Overwhelmed
"Hot. Damned hot." I think that comes from 'Good Morning Vietnam', incidentally a film I loved, especially the soundtrack. Anyway, it was so hot today, driving for 10 minutes then stopping for 30, that my car was doing a marvellous impression of an oven, allowing me to refine my impersonation of a melting waxwork. The highlight of my day was when I parked on a recently resurfaced road. When I came to drive off I thought for a moment that my handbrake was still on, but then off I went and all appeared well, although there was a strange odour in the car which I thought was burnt handbrake. Car functioned perfectly until I had to brake hard, at which point the most appalling squealing came from the rear brakes and grey smoke poured from the rear wheels. My first thought was that I must have a flat tyre, a fear of mine working a rural patch, so I pulled over at the first opportunity. No, all tyres present, correct and inflated. A sympathetic lorry driver pulled over and asked if all was OK, he had witnessed my 'boy racer' display. After a quick examination of my cars hidden bits he announced his verdict, 'Tar'. Wheels had got melted tar on them which when I braked had caused the problem. Didn't repeat so I shall accept his verdict.
Today was the first day of our 'lets abandon women and their babies so we can save money' campaign. I was upset about this before, now I feel really depressed and embarrassed. Yes, embarrassed. I feel I'm letting new Mums down, and I hate it. I'm sure this is going to cause problems, they need support and reassurance. We are encouraging them to leave hospital early. At least before there was a structure in place to hopefully pick up on problems before they became serious, now there is lip service paid to the requirement of midwives to ensure the welfare of Mothers and Babies. Hence my depression.
So, I've come up with an alternative to working within the NHS. Offer antenatal and postnatal services privately, including all the parentcraft classes etc. I can't/won't go the whole hog and offer the homebirth as well because Independant Midwives can't get insurance and that would be a leap too far for me. Any suggestions on this one? Would it be popular? How much should I charge?
Alternatively, is there anyone out there who can take up the cause? Because care after the birth is not as dramatic as the birth itself this cutting back is never going to become an issue. Come on any journalists out there, take up the baton and run with it.
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heather / Website (1.7.06 20:18) Is there any way that you can team up with some independent midwives in your area to offer the services that you describe? Perhaps it would be possible for you to offer the classes and the support groups/networks and for other midwives to be free to cope with the deliveries? You might also want to think about starting a website that is specifically about information/help/support and provide a certain amount of information free and then the extra bit requires a subscription. It might be worth considering running a seperate site to this one. I hadn't realised that independent midwives couldn't get insurance - is this because of some sort of 'closed shop' mentality? Is this because the obstetricians don't want to get involved with the independent midwife movement? |
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midwifemuse / Website (3.7.06 22:14) I had left a reply, but it seems to have got lost! Anyway, I'm not sure that any independant midwives would welcome someone who doesn't off er the 'full service', they pride themselves on a one-to-one service. Their insurance issue is due to the fact that midwives are generally covered vicariously by the Trust. The website idea is really good one, I shall have to sweet talk a certain BIL to assist me. |
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princessfairytoes / Website (5.7.06 12:43) I'm glad that I have passed child bearing as i would be so worrid, at. My midwives were SO WONDERFUL, the army ones were histerical because of their life experiences, the fact they had to deal with males on abattle field and then lasies in labour, thye took away the convient lilttle maturntiy until attached to the military hospital which thye closed down as well ( oh and gues what sill Tony and his cronies are recomendning the re insitution of little hospitals) |
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midwifemuse / Website (5.7.06 12:48) Princess - The good thing is that women do have more choice during pregnancy and at the birth. The bad thing is the centralisation of maternity services and the reduction of support afterwards. |
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Sarah (8.7.06 22:47) Hi there, I have stumbled across your site by chance via another link and was really interested in your ideas as they have been mirror ideas to my own. I have recently returned to West Cork in Southern Ireland although being English I was brought up in Ireland for 10 years but did all my training in the NHS and have travelled around and worked in different units but I have been a Community Midwife for the majority of the last 11 years. I unfortunatley have returned to a healthcare system which is archaic and I have had to resort to work in a unit where I feel my principles have gone out of the window as there is no Community Midwifery as such in Ireland and Independent Midwifery requires alot of commitment and stamina in such a system with opposition to homebirth from Obstetric consultants it is a very medicalised system here. I had the same thoughts of offering antenatal and postnatal packages here and go into business myself as I know some of the Independent Midwives are stretched in the service they can give . I even have bought a domain name for a website as I was off work for 3 months with illness and I had all this inspiration and ideas but I have seemed to have gone stalemate at present and need inspiration or a push in the right direction. When I read your entry it prompted me to write to you as we seemed to be on the same wave length at present. I have aways worked fulltime and have 4 children but at present on a temporary job share so was hoping to use this time to get started if I had the incentive but like you I have been a bit coy to enquire about charges etc. Please feel free to contact me or share any ground breaking ideas!. 
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(9.7.06 19:34) Sarah - Lovely to hear from a kindred spirit. Have been in contact with the RCM, who see no problem with it, other than lack of insurance, apparently I should get women to sign a disclaimer! They were also saying that the whole system with regard to maternity care in the community is up for review with the thrust being to get Primary Care Trusts to employ midwives themselves. They suggested I put together a business package, not just a midwife, also a financial whizz  . If I manage to fight my way through the wood, and see the trees I'll let you know if it's feasable.
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(10.7.06 23:08) Hello! I am a member of an internet forum called Student Midwives Sanctuary. There has been a recent thread about the same sort of thing on there and there was LOTS of support. I am not yet training but would love to do something like that when I do finally qualify. Just to share an experience...I work on a maternity ward and overheard a midwife chatting to an exhausted community midwife who was struggling with her workload (as a result of 2 CM's attending a homebirth) The hospital midwife said 'If it wasn't for one selfish woman wanting to have a homebirth then our jobs would be much easier'. Tut. I say it's a FAB idea! x |