In a message dated 2/1/00 10:12:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<
 Let us keep in mind that there are risks inherent in having a baby whether it
 is at home, in the hospital, or in a birthing center.  Many of us who have
 worked in MCH for many many years (more than I care to think about in my
 case) know that many of the problems that babies have had after birth came as
 a result of being born in the hospital, and would have been prevented had
 they been born at home with a competent nurse midwife.  The point is, each
 mother needs to be informed about ALL the advantages and disadvantages to
 each place of giving birth -- hospital, birthing center, and at home. >>

Well said Jan. I have worked in the hospital setting as a nurse, childbirth
educator & lactation consultant for many, many  years. It can be very trying
to  work in an environment knowing that what happens there can actually cause
some of the problems. It is particularly hard for those nurses who work in
the high risk areas, such as NICU, to view childbirth as the normal process
that it is. I struggle to maintain my political correctness so that I won't
be relieved of my job. I continue to hang in there because I believe that I
can make a little difference in some of the lives that I touch when they  are
ready to receive the information that I have to give. I rejoice with the
parents who are assertive, but not pushing & demanding, and get what is best
for there infants. I also hope to influence some of the younger nurses coming
into the MCH field to keep an open mind & to keep reading & learning to give
the best of care to their patients.

Jan also writes:
"the physician who told me he hoped
I would hemorrhage when I chose to birth Timothy at home, and he hoped he was
in the ER when I came in bleeding to death; the VP of nursing who threatened
me that if I chose a home birth, I could lose my job at the hospital, and I
could be assured that I would never get a position there of anything beyond
staff nurse regardless of my qualifications; etc etc)"

I too have seen a nurse's job threatened because she chose to deliver in a
birth center with a midwife. Certain doctors said that she had no business
working in a hospital setting with a  "midwife mentality." Luckily we had
some hospital administrators & physicians who supported this nurse in her
personal choice and her job was secure. However, it did cause her some stress
during her pregnancy.

Laura Hart
Central Florida

             ***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html