Our recent “conversations” at the clinic have included blogs, facebook, twitter, etc. And they have gone full circle in terms of what people think, and really there has been absolutely no conclusion.
My take is that if clients are inviting us to be a part of their online-lives, that’s just great! They obviously know that what they are posting will be seen by us, and vice versa, what we post, they can see. Some of the other mw’s seem to be in a knot about it all.
What is it that we are posting that our clients couldn’t find in our office or by asking? Most of us have a good relationship with our clients and we chat candidly about going to a wedding, or an upcoming camping trip etc. So if someone tags us in a photo from said event- what is the problem? I certainly could understand if the photo was compromising, or a status update put us in a negative light or said something untrue, but the overwhelming majority of what I see “us” (midwives) posting is – “welcomed a beautiful baby into the world today!”, “Had an amazing time camping on my weekend off” etc. And I have never seen a photo of any midwife I know doing something that really shouldn’t be posted. (After all, we’re midwives, not MI6 agents.) Most of them are us with family, friends, or a belly/baby combination. Since our role as the community midwife is waning quickly, I see this as an opportunity to “catch up” and become the “go-to gal” of the past.
Side note: Another point I am generally in disagreement with our practice guidelines is phone calls from women who aren’t our clients. I don’t like taking them because I don’t know the woman or her personal situation. But when one of my clients calls with a question for thier family/friend/whoever I love taking the time to chat with them and have a little community moment. I am careful always to preface it with “Well, since [so-and-so] isn’t my client and I don’t know her history, I can’t provide care, but my understanding of [such-and-such] is that …[blah blah blah].. here is where she can learn more about it. Do you think that would be helpful to her?” (I swear it’s more coherent when there is an actual person and subject!)
In this ridiculously digital age, I think it is the midwife’s role to be a part of that. If you are going to be a community midwife, and the community has moved online, go for it! There is so much fear in the midwives I work with, partially because they are self defined “technophobes”, but really- what is it they think is going to happen?
We have recently started a facebook group for mamas who use our midwifery services (for the region) – much to the chagrin of our regional director- we loopholed it and had a client start it instead of one of us (bless!). Mamas are finding each other, and saying “Oh! I didn’t know you had a midwife too” We are using the opportunity to create an environment online where it is lacking in “real life” (It is my hope that this community will cross over into the real world and play a viable role in the support network of mothers in our area)
The larger thing that has come up for me is the moral dilema of what to do when stuff comes up on a clients profile, blog writing, or otherwise that they haven’t disclosed to you at a visit. This isn’t really common, but might be something like being sick, a concern they are writing about a lot, or medications they are taking. Although they have invited me into their online world, I am never quite sure how to approach the topic. “Soooo….I saw on facebook you’re taking antidepressants. Can you tell me more?” I trust that my clients will disclose whatever they are comfortable with at the time I ask them- and I ask them frequently.
My one “vice” about the digital birth community that is less “Knit your own granola” and more into ridiculous tabloids, is the celebrity blog that includes homebirths! I love hearing about celebrities who are having homebirths, midwives, and breastfeeding (even breastfeeding toddlers!) Yessss! While I equate the “articles” themselves to the tabloids of the grocery store line, I love to hear their stories.
