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Checking out the rural Victorian midwifery scene

This week I have been in Victoria, presenting an Active Birth workshop in Ballarat and a Dynamic Prenatal Education program in Bendigo. Both have been very enjoyable and we’ve had a lot of fun.

The group in Ballarat were mostly either students or recent graduates, with a few more experienced midwives amongst them. Although the group were from a number of hospitals in the district, their limited experience of various workplaces was obvious and I encouraged them to look beyond their current places of employment to find out more about home birth and maternity services elsewhere. Working in other units can really broaden one’s view of birth and help to build confidence.

There were some sad/funny moments, especially when discussing the local obstetricians. One group of midwives work with an obstetrician who sets up a large lamp, shining on the labouring woman’s perineum, then calls to the baby to “come to the light”! It was hard to believe this, but they insisted it happens with this man every time - how do the midwives keep a straight face?

Other midwives described the repressive antics of their local obstetrician, a man clearly frightened of birth, who insists that women come to hospital as early as possible in labour, where he augments their labour ruthlessly and very closely monitors everything. He manages second stage with fundal pressure, heavy handed perineal guarding and sweeping of the vaginal tissues as the baby crowns. All this without any consent or concept of informed choice. This man has come from overseas, and is used to being in total charge of births. The midwives know that his practices are dangerous and that a disaster will occur, but their managers are concerned that unless they co-operate with the doctor, he may move on and the unit would have to close because there would be no obstetric cover.

I mentioned that these midwives could report this behaviour to the Consumer Complaints Commission in Victoria - they will record complaints from any member of the public or any health professional and investigate whilst maintaining complete confidentiality for the person making the report. These kinds of abuses against women must not be allowed to continue, and midwives can play an important role in making it stop.

Next week I am back in the office for a few days before preparing for my next trip back to Europe.

Posted by andrea at May 29, 2005 02:07 PM