find this list fascinating…
Gestational diabetes screening with no other indications - agreed, this is expensive & annoying!
GBS screening in general - not sure what this means!
The huge number of appointments pregnant women attend (WHO recommends 2-3, average that I’ve seen is 12) - Not sure I agree with this one. Have seen so many women in the last month who need physio, support belts, BP monitoring - who would all be missed & often in pain without the extra appointments.
Multiple ultrasounds for low-risk women - well, the women tend to love them & they are hardly an intervention, surely?
CTG monitoring for low-risk women - agreed - it’s not even evidence based anymore!
The use of the word “delivery” - Well, what shall we call it? ‘Catching’ is an appalling term IMO - we ‘catch’ balls for God’s sake! & the ‘flu! Women identify with ‘delivery’ as well, they don’t identify with ‘catching’ or ‘birthing’ at all, from what i’ve seen & heard.
Having clocks in the room - what’s wrong with this? Delivery Suites in the UK are often like a space-ship - you cannot tell if it’s night or day, you often cannot see natural light. Some women need a clock to stay sane.
Lack of options for women to have continuity of care - YES! This is crap.
Women being told their babies are due at 38wks - Whaaaaaaaaaaat? Who does this?
Anyone except someone experienced in balloting babes estimating their size - YOu like them guessing or not? I’m not understanding you here!
The change in the definition of “natural” to include everything short of a c-section - Absolutely. A birth is unatural the moment a woman enters a hospital, IMO.
People who talk to everyone in the room except the woman - especially those that talk over the woman as she is labouring - This is a disgusting practise. I cannot wait until I am more experienced & not let this happen to ‘my’ women.
Women birthing on beds, jacked up to eye level, so her previously-private parts are the centre of attention - well, i’m guilty of this. I am not going to squat down on the floor when a woman is on an electric bed. We are taught to use the beds as a tool - no woman is worth the health of your neck & back. Ever. If she’s on the bed, i’m gonna use it.
Not washing your hands before doing anything - Foul!
Not asking permission before touching - mother or babe - Agreed, this is bad manners & distressing for mothers & families.
Comment by Agatha — November 7, 2007 @ 6:59 am
Just wanted to ask if you have heard of or read a book called Birth by Tina Cassidy? It’s also sometimes referred to as Birth - the surprising history of how we are born. I wasn’t able to find it in Aus but got it from US ebay for not too much and it is SO up your alley
It tracks the history of birth and the shift from midwifes attending to mothers-to-be to the medicalisation of birth and the entry of Men as birth assistants and physicians.. and is at times horrific, sad and unfathomable.. but it is well researched and sadly true.
Anyway, I love reading ur blog. Can’t remember how i found it but it’s on my list of blogs i love and i know you would love this book so thought i’d tell u about it
x
Gab
Comment by Gab — November 8, 2007 @ 10:01 pm