PostingBirthing choices

Only a month after Patricia Hewitt, the Health Secretary, outlined plans to guarantee expectant mothers a "full range of birthing choices" by 2009 it seems the reality is that some women might be lucky if they get a qualified midwife or doctor to deliver their baby.

A report for the Department of Health has revealed that  NHS trusts using maternity support workers to do the work of trained midwives could be putting the safety of mothers and babies at risk.

The study found that several trusts are converting midwife positions into posts for lesser-qualified maternity support workers. The news has clearly got medical bigwigs worried - it's prompted Christine Beasley, the Chief Nursing Officer, to remind all trusts it's a legal requirement for a registered midwife or doctor to deliver every baby.

The idea of using maternity support workers was that they would free midwives up to do the jobs that only they are trained to do, (it takes three years to train as a midwife) but it seems that in the hard-pressed NHS they've taken a good idea too far, with these workers assuming responsibility for tasks they're not qualified to do.

Personally, I have huge admiration for maternity support workers - they were the women who got me through long, sleepless nights in hospital as I struggled with breastfeeding, propped me up when I fainted in the shower after giving birth, and admired my daughter like she was the first newborn they'd seen in a year. Despite their long hours and lousy pay they were endlessly good-natured and kind.

But still... it's not my idea of a "birthing choice" to do without a midwife or doctor while giving birth, sorry Mrs Hewitt.

Read more at

The Royal College of Midwives

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

National Childbirth Trust

The NCT has lots of good information on birth options.

Posted 29 May 2007 16:20

Breastfeeding Childcare Daughter Health Pregnancy

Comments

DJ Kirkby said:
I have a commnet.. 'How unusual', I hear you say...

Health care support workers are WONDEFUL! They are helping me to do the rest of my job better... unfortunatly they are also doing some the bits of my job I really liked!I can remember the days when we had enough staff to allow midwives to sit and have a cup of tea with women under their care, which was the best way to really find out what was going on in their heads and then offer the appropriate help. Sadly no more... Which is why I am looking to change career, not because I don't have time for a cup of tea anymore but because I do not have time to be 'with woman' anymore, which is the literal translation of the word 'midwife'. Helping guide women and their partners through pregnancy, giving birth and raising children isnt just about the physical safty aspects, it is all about the emotions of the experience and as we all know, our heads are attached to our bodies.

Posted 30 May 2007 06:58

Mother at Large said:
Wise women

Exciting for you to be looking to change career, DJ, but it'll be a loss to your hospital. They're lucky to have someone who cares so much about her work, thinks about in such a thoughtful way. Interesting about the etymology of midwife - didn't know that before. I like the French word for midwife too - sage femme - translates literally as wise woman (as you probably already know!).

Posted 30 May 2007 08:50

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