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AUSER on 5/17/2006 10:00:36 PM |
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How would one go about accumulating data? |
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I do not think she or her partner could. The Big Three are shoulder dystocia, a baby that doesn't breathe, and hemorrhage. If getting onto hands and knees doesn't relieve shoulder dystocia, it takes skill and knowledge to dislodge the stuck shoulder. A baby who doesn't breathe may need suctioning. Hemorrhage requires administration of medication. In addition, properly trained midwives have practiced under the watchful eye of preceptors. They have almost certainly been present at birth emergencies and likely dealt with them before going out on their own. They are unlikely to lose their heads, something that would not be true of the couple. Finally, while I agree that a bad midwife is worse than no midwife at all (ditto for doctors), a good one or even an OK one is MUCH better than none at all (also ditto for doctors).
The clearest example of the potential effect of lack of a qualified birth attendant is Schramm WF, Barnes DE, and Bakewell JM. Neonatal mortality in Missouri home births. Am J Public Health 1987;77(8):930-935 in which the excess neonatal mortality came from births attended by non-professionals.
-- Henci By: Henci Goer |
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