What do you want to say to midwives?

[Whistleforit]

Have been asked to speak to a conference of them about What Matters to Women from patient perspective. Come on, what you got for me? :)

[pumpkinsweetie]

Thanks Featherbag thank god, thought i was the only person who wasn't picked up on the contraction monitor, atleast i know i'm not alone! How did you convince them into allowing a section?? My mw won't let me birth at the mlu this time as i'm a 7lbs heavier than last baby with bmi of 38, so i'm thinking a section would be better as i'm looking at lots of intervention anyway!

[joanofarchitrave]

I feel a lot better about the care I received having read this thread.

I can't help feeling that consultant midwives should just close units that don't have enough staff (by their own reckoning, not the Trust's idea of what is OK). I don't think much else will be heard. But I wouldn't want to be one of the women turned away as a result.

[hazchem]

Whistle I've found it depressing too but found it useful to discuss my experience and hope that your talk helped midwives to here what care women want.

I guess I mean by on the same side that we want the same outcomes safe healthy mothers and babies where patient and care giver are trusted and respected in that relationship. The system is really not designed to do this. In fact I'm on Mumsnet not writing my essay on Antenatal care from Marxist and feminist perspectives and it's pretty clear the system hasn't been working for women for a long time. It's a never ending fight isn't it respect for women to birth in ways that empower them, respect and support for midwives to practice their profession in ways that reflect their skills, knowledge and drive.

All that being said, I really do think midwives are amazing can can do wonderful things for women and babies. On a personal note my family are still friends with the midwife that attend my mother when I was born.

[LostTheWill33]

Do women truly think we, as midwives, sit idly by and never voice our concerns regarding staffing, workload, management etc?

Hazchem I was referring to a post on the thread asking why we don't do something about the state of our wards etc if we're not happy.

Its just so depressing. At my unit we do our best and are actually well staffed compared to other units. Our ward is not a nice place to work (we only have 1!) but after us being so vocal with our Matron and head of midwifery things are about to change. However, change is a very long process in the NHS. I have been in the process of changing a particular practice for 3yrs and we're still not there. For example, something simple like buying a toaster takes weeks and has to go through several channels!!

What we need is for the government to understand that better staffing levels and more equipment will improve morale, reduce mistakes and therefore claims....it would pay for itself!

[Featherbag]

Pumpkin, I have a looooong surgical history which meant DS1 was supposed to be a section but due to aforementioned over-reliance on monitors I ended up giving birth vaginally with no pain relief - it was literally sheer luck I avoided having to have major reconstructive surgery, if DS had been any bigger I'd have been in trouble. I convinced them by doing a lot of research and presenting a list of the risks of a second VB that I found unacceptable, along with a list of interventions I absolutely would not give content for (forceps etc.). I told them that unless they could give me, in writing, guarantees that the things I found unacceptable wouldn't happen (which of course they can't) then they'd need to book me in for a section, as if any of my fears became reality I'd be taking legal action. As I was able to prove I'd examined ALL of the risks of both methods of delivery and considered them against my history and present circumstances, I was allowed a section. Previous birth trauma and resultant PND was one of the things I mentioned. It took a 45 minute argument with a registrar (felt like I was back at uni being questioned on a patient scenario!) but I got there in the end!

[hazchem]

LostTheWill33 sorry that I misunderstood your post. Not very helpful of me.
It's tough isn't it. I recently spoke to a midwife who works in the public sector and she and others have been campaigning along side women and independent midwives for the right to access home birth (non UK country). The fight really is about insurance as no one will cover it properly.
It's crazy that such an important event is dictated to bean counters.

[BabyWitch]

1. Be kind. Listen.

1. Instead of pressurising the mother that she should do everything a certain way (such as natural birth and breastfeeding), allow the mother to make the decision as to whether she wants to do those things. And then support her choice, then HELP her to achieve her aims.

1. Read and take on board all the information on the Birthrights Charity website. They have lots of very clear and helpful fact sheets on the mother's rights in pregnancy and birth, and how to genuinely discuss consent.

1. Know your limits. a) If the mother asks a question, and you do not know the answer, admit this, it's fine. Don't just dismiss the mother and her question. (Ideally, look it up, or ask a colleague - have some professional curiosity).

b) If you come across something that puzzles you, and you think 'Hmm, I've never seen a new baby/ post-natal mother react like that' - know when to refer to a specialist, or a more experienced colleague.

1. Appreciate that a woman with a newborn is probably experiencing all these things for the first time. She is overwhelmed and inexperienced, not stupid. And even if she is stupid (!), she doesn't deserve to be told off.

1. CHECK STITCHES! Please don't wait until mother is in agony with burst/ infected stitches before you take a look

1. Learn the signs of a possibly tongue-tied baby. It is not always easy to diagnose, but please learn when to refer to someone who is competent in diagnosing it.