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Civic initiative |
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PAPA-KANGAROO 547
Let me join this action of sharing stories about child-birth experiences. I’ll ask my wife to share her experiences as well, in order to get the full picture. But in short, I think the truth is somewhere in the middle, between all those who see all the worst here, and those who deny it, even claiming that this is an action against women, in other words that the aim is to frighten women from giving birth. We had our first child-birth in New York, in 2003, and the second one in Belgrade, at GAK "Narodni front". Again in short, in New York we had medical ensurance from our firm, so we didn’t have to pay anything. The conditions, as far as comfort is conserned, are better there, there are only two women in one room devided by a screen, better beds and everything else, it probably looks more like a hotel (this is a hospital in Manhattan). I atended the birth without problems (it was a C-section) and spent time with the baby emediatly afterwards. It was deffinately the most exciting experience of my life. Since we were „new“ to all of this, there were some problems with the first dipering and so on, when we asked the nurses for help, and they weren’t too kind. For those three days which women stay in the hospital, I has allowed to be with them almost all the time, although I don’t remember this being by the rules, but I guess they tolerated it, and it meant a lot to me. At „Narodni front“ we had an arrangement with one of the doctor’s, who was recomended to us and who was supposed to deliver the child. There was no word of paying anything extra, but it was hanging in the air and was talked about all around us. As was money for the anestesiologist. It turned out that when we went to the hospital that doctor wasn’t there, we didn’t call her and we decided to let things drift. As it happened, we had a neighbour working in the hopsital who looked after things and recomended both the doctor and the anestesiologist. The C-section went all right, the doctors even commented on how the doctors in New York did a bad job in connecting the muscles. At „Narodni front“ I wasn’t allowed to attent the birth, and with this I lost a huge experience and great emotions. It is as baby-friendly here as in New York, so the baby goes straight to the mom. Even though our friend works there, we weren’t able to avoid a room with 5-6 other women, on awful beds, with awful windows, doors, etc. I thought it impossible that noone can paint that door, if I worked there I think I would have painted it. At „Narodni front“ my wife wasn’t given anything to eat a few days after the C-section, while in NY she could eat the next day. As far as the services go and the behaviour of the doctors and nurses it was all right, and we don’t have any bad experiences with this, not because our friend works there, but it was like this in general. The experiences of other women, some of our friends, are much more negative, but I think there is a lot of exageration here, and maybe even a bit of spoildness, but this may be only my personal impression. What also bothered me is this culture of paying the medical staff and everyone else, with a tense relationship if this is left out. I am not a fan of this, and it was suggested to me immediately after the delivery by my friend. Yes, we did give a gift to the doctor as well. So as far as paying is concerned, we got off easily, with only a few smaller presents. I think that we as a society are in too deep into corruption and as for now I don’t think anyone in particular should be blamed. The general atmosphere is more to blame, to which an individual succumbs. How to change this atmosphere? First of all with consistent warnings and a serious attitude by the ministry of health and others, that this will not be tolerated, then giving people time to get used to this new atmosphere, and after that with firm sanctions. If this is not done by the superiors, who are also a part of this general atmosphere, then only civic initiatives like this one can change something. An individual, like Branka, can do a lot, that is sure, everyone has the energy for great changes, and when two or more of these energies work together, than it is even more efficient. I just want to add that an Association for natural birth is being formed, which is going to lift the way child-birth and women are thought of to a higher level. A big kiss to all new mothers, babies, and everyone else! |
STORIES FROM MATERNITY WARDS Mama-Kangaroo 002
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