Many procedures and decisions are done to the mother and baby without informed consent. The problem is in Australia, we just have a different approach, if the doctors do something, it must be needed so its just done. Also, you need to be informed and educated well to know what is being done out of necessity or not, and in hospital, loads of things are being done out of covering their butt and not necessity.

Very interesting yesterday at the Henci Goer workshop, those who couldn't make it really missed out on a great talk. She said that all the flight and fight studies are actually done on men (funny that), and in labour, women are more likely to do what she called, 'tend or befriend' because in labour she is vulnerable, maybe has a helpless infant in her arms so all she can do is try to draw people in or befriend them. See this is where the father needs to step up to the mark and protect his woman and baby. We watched a movie called Born in the USA also, a worthwhile see.

I was at a birth in a Melbourne private hospital and the couple were told they needed xxx, so the mother turned to the father and said, what to you think? The Ob snapped and said, 'NO it's not your decision to make you are going to listen to me.' But alot harsher than that. The dad was gobsmacked but after the birth proceeded to rave about the Ob, thank him and recommend him to his friends and family. Do we just take it and accept it here? I have not seen anyone in labour really stand up to anyone, I have seen one father strongly say no to harassing comments about the third stage injection, but yes, some Obs here are bullies too. There are members here who can vouch for it.