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| Posted By |
n/a on 2/15/2007 9:53:28 PM |
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RE: how do i help? |
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Yes. I did have alot to work through after my csxn which I had to do before I had my homebirth. After my homebirth I felt free, complete that I didn't have to constantly be "swimming upstream," that I could just enjoy my kids. Surrounded by other moms who are continuing to grow their families, however, I am constantly reminded of that struggle for a pregnant mom who certainly has the most at stake for her child. I see these moms bewildered and dismayed by the system that strives to work against them. I breaks my heart to see someone taking responsibility for their own birth who, despite education and support, still ends up with every intervention. That is the grief I feel now.
I have considered doula work/ midwifery but this seems wrong for me. I have an allopathic medical background. In my community there are very very competent people already in those roles. I am looking for a way to support and validate them in their work by "pulling rank" on the OBs in town, by "flashing credentials" to moms on the fence about their decision to homebirth.
Imagine the face of an OB when a patient comes for her prenatal check and declines biweekly electronic fetal monitoring and that she is considering homebirth. Then imagine the reaction when she says she has discussed it with me and that I had a homebirth.
At first I tried to stay "under the radar" and didn't tell anyone about my homebirth. Now I feel an obligation to tell all my former colleagues. One of my friends who is also a physician decided to homebirth in part due to my husband and my complete and unbridled suport. This was with her first child! wonderful.
But this does not seem enough to me. I want to do more.
TC |
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