That's pretty standard in hospitals Ivana - they will be there for pushing the majority of the time and very intermittently other times. Most people expect them to be there much more hence think a Doula isn't needed because a midwife will be there. Can I please quote you for an article?

(Yes I know some of you had fantastic midwives in birth centres who were there the whole time but this is typical of a major hospital birth so you don't need to post to tell me otherwise )

Anyways, sorry to distract from the topic, carry on! I'm enjoying reading your thoughts and very glad we don't have the ratio the US website had.