It's funny when you write a blog. You never know if anyone is reading it. There's an option for comments but we've only had 2 or 3 in all the time I've written entries.
Today I'm going to discuss Birth Change. Recently Common Knowledge Trust received a magazine. I'm not going to mention the name. I'm personally friends with the editor.
She has had and continues to have a huge passion for midwifery. As a trustee to Common Knowledge Trust and The Pink Kit Method For Birthing Better® I articulate the concept of growing a skilled birthing population whether there is midwifery care available or not.
In the 20 years this editor and I have known each other, I've never been certain we're on the same page. I could bet my bottom dollar she probably feels the same. That's actually nothing new for me. In the thirty-five years I've been articulating this concept ... learning how to birth/coach in all births there's no doubt the midwifery community has been dismissive.
Anyway, sometimes I ask myself ... what is the difference between political and social issues?
Around childbirth that has always seemed clear to me. Learning how to birth/coach during pregnancy is a social issue.
Where or with whom a woman births is political. In New Zealand where a political change occurred in 1990 so that midwives could become the Lead Maternity Carers with the hope that the 12.9% c/s rate would lower. All the hopes of midwives were put into place here.
Midwives are Direct Entry trained and don't have to be a nurse first. They are paid by Government. They work autonomously and don't share care with a doctor. They totally support woman's choice and can attend a home birth or hospital and move back and forth freely.
Now the c/s rate is about 30%. So a political shift didn't shift birth in the manner hoped for.
So, the other day we received a magazine discussing 'The 21 essential ingredients to bring about birth change'. That peaked my interest. I personally don't keep up with the political issues in birth. Birth per say is not my personal passion politically. I'm a believer in skills ... from changing a flat tire to you know ... growing a skilled birthing population for all families in all births including elective c/s deliveries.
Certainly our statistics clearly show that couples self reduce their need or use of common medical interventions, but that's not The Pink Kit goal. If 'outcome' were the only goal then we'd leave out all the families who need medical care and have medical issues. Why leave anyone out?
So here are the 21 Essential Ingredients. Over the next few blogs, I may discuss some depending on how I feel.
My friend the editor didn't write the article so I don't actually know whether she agrees with the list.
Up front and clearly there is absolutely NO mention that growing a skilled population should be part of birth change. That continues to be such a fascination to me as a trustee to CKT that in thirty-five years the midwifery community doesn't seem to place that concept as an essential part of change. It doesn't matter whether it's The Pink Kit or Lamaze, Bradley, Hypnobirthing or whatever.
Does this list strike you as a political statement rather than a social need?
- Early pioneers.
- A shared, named ideology.
- Existing models that work.
- Grassroots activists.
- Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).
- Professional organizations.
- Midwives and other professionals educated in a humanistic model of care.
- The 'good guys'. Humanistic and holistic obstetricians.
- Collaborative relationships across disciplines.
- An extensive body of literature and film of all kinds: Science, social science, philosophy, art, personal experience.
- Ongoing workshops and conferences
- Involvement of international and local speakers and practitioners.
- Press coverage.
- Top-down professionals: international and national agencies, ministries.
- Regional networks.
- Multi-level links with related or semi-related networks, agencies, individuals and organizations, from the local to the global.
- Inclusion of traditional midwives.
- Specific plans, goals, and benchmarks.
- Strong and effective leadership.
- Perseverance in the face of opposition and cooption.
- Younger people involved and learning.
