PROFILE 20200 come=mces [:] Page 12A The Castlegar Sun : Wednesday, January 13, 1993 _(@)) SAFEWAY BETWEEN WOMEN FRESH PORK SAL PORK LOIN ROAST While or Holt 4.37/ kg PORK SIDE SPARERIBS Fresh 4.37/kg PORK BUTT STEAK. _- Shoulder. Fresh Bone-in 4.14/ kg GROUND PORK Fresh 5.49/ kg PORK STIRFRY Cut from the leg 10.56/kg WEIGHT WATCH Lentil, Minestrone or Chicken ; Noodle 284 mL tin |? = = << _ = iViasterCard eran chose j , Bab F WAY Bh tere: size Shampoo, say 700 g or Lotion 500 mL. B.C. PINK SALMON PO ROAST Boneless. Fresh. Regular or Stuffed. 3.92/ kg NAVEL ORANGES Sunkist. Seedless. Snack Size. 163's. Product of .U.S.A. 14 Ib box. PINK GRAPEFRUIT Florida. Extra Large Size. Ib F | TS tionary, mid is defined as “with, or between”, while the word wife is defined as “woman” Therefore, the practice of midwifery is exactly as defined...between women. Midwifery is an age old practice in which women, who were experienced in delivéring babies, did just that, in the laboring mother’s own home. Through early midwifery the expectant mother was surrounded by the comforting intimacies associated with her home, and was encouraged by the familiar faces of her friends and family, instead of being greeted by the glaring lights of a sterile hospital delivery room. The emerging newborn was greeted by the soft lights of home, and family members, including siblings, who anxiously awaited their arrival Birth was treated as a natural and beautiful experience...an extremely personal experi- ence which had no place for medical inter- vention or settings:———— Midwifery had been widely. accepted and practiced until as late as the early 70s, then it became popular, and some people say safer, for women to have their babies in hospitals The easy accessibility of hospitals and doctors, is in part one of the reasons why women chose to have their babies in hospi- tals. Physicians and surgeons became involved in delivering babies,.and the prac- tice of hospital birthing soon became widely accepted. Physicians, who were usually of the male persuasion, insisted that hospitals were nicer and cleaner, and therefore safer. Women bought into the philosophy, and soon women were flocking to hospitals to have their babies. To have a baby in a hospital with its if the Houghton Mifflin Canadian Dic it is also one of only nine countries in the 210 World Health Organization that has no provi- sion for midwifery in its health care funding. However, both Ontario and Alberta have recently passed legislation to legalize mid- wifery. Other countries which do not recog- nize midwifery, are all considered third world countries; such as Venezuela, Panama, New Hebrides, Honduras, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Columbia and Burundi. Although the practice is illegal in British Columbia, there are still some midwives who are so strongly committed to. providing this service to other worrién, that they are willing to take the legal risks in doing so. But Tarrys resident, Bonnie Nilsen, is not Nilsen is an experienced midwife who has helped deliver at least 30 babies, but her fear of legat and medical persecution has forced her to limit her application of her maternity knowledge. Although she offers information, education, counselling, and labour support to pregnant women, or to women who are con- sidering a pregnancy, she has ceased assist- ing in deliveries for the last four to five years. ° “I've gotten more scared, I’m not a cocky #-28-year-old anymore. The fear of lawsuits from the government, and the flack I get from the doctors keeps me from practicing. They could make things very difficult.” Nilsen said a good midwife will assure there is medical backup available in case a difficulty occurs during delivery. She says her lack of support and backup from medical officials in the Kootenays would leave her at a disadvantage if she were to practice mid- wifery. “There is no backup around here. I under- stand the doctors are being told by the British « band Lance. clean, no mess environment was considered stylish, while having a baby at home was eventually looked upon as being low class A common misconception concerning midwifery, is that it is always practiced in the home. In fact, in countries where midwifery is accepted, there are birthing centres in which the expectant mother can deliver her infant with the help of a midwife. In some hospitals the midwife is recognized as a valu- able support person to the expectant mother, and her skills are thus utilized and appreciat- ed in the hospital setting. Canada is the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't legally recognize mid- wifery as a part of its health-care system, and Lae oe Karen Mustonen and her three children. Missing from photo is hus- Columbia Medical Association to not support home births or midwifery. I believe that the family practice physicians. will see a loss of patients if midwifery comes in. They don’t want a loss of income.” Nilsen, 44, is also a licensed practical nurse, and combines her 18 years of nursing experience with 18 years of actively research- ing and updating her midwifery knowledge, including assisting women who want to give vaginal birth after a caesarian (VBAC). In the medical