intervention, but—”
“It doesn’t sound like it, because it isn’t. That why we’re here, Ivey.” She waved around her waiting room. “Women do have a choice. We’re part of one of the oldest professions, working with the most natural event in nature. Well maybe the second most natural event, not coincidentally arising from the first.”
“But women don’t even think about midwives any more. They’re trained to go to doctors, and the option isn’t really ever presented to them. Not often enough.”
“We’ve done a good job of getting the word out around here. But some women are always going to feel safer within the confines of a hospital.” Marissa lifted a shoulder. “I can’t help those women.”
“Don’t you think it would be best if we could all work together? Doctors refer low-risk cases to midwives, and midwives refer high risk to doctors?”
Marissa leaned back in her seat. “Ah, so you’re a dreamer. You didn’t tell me that.”
Ivey sighed. This wasn’t going well. She was supposed to meet Jeff in an hour so she could report on the results of the meeting. Only so far it didn’t look like she’d have anything good to say. “Wouldn’t this give new opportunities to midwives?”
“New opportunities to be subservient to doctors. Let’s face it, the hospital is their turf. They’ve earned it through hundreds of years of the establishment’s rules. We’ve always worked in homes and places where women feel most comfortable. Let the doctors keep the hospitals. As long as they’re in the same building, they’ll never stop interfering.”
Ivey hadn’t expected to have this fight with a midwife. She hadn’t been too surprised by the doctors’ attitudes, but why couldn’t Marissa see this as a new frontier?
“This is already being done in some hospitals in LA and other large cities.”
“I’ve heard, and it’s not working well, in my opinion. Too much medical intervention. Lots of fighting between midwives and doctors. Anyone who has ever been through labor knows that it’s tough to get through it naturally. When the option is available for drugs and comfort, it’s too tempting. Being at home removes that option.”
Sounded like Marissa didn’t have a whole lot of faith in women in labor.
“But what about complications?” Surely Marissa could see the need to be in a hospital for that.
“Ah, yes, for the five percent of low-risk women in labor who wind up having complications? Well that’s when we transport to the hospital. But believe me when I tell you that I’ve never once had to take a patient to the hospital. That’s because being at home reduces the risk of complications. Whenever pain relief is introduced, for instance, complications arise.”
A half hour later, Ivey hadn’t managed to make Marissa budge. When Marissa’s next patient waddled in precisely at noon, Ivey felt as tired as the pregnant woman looked.
After introductions, Ivey prepared to leave, but Marissa quickly pulled her aside for one last parting shot.
“I wouldn’t want to see you lose sight of what’s important. A completely natural, non-medical experience for our patients. Anything less than that and we’ve robbed them of that joyful experience.”
“Thanks for your time.”
“Of course, dear. Anything for a friend of Babs. Why don’t you think about coming to work for me here? I could always use an extra helping hand.”
Ivey nodded. “I’ll give it some thought.”
She hopped in her SUV and it came alive with a pathetic effort, meaning she should have taken Aunt Lucy up on her offer to buy her a new car. The engine light had been flashing on and off for a while. That probably wasn’t good. Next week she’d get it into the shop for a tune-up. Or a major overhaul.
For now, she needed to rethink everything. How was she ever going to convince the board to go along with hiring a staff of midwives? If Marissa’s sentiment was the norm, she’d not only have a bunch of
“It doesn’t sound like it, because it isn’t. That why we’re here, Ivey.” She waved around her waiting room. “Women do have a choice. We’re part of one of the oldest professions, working with the most natural event in nature. Well maybe the second most natural event, not coincidentally arising from the first.”
“But women don’t even think about midwives any more. They’re trained to go to doctors, and the option isn’t really ever presented to them. Not often enough.”
“We’ve done a good job of getting the word out around here. But some women are always going to feel safer within the confines of a hospital.” Marissa lifted a shoulder. “I can’t help those women.”
“Don’t you think it would be best if we could all work together? Doctors refer low-risk cases to midwives, and midwives refer high risk to doctors?”
Marissa leaned back in her seat. “Ah, so you’re a dreamer. You didn’t tell me that.”
Ivey sighed. This wasn’t going well. She was supposed to meet Jeff in an hour so she could report on the results of the meeting. Only so far it didn’t look like she’d have anything good to say. “Wouldn’t this give new opportunities to midwives?”
“New opportunities to be subservient to doctors. Let’s face it, the hospital is their turf. They’ve earned it through hundreds of years of the establishment’s rules. We’ve always worked in homes and places where women feel most comfortable. Let the doctors keep the hospitals. As long as they’re in the same building, they’ll never stop interfering.”
Ivey hadn’t expected to have this fight with a midwife. She hadn’t been too surprised by the doctors’ attitudes, but why couldn’t Marissa see this as a new frontier?
“This is already being done in some hospitals in LA and other large cities.”
“I’ve heard, and it’s not working well, in my opinion. Too much medical intervention. Lots of fighting between midwives and doctors. Anyone who has ever been through labor knows that it’s tough to get through it naturally. When the option is available for drugs and comfort, it’s too tempting. Being at home removes that option.”
Sounded like Marissa didn’t have a whole lot of faith in women in labor.
“But what about complications?” Surely Marissa could see the need to be in a hospital for that.
“Ah, yes, for the five percent of low-risk women in labor who wind up having complications? Well that’s when we transport to the hospital. But believe me when I tell you that I’ve never once had to take a patient to the hospital. That’s because being at home reduces the risk of complications. Whenever pain relief is introduced, for instance, complications arise.”
A half hour later, Ivey hadn’t managed to make Marissa budge. When Marissa’s next patient waddled in precisely at noon, Ivey felt as tired as the pregnant woman looked.
After introductions, Ivey prepared to leave, but Marissa quickly pulled her aside for one last parting shot.
“I wouldn’t want to see you lose sight of what’s important. A completely natural, non-medical experience for our patients. Anything less than that and we’ve robbed them of that joyful experience.”
“Thanks for your time.”
“Of course, dear. Anything for a friend of Babs. Why don’t you think about coming to work for me here? I could always use an extra helping hand.”
Ivey nodded. “I’ll give it some thought.”
She hopped in her SUV and it came alive with a pathetic effort, meaning she should have taken Aunt Lucy up on her offer to buy her a new car. The engine light had been flashing on and off for a while. That probably wasn’t good. Next week she’d get it into the shop for a tune-up. Or a major overhaul.
For now, she needed to rethink everything. How was she ever going to convince the board to go along with hiring a staff of midwives? If Marissa’s sentiment was the norm, she’d not only have a bunch of
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