i heart margaret
Thursday, February 01, 2007
One for the 'What a Country!' Files: my midwife just phoned to find out whether the Maxolon's helping with the morning sickness. It isn't much, really, I'm afraid, I told her, very sorry to disappoint (for I must be a Good Patient at all times and not complain). Not to worry: she's going to phone the registrar and ask if she can prescribed something stronger.
Is it foolish of me to be so impressed with her thoroughness and concern for my wellbeing? Back in the UK, my rather lacklustre midwife didn't seem to think it necessary to do anything about my morning sickness with Rebecca (although to be honest it didn't occur to me to ask for help, either). Maybe it's the continuity-of-care thing – the system here is different from the the UK, where pregnant women are assigned a community midwife by their GP: this midwife carries out all the antenatal (and some of the postnatal) care, but the baby is delivered by whoever's on duty at the hospital when you show up in labour. The alternative to this is that you can engage an independent midwife of your choice, and at your cost. I'm not sure what happens midwife-wise if you opt for a home birth.
Here in NZ, when you learn that you are pregnant your doctor gives you a list of midwives to ring and you get to choose one, although I ended up disregarding the list and going with a friend's enthusiastic recommendation, which is how I found Margaret. (And there is a shortage of midwives, especially in smaller rural communities, so choice can be limited or non-existent depending on where you live.) All midwife care is free, or you can pay for a private obstetrician. (Although if you've had previous complications, or are a mature mother, you'll get a specialist referral anyway and on the public health dime.)
So who knows: maybe a system in which the antenatal caregiver also delivers the baby leads to a more concerned and engaged relationship with the mother. Or maybe Margaret's a particularly conscientious midwife. Either way, I shan't complain.
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