Comments on: Hospital Midwifery http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/ The Diary of a New Midwife Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:56:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: The Midwife http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-94701 Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:43:38 +0000 http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-94701 I agree that it's frustrating and enraging and really sad that this is an example of a hospital that's "less bad" than other hospitals (and it does raise the question...can there really be such a thing as a truly "good" hospital?), and yes, I agree, it's absolutely not enough at all. AT ALL. But the reality is that 90% of all babies in this country are delivered in hospitals, and of all of those women, midwives are only delivering 8% of all the normal vaginal deliveries. If midwifery abandons hospitals, we're abandoning 90% of all the women in this country....and that's just too huge a group to turn your back on. So we're kind of stuck. The hospital system sucks, but I've always thought that change needs to come from within the system, by people who are dedicated to making things better, one tiny, miniscule step at a time. I guess that's why I find myself in a hospital at the moment; I think this is work that's worth doing, and I'm not burned out yet, and still have so much of my energy to give to this change. I agree that it’s frustrating and enraging and really sad that this is an example of a hospital that’s “less bad” than other hospitals (and it does raise the question…can there really be such a thing as a truly “good” hospital?), and yes, I agree, it’s absolutely not enough at all. AT ALL. But the reality is that 90% of all babies in this country are delivered in hospitals, and of all of those women, midwives are only delivering 8% of all the normal vaginal deliveries. If midwifery abandons hospitals, we’re abandoning 90% of all the women in this country….and that’s just too huge a group to turn your back on. So we’re kind of stuck. The hospital system sucks, but I’ve always thought that change needs to come from within the system, by people who are dedicated to making things better, one tiny, miniscule step at a time. I guess that’s why I find myself in a hospital at the moment; I think this is work that’s worth doing, and I’m not burned out yet, and still have so much of my energy to give to this change.

]]> by: emjaybee http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93995 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 02:48:39 +0000 http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93995 I'm glad you're there for these women, and your preceptor especially. We need midwives in the trenches. At the same time, I have to say--there are so many circumscriptions on these women that still seem so wrong. Not letting them out of bed (!) without a minder, the nurses constantly damaging the mama baby bonding by rushing babies off to the nursery for their own convenience, the doctors caring more about how they look to other doctors than about their (excuse my language) goddamn patients. It's enraging that *this* is a "good" situation. Sadly, it's better, a little, than the Brooklyn hospital that carved me up, because it has midwives like you and some of the other fighters you mentioned. It's better than nothing, but oh, it's not enough, at all. I’m glad you’re there for these women, and your preceptor especially. We need midwives in the trenches.

At the same time, I have to say–there are so many circumscriptions on these women that still seem so wrong. Not letting them out of bed (!) without a minder, the nurses constantly damaging the mama baby bonding by rushing babies off to the nursery for their own convenience, the doctors caring more about how they look to other doctors than about their (excuse my language) goddamn patients. It’s enraging that *this* is a “good” situation. Sadly, it’s better, a little, than the Brooklyn hospital that carved me up, because it has midwives like you and some of the other fighters you mentioned.

It’s better than nothing, but oh, it’s not enough, at all.

]]> by: Mama Bee http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93840 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 19:30:49 +0000 http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93840 "By and large, these women are not showing up to labor and delivery with doulas and birth balls and birth plans, having read all the latest childbirth books and having bought the latest, most ergonomic birth sling. They’re not online, with internet access, reading blogs like ours or doing research about their birth choices. But most importantly, these women are not choosing midwifery care." Some comments really put privilege into perspective. We don't have a lot of money by any means, but I am privileged enough to be full of education and attitude. The above quote comes close to describing my birth experience, though my research led me to stay as far away from a hospital birth as humanly possible. I don't like hospitals, and I hope to never give birth in one, but I am full of admiration for the work you do and the care you strive to give your patients in the face of technology, protocol, and long-standing tradition at odds with midwifery care. Your fears sound a lot like those of a 1st time mom actually... Such great responsibility these little lives! It gets easier. Trust your patients, trust their bodies, as you've said yourself, birth is normal and comes in many forms. Love you. “By and large, these women are not showing up to labor and delivery with doulas and birth balls and birth plans, having read all the latest childbirth books and having bought the latest, most ergonomic birth sling. They’re not online, with internet access, reading blogs like ours or doing research about their birth choices. But most importantly, these women are not choosing midwifery care.”

Some comments really put privilege into perspective. We don’t have a lot of money by any means, but I am privileged enough to be full of education and attitude. The above quote comes close to describing my birth experience, though my research led me to stay as far away from a hospital birth as humanly possible.

I don’t like hospitals, and I hope to never give birth in one, but I am full of admiration for the work you do and the care you strive to give your patients in the face of technology, protocol, and long-standing tradition at odds with midwifery care.

Your fears sound a lot like those of a 1st time mom actually… Such great responsibility these little lives! It gets easier. Trust your patients, trust their bodies, as you’ve said yourself, birth is normal and comes in many forms.

Love you.

]]> by: wisechild1 http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93824 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:26:09 +0000 http://www.bellytales.com/2007/11/06/hospital-midwifery/#comment-93824 So beautifully written. I too am a relatively new midwife in a Brooklyn Hospital. You spoke to my heart... and validated the work that we do. Thank you for your thoughts. So beautifully written. I too am a relatively new midwife in a Brooklyn Hospital. You spoke to my heart… and validated the work that we do. Thank you for your thoughts.

]]>