Blog Archive
14th May 2010
What a difference we make...take a look at the stats!
| Booked at Private Birth Centre | NHS average 2009 | |
| Achieved a normal vaginal birth |
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| Women requiring an instrumental delivery |
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| Women requiring a Caesarean Section |
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| Women exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks |
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10th March 2010
The Service User Group met up for the 2nd time tonight. It was an extremely useful session with discussions on the new Name for the Centre, Stem Cell Collections and new ideas for the Website. Watch this space for information on 'who's who' in the service user group...
23rd September |
NHS versus Private Midwifery- a personal perspective
For the last two years I have been working as a Private Midwife (for an Independent Hospital, the Private Birth Centre in Northwich) and very much enjoy my new career. But after 13 years as a Midwife in the NHS what made me feel that I had to leave?
I trained to be a midwife in Germany. Moving to the UK I found myself confronted with big Hospital Institutions, hierarchy even between midwives, rigid protocols and procedures to be followed. I was only one of many midwives that really tried to make a difference to the women in their care, striving to become confident with birthing balls and water births and encouraging women to mobilise in labour. It also meant shutting doors and keeping Doctors outside where they were not needed and justifying to senior midwives why I did not automatically augment and accelerate labour and “get on with it”! It meant allowing time for breast feeding and that much needed tea and reviving wash after birth before rushing the new mother up to the ward and cleaning the room for the next lady. We call it advocacy- supporting women’s choices.
Labour ward is often busy and one can never be sure what the shift ahead would bring. It is exciting but also tiring. Try and imagine a 12 hour shift: walking fast along the corridors can easily add up to 30+miles, include running to 1 or 2 emergency calls and the demands of 3 or 4 women in your care during that shift. Little surprise I often didn’t recall their name the next day- never mind their husbands’!
Many shifts were rewarding, women appreciative of the extra effort and time given to them, couples that were glad I had been able to keep them informed of the events of a labour that was not going smoothly, the baby that had been saved because of quick action.
In more recent years, with the idea of NHS Foundation Trusts, management expected a quick “turnover”. Women should have babies quicker, with drip if needs be, and go home earlier – even without adequate support for breast feeding. It became more and more difficult to give even adequate care, minimal staffing and time pressures achieved only that important things got forgotten because no-one could do all their responsibilities any justice. Time spent in front of computers to document care exceeded the actual care given. Breast feeding support and bath demonstrations are delegated to Auxiliary staff.
What makes the difference when working privately? Midwifery feels like a vocation again! Couples come to the Birth Centre by choice and are attentive to the advice we give. We meet women and their families in their own environment. We appreciate and nurture the important role the expectant father has. Appointments are often over an hour long to discuss the unique concerns every couple has and we assist them to make the choices that are right for them. Complementary therapies are often appreciated. Every birth is an exciting event and I will remember everybody’s name, including the siblings!
There is one big downside to this: I spend a lot of time in the car and drinking tea, so I now need to visit the Gym to keep fit! But I think I can live with that….