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View Full Version : Christian Midwife? Am I wrong?


Epicurus
06-09-2004, 03:34 PM
I wasn't sure where to put this. I could go under reproduction or religion I suppose.

Anyway, a friend of mine e-mailed me for a midwife reference for a friend of hers who lives near me. This woman has had children at home before but moved and doesn't know the midwives around here. I sent her a name of the best midwife I know. The woman then wanted to know if this midwife is Christian. I asked my friend to tell her to call her and ask all her questions. It is not for me to answer.
Well then this woman wants to know if *I* am Christian as if I need to be Christian in order to tell her a midwives phone number? She then questions my character as a non Christian (which she assumed since no one jumped foreword and said I was) and decided that I like the midwife I referred because she is not Christian (another assumption on her part) and that I dislike another midwife I did not recommend because she is Christian.
I did not recommend the other midwife because I have heard very bad stories of her handling emergencies poorly and doing many unnecessary interventions causing complications. I recommended a midwife how I know personally and have personally witnessed handle many emergencies calmly, coolly and efficiently. She is a also a wonderful person and extremely caring. She was the assisting midwife at my own birth.
Then the woman wants to know if the midwife is a lesbian??? She still hasn't even called her to ask her own questions and is very offended I won't answer her questions. I just don't feel it is my place to tell her personal information about this midwife. She can ask herself and the midwife will be happy to share with her any reasonable background information. Many peopel ask her the Christian question and she is happy to discuss it fully.
OK, that's it in a nutshell. The woman is now mad and not talking to my friend who defended my character and won't (apparently) call this midwife because she assumes she is not Christian. She is considering going with the Christian midwife who has a poor track record. What do you all think of this?
IMO when you ask for a reference and are given one by someone you don't know it is then your job to follow up and meet the personal and decide for yourself if they are the midwife for you. I thought it was inappropriate for her to attempt gossip with me and then judge me because I wouldn't comply. It is annoying to say the least. I sent along two other midwife names whom I know nothing about.

Is a Christian Midwife (or any other service you want to put in there) so important that you wouldn't even consider others? She has the choice of 4 midwives that I am aware of and one is ruled out for incompetence already in my book. It is not like she has endless options.
Am I in the wrong for not wanting to discuss the personal life of this midwife with a stranger?

Collette

mom2burgess
06-09-2004, 03:51 PM
IMO you are not wrong. If she has questions for or about the midwife, other than your personal experience with her, she needs to take it to the midwife. In all actuallity, if she asks those sort of insulting questions to anyone they are not going to want to be associated with her anyhow

Quamie
06-09-2004, 04:35 PM
Track record is what is improtant to me. NOT a personal religious choice. I think this woman sounds like a twit for not calling and asking the questions from the person she is asking about. I dont like gossip and that is what she was trying to do.... She has to be concerned for her safety and that of her child it dosent matter if she (midwife) was Asexual or Buddist, if she is educated and qualified I would use her services.

Some people are really in need of a fine tuning on life.... :noevil:

OnederWoman
06-09-2004, 04:51 PM
Yeah, so proud to have that wacko walking around calling herself a Christian. Good lord, if she only associates with "christians", she must have a very small circle of friends.

I don't think you did anything wrong. I would feel uncomfortable answering those questions, especially if they would have caused her not to choose that particular midwife. And for another, what does any of that have to do with her capabilities as a midwife?!?!?

Epicurus
06-09-2004, 07:10 PM
So I am not nuts then:) The midwife in question is not Christian but serves many who are with no conflict. She is happily married to her high school sweetheart and has three kids. A very normal and wonderful midwife. This "woman" will never know that though because she is too bigoted or something else I am incapable of understanding to ever find out what she is missing .

Collette

Val
06-09-2004, 07:43 PM
For goodness sakes, I think that is very odd.

My OB was a Jewish fellow and I loved him to pieces - his religion and mine had no bearing on what an incredible doctor he was, and I would recommend him to anyone, Christian, atheist, whatever!

I think you did the right thing Collette. I am FLOORED she asked you if the midwife was a lesbian. Where the heck did that come from and what on earth would it have to do with anything if she was???!

THis lady sounds very backwards to me. I think if she bases her decision entirely on what religion the person is, she is going to miss out on many very skilled doctors. Then again, I have a friend who will only see a Christian OB who shares the same views on birth control, quiverfull, etc that she does, so many it is not as uncommon as I thought.

MMP
06-09-2004, 08:39 PM
That woman sounds a little over kilter to me. I mean, how are you suppose to know if the midwife is a Christian or lesbian. Neither things come up in general conversation, I would think. I have no idea if my OB is a Christian or his sexual preference and it has no bearing on the situation.

Epicurus
06-10-2004, 08:45 AM
I know this midwife very well. I have spent time with her and her dh at family gatherings a few times over the years and spoken to her on a very personal level many times. I do know the answers to these questions but just don't feel it is my business to share this personal information with strangers KWIM? I did call the midwife and tell her to run screaming;) She wouldn't of course. I don't think she has ever turned anyone away.
Apparently she had a "bad experience" with a lesbian midwife. I am not privy to what happened. It seems to me the best way to know what kind of person this midwife is would be to go and visit her. This woman is annoyed that she has to drive to the midwife who is an hour away from her. Her old midwife drove to the mothers homes. She just seems really lazy to me and wants others to do her work for her.
The thing that really bugs me is that if she met this midwife I know she would love her. No one has ever had a problem (that I know of) with her not being Christian. Oh, she is not Christian BTW:)
It is rare for anyone who meets her not to birth with her. She is just a wonderful person.
Collette

Mabel
06-10-2004, 10:03 AM
I think that's really odd! How strange...

Jory
06-13-2004, 07:28 PM
That woman is a loon. She gives Christians a very bad name (not that I am one, but some of my best friends are LOL)

DiznieB
06-14-2004, 04:30 PM
My OB was mormon. I would never consider choosing a professional based upon their religious beliefs! Just as long as they respect mine (in the medical field).