villagemidwife: normal birth

Saturday, November 01, 2008

normal birth

In this video I summarise the 'bare necessities' of normal birth.
If you would like a .pdf file to print out a page on this discussion, please contact me via the comments section, or by email joy@aitex.com.au
The video is very brief - it takes about a minute.

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About me

I have been a midwife since 1973, and have practised independently, attending births in homes since 1993.

My four children, born after I qualified as a midwife, taught me that the medical model of care was not suitable for a well woman. The first three, born in a hospital in Lansing, Michigan, taught me that I could push boundaries. The fourth, born at a birth centre in Melbourne Australia, opened up new possibilities, and new philosophies. The babies themselves taught me about birthing and breastfeeding. My first grand-daughter, born into my hands, has brought to my life and loving a wonderful new dimension. The birth of each subsequent grand-child has been a precious time for me.

I learn more from every woman who takes me into her life for the birth of her child. I learn more from each wonderful baby as she or he enters our world.

It is not easy to practise as an independent midwife in Melbourne. Women do not, as a rule, question the care that is available through our health system. Women giving birth are usually submissive to the dominant medical system. Options are not well understood, and not widely available.

Women who choose midwife care are discriminated against financially. Whereas free hospitalisation and subsidised visits to the doctor are available to all, care by a known midwife is usually expensive, except in isolated public hospital programs.

In recent years I have been less able to ignore ageing, and I have realised that I need to write my stories, and share my professional knowledge so that it is not lost when I am no longer able to practise.

Thankyou for visiting my blog. I hope you will find it informative and useful. Please leave a comment or contact me joy@aitex.com.au

Joy Johnston

Midwifery learning packages at Deakin

The Professional Development Unit (PDU) at Deakin University offers high quality flexible educational learning packages. The packages provide health professionals with the opportunity to update their professional skills, support their current practice, take another career direction or seek an alternative entry pathway into Higher Education. Packages are delivered via distance education over a 12-week period. Students are able to work at their own pace within this timeframe and are offered in Trimester 1, Trimester 2 and Summer Trimester (numbers permitting). Learning Packages are available in either full (with assessment) or audit (without assessment) format.

Studies in contemporary midwifery practice, lactation and care of the neonates may be of particular interest to midwives in practice. Applications for study in Trimester 2 commencing on 11 July close in mid June. Applications for study in Trimester 3 commencing on 14 November close in mid October.

For further information about areas of study available, please follow the link below or contact P.D.U.staff directly on +61 3 9251 7776

http://www.deakin.edu.au/hmnbs/pdu/