Midwife discrimination?

[Kylix]

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[wbg]

I have definitely noticed that here in the US. I come from Australia, where a lot of people deliver with hospital based midwives and they have a pretty good reputation. A lot of the home birth midwives are the same ones who work within the hospital setting. When I first moved here, I wrongly assumed labour and delivery would be similar and talked about meeting midwives. I got some very strange looks and odd comments until I worked out the system. I have found that its very much an "us or them" situation when it comes up in conversation. People either think very little of midwives, or a small percentage think very little of OBs and love midwives. The thing I find is what I think can at times be a blatant lack of respect on both sides. I think it might just be the area where I live. I have always believed that western medicine has its place as does eastern healing and other practices such as homeopathy etc. I wish the two worlds could blend more! However I find it deeply rude that most people I meet do make assumptions about midwives and seem to judge them before they know anything about them. What is that? I know that not all midwives are perfect and not all OB's are monsters! But midwives do get a bad rep which I can not understand at all.

[thefragile7393]

Midwives homely?! Uh, there are very homely docs as well....believe me I've worked with them! That's just laughable. I admit some midwives can seem to be "out there," especially since many are more into holistic healing and very enthusiastic about it....that equals to most people. Sadly the AMA has made it to be an us vs. them mentality in the US....anything less than an MD or DO isn't worth working with. I too wish all the modalities would blend together..health might overall improve.

[Jackies Ladybug]

midwives are pretty normal and respected here in so cal, not sure where everyone else is, but usually the only thing i come across is lots of people just dont know what they do.
so i explain it to them that midwives take the place of doctors and do all that doctor "stuff" but in the comfort of your own home.
(oversimplified i know, but my grandpa is much happier with that description!)
most people like the idea once i explain it like that, especially the prenatal appointments in your own home!

[earcher]

WOW! I guess if you choose your care provider based on their looks...then the people sharing these thoughts have a LOT more problems coming their way. I guess I'd chime in with "hmmmmmm people come in all shapes and sizes, midwives too...just like OB's....... I guess I'd be more concerned with their c-section rate and how much time they are going to spend supporting ME and my goals for the pregnancy and L&D"


ignorance is bliss!

[Honey693]

My great grandma was apparently a midwife and my mom (a nurse) thinks a lot of OB's/hospitals do things just for the profit so she's all for midwives and alternate care during labor. As for the rest of my family, I doubt they even know what a midwife is *sigh*

[Kitten]

Shortly before the birth of my first baby, a woman at my workplace told me that she thought her OB was great because he was "really hot." Snort. I saw that OB for part of my first pregnancy and he was a total arrogant jerk. But what was I thinking for transferring? He was really hot!

[psychocandy]

I think some people are just ill informed.

Seriously, my husband sent out an email message to his team saying he would be in late because the midwife was coming over, and he had a co-worker ask how many wives he had!