Mothers' views of maternity: interventions

Mothers' views of maternity: interventions
January 2, 2010 -The Age newspaper

The president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Dr Ted Weaver, said while a fear of litigation arising from complications of vaginal births had partly driven intervention rates in recent years, more women were also asking for them than before.

He said this trend meant many private obstetricians felt they should agree to interventions if their patients had been properly counselled on the pros and cons of the procedures.

''In private, most doctors will do [elective caesareans] because they think if I don't do it, someone else will do it. It's about consumer demand,'' he said.

Mothers' views of maternity: interventions

Now we are blaming women for asking for interventions after years of scaring women about birth! You will note it is still about money.

"If I don't do it someone else will".

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall to hear the 'proper counsel on the pros and cons of the procedures'? This statement reminds me of a great cartoon some time back in MIDIRS, the English publication on all matters to do with childbearing. The cartoon had a doctor, complete with stethoscope around the neck and white coat, sitting talking to an anxious looking pregnant woman sitting on the edge of her chair. The first frame showed the doctor saying "of course I believe in choice". The second frame had the doctor waving his hand expansively saying "you can bleed to death at home or have your baby safely in hospital!!"

I would encourage you all to obtain Labouring Under an Illusion. Have a look at my entry on 22nd December Social construction of Childbirth - how the media works for details and the trailer for the movie.