Dr. Summerskill On Childbirth Criticised

Press, Volume C, Issue 29502, 2 May 1961, Page 2

Dr. Summerskill On Childbirth Criticised

(NJ!. Pres* Anociatum) WELLINGTON, May 1. Doctor Edith Summerskill had fallen into the same trap as that into which many persons fell when talking of “natural” childbirth, said the Dominion president of the ; Federation of Parents’ Centres (Mrs Helen Brew) today. “Natural” childbirth did not necessarily mean birth without i sedation, said Mrs Brew. ; She was commenting on a cabled report in which Dr. ’ Summerskill was said to have told the House of Lords that women in childbirth should scream louder.

Dr. Summerskill said: “No- , one can assess how much suffering could be avoided if hospital staff were more * conscious of the professional J obligations to relieve a I mother’s pain. They are J often intimidated, and their 1 amazing courage and patience « is exploited.” • She said many young • mothers read books which J convinced them that if they ' breathed in a particular way they would find childbirth | painless. "They learn their mistakes too late,” she said. Mrs Brew said: “I agree j with Dr. Edith Summerskill that mothers certainly do show amazing courage and i patience. They should, as r she also says, never be left * alone in labour and should be treated with the same human approach in hospitals

as a mother would receive when delivered in her own home.

"I also agree with her that it is essential that adequate pain relievers be available for mothers when they want them. No woman should be allowed to suffer

“In New Zealand a generation ago women demanded, quite rightly, that adequate analgesics be made available to all women in hospital. For many reasons this did not solve the problem of suffering of women in labour. A decreasing effect of anaesthetics on the baby’s respiratory system was one of the factors.”

Today the emphasis was on prevention of pain so far as possible in labour. This was done through teaching a pregnant mother relaxation and breathing techniques, and relating this during lectures and discussions to the labour situation and through kindly support in labour. “I know of no book that recommends childbirth with out analgesia." said Mrs Brew. "Nonsense” “I assume Dr. Edith Summerskill has fallen into the error of believing that ‘natural.’ ‘trained’ or ’co-opera-tive’ childbirth means childbirth without analgesics. This is of course nonsense. Such writers with a psychosomatic approach to child-

birth are concerned with reducing anxiety and fear in labour.

"Analgesics and all aid modern obstetrics can give are at hand should the mother need them.”

There was no question of a mother being a martyr. Mothers were instructed in the use of hand analgesia, and trained mothers knew what to expect and how to co-operate ■with their attendants

“It has been proved beyond doubt that such education and support of the mother can reduce considerably the amount of sedation needed, and is therefore beneficial to mother and baby,” Mrs Brew said. “With this sort of human care, mothers don’t need to scream. They can be calm, and confident, and joyful at the birth of their babies.”