Let’s bitch about midwives. Let me say off the bat that I appreciate the service offered by midwives and an amazingly competent midwife called Julianna delivered my baby girl a week ago. But I am becoming increasingly sick of condescending comments and ‘the beady eye’. I dread the days that the midwife, aka baby police, comes to visit. I have been told to cut my nails. I have been advised that my house is “very cold” – yes really? So what do Eskimos do? Wrap their babies up and keep them warm. Thanks. My husband was cautioned not to walk down the stairs with our baby. I was commanded to breastfeed whilst the police took blood from my baby’s heel (mandatory) – sure, just breastfeed – no problem. I love whipping out my boob on demand at a stranger’s command, especially when my baby is not hungry. I can only assume that years of dealing with thirteen-year-old council estate moms has resulted in the teacheresque manner adopted by a portion of the midwives that I have had dealings with. Having a baby is magical but I still have to get used to the invasions that come along with it – well intentioned or not, necessary or not. Have a baby and everyone reserves the right to comment. I am open to advice and as a first time parents we are figuring things out on a trial and error basis. It is not the advice that annoys me but the tone in which it is delivered, professionally or other.
The baby police
On December - 13 - 2009
oh dear dear Andrea, i get you completely. But you do have an advantage on many(including me ofcourse), which are in-laws and parents. They are just annoying and at times super inconsiderate and i get them 5 days a week. so be glad u dont have to worry about offending fam. Just do what you do have to do infront of the midwives then u close your door and do what u want and how you feel.
im gonna lend u my self motto: not because you do it differently means that its wrong.
If there’s one thing that stands true of man as a race more than most, if not all, it’s that we have the ability to get accustomed to anything. The miracle you experience is their version of email, if you do it enough and often enough eventually you don’t even realise it’s there.