I was very interested in reading the nurses' replies to birth issues.
I understand that some are quite frustrated at having to follow
certain protocols--I know I was. That was a big factor in my quitting
as an L&D nurse nine years ago. However, in our area at least, there
is good reason for birthing couples to be wary. Our hospital epidural
rates run over 90% and in most hospitals, over 95%. The nurses in
general not only do not know how to support a laboring women, but
have no desire to do so. They would scramble to take other patients
first, leaving the "natural" moms for whoever was "unlucky" enough to
not be at the board first. They sabotage natural childbirth at every
turn ("There's no need for this suffering you know--they don't give
out medals for this," and on and on). I saw moms thwarted at every
turn--no help, no support, no suggestions until moms finally begged
for the epidural and the nurses responded with comments like
"See--now you'll know better than to try this next time." I helped
where I could, but couldn't take every mom wanting a natural
childbirth.
Yes, some of it is definitely women demanding "their" epidural. But
in our area, great, great pressure is put on the mothers by their
care providers and the nurses to have epidurals. The lack of choice
(in the hospital, with most doctors) is so astounding that one
doctor's office has a sign on their wall that says "Because we care
about the health of you and your baby, this office does not allow
Bradley classes, birth plans or doulas." Luckily, we do have a
hospital-based CNM practice that not only "allows" more options but
actually encourages them. Unfortunately, we have the highest birth
rate per capita in the country and they just can't reach the majority
of birthing women. As a homebirth midwife, I reach even fewer, but I
just couldn't do it anymore.
My hat is off to those nurses (and midwives) who can stay and work
within the system to make birth better for the women they serve. And,
highest accolades for bravery go to the women who can "stick to their
guns" in carving out the birth experience they want under difficult
to hostile circumstances.
-H.R.
Reprinted from Midwifery Today E-News (Vol 2 Issue 22 June 2, 2000)
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