A quiet revolution
If you listen carefully, you’ll hear whispers in the wind tonight. Voices quietly telling their stories.
Here a story of hurt.
There a story of pain.
Another of fear.
And many, so many, of betrayal by those to whom we entrust ourselves.
Every day, women of Ireland are asked to put their fates in the hands of our maternity hospitals. And every day, another woman finds herself let down by a system that is understaffed, under-resourced, and falling apart at the seams. Oh and is “the safest place in the world in which to give birth” apparently.
If you consider a live mother and baby the only outcome worth striving for that is.
No mention of the numbers of women left mentally scarred and traumatized by the treatment they receive. It’s easy to keep them quiet though. A sharp “Haven’t you a healthy baby, what more do you want?” is usually enough to invoke guilt and quieten tongues.
But this small nation of ours has too much history when it comes to keeping people quiet and sweeping things under the carpet for future generations to look back on with horror. And in the past year, stories have been making their way to public ears.
A mother dies.
Four babies die.
And the sad thing is, that’s what it takes for people to start to listen.
So I’m asking you to stop tonight and listen. Because the whispers are getting louder and these are voices that deserve to be heard.
Thank you to AIMS Ireland for the work that they are doing, helping Irish women rediscover their voices in a broken maternity system: SHOUT BACK – YOUR SAY
Your post stopped me in my tracks Lisa, I hope the right people will start to listen. It feels like the rumble is getting louder.
office mum recently posted..Office Mum stories: Lucy O’Connor
Thanks, I wish more people put their voice to this, me included. I had two out of three bad experiences with my births but feel I shouldn’t say anything as I have three healthy babies to show for it! All I wanted was a little bit of politeness and respect which is exactly what I gave!
Naomi Lavelle recently posted..Bird on a wire!
Powerful and I completely agree too!
looking for blue sky recently posted..Bedtime
I think as long as we continue to have a consultant led maternity service we will have difficulties. Looking at the slowly growing changes I do have hope though.
The days are coming when a woman will no longer just be grateful to see her baby alive and well. Education of women as to their rights to question and refuse syntocin, manual rupture of membranes, restricted positioning, during labour etc, is essential.
As it is at the moment there are “normal” parameters for the progression of labour, if you fall outside of those (as can happen when a woman becomes fearful and labour stops) labour is taken out of your hands.
Thanks Lisa for helping spread the word. One bad experience is one too many.
tric recently posted..What do you see when you’re looking at me?
My “baby” is almost three and I have spent those last few years giving thanks that my family is finished and I do not have to “fear” giving birth again. I don’t fear birth, the complete opposite. But I fear the understaffed hospitals and the need to “manage” labour. When I was admitted for the birth of my 4th son (lots of messing with suspected low fluid levels, a sweep and an ARM)my own mother told me to “be good” and “do as you’re told.” I was “good” but I stood my ground and had the VBAC I wanted.
Wonderful Wagon recently posted..The Truths of Motherhood. (Revisited)