Birth all over the News this week: Extremes of all sides & I am calling for a way back to balance…
Gloucestershire NHS hit the BBC this week,
with the story of Bethany Pollock who was effected by the Midwife Suspension.
Having birthed in both in hospital and at home previously,
Bethany carefully weighed up the risks and chose to stay home.
I also spoke to reporters about our concerns over the safety and lawfulness of the decisions made,
and independent midwife Kat Cotterall was invited on the show live and spoke about the Human Rights concerns.
We’ve also seen a string of concerning articles in The Guardian focussed on worldwide Freebirth tragedies,
which they link to the ‘Freebirth Society’ and their trainees.
Then, I was sent this short film showing the realities of our obstetric units,
a very difficult watch.
Especially as a number of Midwifery colleagues testify this is very true to their lives.
So where do we go from here?
Ideology is harmful,
I am sure we are all agreed on that.
What we don’t seem to be clear on,
is which ideology is causing MOST harm?
How can we find our way back to balance amidst all the fear based media?
It’s time to delve for a brief moment into the world of birth,
to understand the nuance surrounding all of this media hype.
Here in Gloucestershire the NHS took another step towards the medical ideology,
meaning mothers are forced to choose between the harm caused by highly medicalised birth, or no medical help at all.
The fact that many educated,
and well researched women are choosing not to leave their home during birth,
even in the absence of midwives - tells you something, surely?
This choice that may seem a no brainer to those don’t understand the extraordinary impact birth has on mothers and the babies, babies who soon become toddlers, school children, teenagers and then adults - carrying with them the impact of their mothers birth choices.
Mother’s know this deeply, and feel the burden of these choices weighing heavily - wanting the best outcome for their offspring.
The impact of birth drastically effects a child’s risk of diabetes, ADHD, long term mental health problems - this is doccumented science in well respected peer reviewed studies, linking birth interventions such as caesarean birth, use of oxytocic drugs used to artificially speed up labour, plus new research linked to babies born prematurely ie. from an induced labour.
But here is the thing - I have never met any mother, father, Birth Worker, Doula. Antenatal Teacher or other who believes those interventions should be completely scrapped - everybody agrees what a marvel it is that we have access to these life saving treatments when appropriate.
When appropriate
The magic phrase.
Do half of all women NEED a caesarean?
Do 70% of babies need to be induced?
Women want nuance & individual discussion.
But instead they often get coercion.
Obstetricians and Consultants who use scare tactics,
pressure, bullying and yes violence
to enact procedures where the evidence
about risk vs benefit is far more nuanced.
Saying that others trusts are similar is not an excuse.
The stillbirth rate is rising dangerously on obstetric wards.
And midwives who are experienced, competent and willing,
have their hands tied
- barred from attending women who live just 5 minutes away.
By whome?
The men in the city wearing the suits