A few years ago, there was a programme called "One Born Every Minute" where a midwife crowed about tricking a woman out of an epidural.
It sparked a Mumsnet discussion about labour experiences.
There were also discussions on midwifery forums. Staggeringly blinkered discussions between people with no sense of self awareness or irony.
One in particular, started off in a reassuring manner. They discussed the problems with access to anaesthetists, slashed budgets, a few bad apples. They were angry and upset at the way midwives were being portrayed, and wondering why women distrusted midwives.
All very nice, and utterly understandable.
They then proceeded to illustrate exactly why British women do not trust midwifery care.
The words "belief" and "opinion"crept in - concepts that have no place when it comes to medically proven techniques. And some really nasty views and opinions were expressed.
- 'wannabamidwife' suggested that women who wanted epidurals were "entitled", because pregnancy is 'not an illness'.
- 'Mkunga' says "If epidurals were never invented, how many of these woman would have coped with labour because they had to??" as though that's at all relevant. People used to cope using whiskey and laudanum during surgery before anaesthesia was developed. That doesn't mean it's acceptable to do now.
- 'Strawberry' was a particularly disturbing individual, and I hope I never have the misfortune to have that person as a midwife. They describe women who have had bad labours as "angry and exaggerating'"people who "haven't a clue". They also suggest that "epidurals are a priviledge (sic) not a right!!"
Despite their assertion that they had no agenda to push, most of them expressed a very clear agenda. One admitted she resented women who had epidurals because she didn't get the option.
They were more upset by people expressing honest experiences of objectively poor care than they were that people in their profession had provided poor care, and in some cases, left women with PTSD.
Their characterisation of birthing mothers was as angry, clueless, entitled fools who should be grateful they weren't labouring in a mud hut. They classed the desire for pain relief as entitled and privileged. They spewed vitriol, were incredibly rude about their patients, expressed hostility and jealousy toward their OBGYN colleagues, and frankly, could barely string a sentence together.
These are supposed to be university educated medical professionals.
This unprofessional, contemptuous attitude toward birthing women is not unusual.
It was disturbing, and nasty, and cemented my decision that I would rather save up and pay for a private c-section (despite the greater risk to me) than give birth in a Midwife Led Unit.
They were more upset by people expressing honest experiences of objectively poor care than they were that people in their profession had provided poor care, and in some cases, left women with PTSD.
Their characterisation of birthing mothers was as angry, clueless, entitled fools who should be grateful they weren't labouring in a mud hut. They classed the desire for pain relief as entitled and privileged. They spewed vitriol, were incredibly rude about their patients, expressed hostility and jealousy toward their OBGYN colleagues, and frankly, could barely string a sentence together.
These are supposed to be university educated medical professionals.
This unprofessional, contemptuous attitude toward birthing women is not unusual.
It was disturbing, and nasty, and cemented my decision that I would rather save up and pay for a private c-section (despite the greater risk to me) than give birth in a Midwife Led Unit.
