Politics and Birth – the recent political events in Canberra are a shocking reminder about the politics in birthing. Yes, there is politics everywhere, in every organisation and workplace but when a pregnant woman, inevitably gets caught up with the politics in birthing, it is also shocking. The hidden agenda’s of a hospital bureaucracy, an obstetrician and even some midwives, has very little to do with a normal event of pregnancy, labour and birthing BUT many women don’t even realise, until after the event, just how much the policies and procedures afftected their outcome. The work of a doula is to protect against this happening, to understand the politics and to be able to negotiate effectively and respectfully, on behalf of Mum, Dad and baby. No couple should have to be exposed to the politics and a doula is skilled at reassuring, normalising and giving a woman the confidence to trust her innate birthing ability. Every pregnant woman deserves a doula, especially with our current very broken hospital system.