field, the general rule of thumb is “once a caesarian, always a caesari- an.” There are very few doctors who are will- ing to deliver a baby vaginally if the mother has had a previous caesarian. It is feared the uterus might rupture during labour or deliv ery, putting both the mother and child at a very serious risk Some doctors are willing to allow the mother to have a trial labour, that is, allow the labour to progress. but with extensive monitoring of both the mother and the fetus. At the first sign of dis tress or irregularity, for either the ‘mother or the infant, a caesarian is immediately per formed, with all thoughts of a vaginal birth aban doned Nilsen’s own first child was born by cae sarian section, an experi ence which left her feeling very unfulfilled When she had her sec ond child, she engaged the services of a Dutch midwife, who agreed to deliver her child vaginal- ly. Nilsen's eldest daugh- ter was present during the birth, and got to hold her,, sister soon after. Nilsen feels that this action forged an immedi- ate and strong bond between the siblings. “They are doth teenagers now, they should be killing each other, but they are such good friends. I think they are so close because of the bonding.” After twa previous caesareans, Pass Creek resident, Karen Musto- nen, longed to have a VBAC, but was unable to find anyone who was willing to support her in and that midwifery and physicians can in fact complement and assist each other. “I always insisted that the mom continued to meet with the doctor during her pregnancy. They have valuable resources available to them, which we don't always have, such as the ability to access a lab for necessary bloodwork, or ultrasgund.” Besides arguing that there is a place and that decision. Mustonen finally called a women’s group in Vancouver in her quest to find someone BONNIE NILSEN who would be willing to assist her in having a vaginal birth. With the help of the women’s group, Mustonen made contact with Nilsen In-the eighth month of her pregnancy Mustonen met Nilsen for the first time “She came along at just the right time,” said Mustonen. Although she had interviewed several mid. wives, Mustonen said she knew Nilsen was the person she wanted to deliver her.child. “The trust in Bonnie was pretty well instant. She seemed to know what, she was talking about, she also had a VBAC, and she was a nurse.” Mustonen explains her decision to have a VBAC, wi Sas “Having a baby by VBAC was a healing process for me. I didn't need somebody telling me when and how I was going to give birth. In a way it was also a political state ment. Being pregnant isn't a sickness, and unfortunately, pregnancy is often treated as a sickness.” When speaking of her last pregnancy, Mustonen’s voice vibrated with the joyful memory of finally being able to deliver a baby the age-old way “It was a real growing experience. I had this feeling of completion. There was instant family bonding. My children got to see their sister immediately after birth. I wasn't on a table working against gravity, I got to eat and drink. There was a full moon that night, and when I was in labour Bonnie and I took a walk. There came a point during my labour when I became aware how closely our minds and bodies.are linked.” Nilsen says these is definitely a need for physicians in helping manage a pregnancy Advertised prices in effect at your neighbourhood Castlegar Safeway store. Quantity rights reserved. Some items may not be ome as shown Right: A bumpersticker on the back of Bonnie Nilsen’s car, promotes Midwifery—a practice she now refuses to become involved with due to legalities. Story and photos by Karen Kerkhoff ee ee need for midwifery in our modern society, the Midwives Association of British Columbia (MABC) states that establishing a College of Midwives, a regulatory body will assure that anyone who wishes to practice midwifery will have to follow stringent train- ing and examination guidelines before obtaining a license to practice MABC president, Linda Knox, also pre- dicts that “the legalization of midwifery will bring about significantly lower health-care costs. “If we can reduce the length of hospital stays, we will realize significant savings to our health-care costs.” MABC also stated that 75 per cent of the babies born worldwide today are born into the hands of midwives. In British Columbia there might soon be legislation which will legally recognize midwifery in our society. With current cost saving changes occur- ring within our health care system, health care is once again moving back out into the communities with the help of visiting health care professionals. Midwifery might once again become an accepted practice if giving birth is no longer considered acute care, a condition which can only be treated in the hospital. If this occurs, midwifery might become legal and accepted, therefore giving a preg- nant woman an option in where and how she would like to deliver her baby “A woman should have a choice in birth...birthing is a very natural experience It’s freedom of choice and freedom of expres- sion,” said Mustonen If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about midwifery contact Bonnie Nilsen at 399-4413