tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post6499964847237626720..comments2023-07-13T21:26:21.974+12:00Comments on Wondrously Other: Will My Daughter Have The Birth She WantsNat Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08424799085246705560noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-56816259737143502412014-07-10T09:21:52.805+12:002014-07-10T09:21:52.805+12:00Hi Jessica Ann,
First of all congratulations on t...Hi Jessica Ann,<br /><br />First of all congratulations on the birth of your baby! <br /><br />I absolutely agree that it is possible to have a wonderful, empowered birth supported by the NHS, as you say, you are living proof.<br /><br />However, I would say that it is the exception rather than the rule.<br /><br />I spent four years on my local Maternity Services Liaison Committee so please don't think that I'm all about the private healthcare because I'm not, and I have put my own time and passion into helping to defend and improve NHS services.<br /><br />I personally feel that NHS midwives are often constrained by the system in which they are employed and feel as if that system is letting down birthing families. In fact, the IMs I know have left the NHS for exactly that reason, and not because they want to get rich.<br /><br />My argument, I suppose, is that because IMs are free to create an environment of "best practice" free from the employment policy of a large organisation they are generally better placed to give individual (rather than policy driven) care and that sets mothers up much better to start parenthood feeling empowered.<br /><br />I absolutely agree that there are pockets of awesome in the NHS - I went on a march in 2010 to try and save one such pocket of awesome from closure - the Albany midwives if you want to look them up - because I believe that EVERY woman should have a birth that makes her feel like a birthing goddess and not left broken.<br /><br />My sadness is that the EU/UK seem to be removing those examples of best practice in favour of the more generalised, easy to manage standards and that those standards are not setting us up well for the future.<br /><br />Hope that makes sense.Nat Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424799085246705560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-60709229508503703752014-07-09T21:53:26.899+12:002014-07-09T21:53:26.899+12:00I have to pipe up here and say that I just had my ...I have to pipe up here and say that I just had my first baby 12 weeks ago at home. I was fully supported through my pregnancy by my NHS midwife in planning my home birth. There are NHS offered homebirth classes, and the NHS antenatal classes I went to spoke about home birth and how it would play out. When I was in labour I called up and a midwife came to my house. I then had an NHS midwife with me until I gave birth (the second midwife didn't make it until just afterwards because of how quickly it all happened!). The care that I received was absolutely fantastic all the way through, including the NHS midwife visits at home in the next few days and weeks after giving birth, and help with breastfeeding, etc. <br />I am not saying that there shouldn't be independent midwives, just as there is private healthcare options across the board, but I don't think it follows that women can't have a wonderful, positive birth experience that meets and exceeds their expectations with NHS care. Jessica Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17426280121807492285noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-39475288788142635112014-05-17T12:57:58.335+12:002014-05-17T12:57:58.335+12:00The NICE guideline proposals actually say birth ce...The NICE guideline proposals actually say birth centres for low risk first time mothers and home birth for low risk multips. That doesn't mean it's feasible. I contest the idea that there is choice when the reality is there are not enough midwives to support that choice.Nat Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424799085246705560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-7019361101712207182014-05-17T11:16:24.283+12:002014-05-17T11:16:24.283+12:00However, the NHS is now encouraging births at midw...However, the NHS is now encouraging births at midwife-led units as well as home births stating that a labour ward is not the place to give birth for a straightforward pregnancy. Alot of choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-8272746020155207232014-05-16T09:06:54.414+12:002014-05-16T09:06:54.414+12:00Thank you! I'm glad my message came over effec...Thank you! I'm glad my message came over effectively. Feel free to share this anywhere you feel it would be helpful :)Nat Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08424799085246705560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8797034976346258340.post-10247674199200170732014-05-16T06:21:39.420+12:002014-05-16T06:21:39.420+12:00Yes, yes, yes. Well written. Good to hear a cohere...Yes, yes, yes. Well written. Good to hear a coherent narrative which tackles why the demise of Independent Midwifery is of import to anyone beyond those fortunate enough to consider using one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com