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Complementary therapies and the culture of birth

The last workshop of the year - for the central Coast Area Health Service, at Gosford Hospital. A full group, representing all the hospitals in the area, including the Private Hospital and the Community Midwives Program.

When we compiled a list of agenda items, I was asked to include hypnobirthing and acupuncture. I pointed out that I was not an expert in either of these areas, but I was willing to discuss them in the broader context of strategies for easing pain in labour. I was also asked to include some ideas on how we could change the prevailing culture of birth that has left women feeling completely inadequate and unable to manage labour without help (usually an epidural).

I couldn’t help thinking that these two areas were linked. The more that “complementary therapies” of all description as promoted, and I would include acupuncture, reflexology and hypnobirthing in this category along with other methods, it creates the impression that women are not able to manage labour without some kind of “aid”. I agree that these alternatives are often a lot less invasive and potentially risky than an epidural, especially in terms of their physical impact on women and babies. However, if we consider their influence on the cultural beliefs about birth, in many ways they are damaging, as they feed into the notion that women are weak creatures, unable to overcome their fears and that they require help (often expensive) to achieve a normal birth.

A little later on, one midwife commented , in relation to the use of doulas, that many women just didn’t have access to anyone who could mind other children while she laboured, let alone act as a support person. Even if there was a doula service (as there is on the Central Coast) these were the women who couldn’t afford to pay their fees either. Once again it seems that the socially and economically deprived just have to “get on with it” while their more wealthy sisters have to pay for help so they can cope. It is quite crazy, but instructive.

All these women are the reason why a community based, publicly funded caseload midwifery service is desperately needed. If all women had access to their own midwife during pregnancy and labour, women would learn they can manage birth without the “extras” and those who have social problems would find ways around them with the help of the midwife - perhaps a home birth? Ah, Utopia!

Posted by andrea at December 13, 2003 06:34 PM

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