Appalled to read articles

August 3, 2007

Dear Sir,

I was appalled and very concerned to read articles, put in The Royal Gazette, July 17, 2007, by Sophia Cannonier.

I can appreciate her passion for natural childbirth. However, "a little knowledge is dangerous!"

For a few years, Sophia has put information in the newspaper, which shows her lack of knowledge and experience. She is a doula, not a midwife or an obstetrician!

I have been a Midwife for 34 years, and am, presently, the only born Bermudian working as a midwife, on the Maternity Ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital and practise with an open mind!

There is a shortage of nurses and midwives, worldwide. I have encouraged Sophia to become a midwife.

I am the mother of three children, all born naturally! One was born, via plan, at home, in London, when I lived there. I almost did my own delivery, due to my Midwife taking sick that day, and her replacement had ten minutes to spare!

The outcome of a labour depends, to a large extent, on the size and position of the baby and the size and shape of the woman's pelvis.

Some babies are born at home here, and always will, because some babies are born quickly and some mothers have easy, quick labours.

Others need Help! Obstetric emergencies require Caesarian Sections! Deaths of mothers and babies can really occur!

FRANCES WEDDERBURN (nee Hodgson) R.N, S.C.M.

Editor's Note: Sophia Cannonier has never advocated that all expectant mothers should organise home births. However, she has suggested that it is an alternative to hospital births, with the provisio that expectant mothrs should take based on advice from professionals and have a proper plan.

UBP is only alternative

September 13, 2007

Dear Sir,

I saw a letter not long ago about a PLP voter who had a visit from Mr. Charles Swan.

Well, sir, so did I and I want to tell people that I agree with that person.

Mr Swan is a good man and very competent but what really opened my eyes was that he is actually making a difference in the UBP.

After I spoke to him I happened to meet another black man involved in the UBP and I knew him very well. I asked him to tell me honestly how the party had changed and I now believe that the young, black people in that party are really making a difference and even shaping the party.

I thought that the PLP was the answer in 1998 but they are not the answer and the only alternative is the UBP.

Unfortunately a lot of black people have been believing that the UBP is a white party but what it seems to me to be is a party that almost all the white people happen to support but a party which is now working for both blacks and whites.

CHARLIE SWAN VOTER

Southampton