Nicholls, L., & Webb, C. (2006). What makes a good midwife? An integrative review of methodologically-diverse research. Journal Of Advanced Nursing, 56(4), 414-429. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2006.04026.x The article “What makes a good midwife? An integrative review of methodologically-diverse research” went over various pieces of evidence that determines what makes a good midwife. I found this article hard to follow, the information was confusing and seemed to be all over the place. The authors Nicholls, Lynn and Webb, Christine did not do a good job at entertaining the reader and did not focus on delivering the main idea the the article in a clear picture. Most of the article went over the way that the did their research: “A four-stage systematic
At home births are planned during the prenatal course when I women has met the criteria for low risk pregnancy. In the Netherlands, midwifery is a standard for of care, approximately 35% of all babies are born at home with midwives. In the United states less than 1% of births are done at home, researchers suggest that practitioners’ attitudes, resource availability, and community standards may influence the birth site options offered to women in the United states. In 1995 Floyd published a assessment of options and experiences with home births in the United Kingdom, discovered that home birth improved the experience and well-being of women, babies, and midwives. 226 midwives were asked their opinion on at home birth, 70% of them were favorable towards home birth, however “financial security, liability concerns, and lack of support from other maternity care providers (physicians and nurse-midwife peers) were barriers that affected the choice of practicing in an at home setting.” Home birth nurse-midwives are “looked” down on by hospital personnel, because of the higher risk of lawsuits than those who deliver in a hospital setting. The article finished off with stating “out-of-hospital maternity care
There has been a long standing turf war Between obstetricians and midwives, but this article explains for that might be coming to an end. Britian’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence discovered that it is safer for healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies to give birth at home with the supervision of midwives. Studies have shown that doctors are much more like to use interventions such as forceps, spinal anesthesia and cesarean section, when unnecessary and those procedure carry risks of inaction and surgical accidents. Many studies have shown that midwives provide care just as well or even better than obstetricians, when mothers are expected to deliver a single baby at full term and the babies head is presenting first in the birth canal. “The professional society for obstetricians, however, cites evidence that planned home birth carries an increased risk of neonatal death, compared with planned hospital birth.” Some medical center are trying to have the best of both worlds by allowing midwives to have more a independence within the
Critically discuss the challenges that may be encountered by the new graduate nurse/ midwife in one of the following areas within this domain:
Johnson, K. C., & Daviss, B. A. (2005). Outcomes of planned home births with certified professional midwives: large prospective study in North America. Bmj, 330(7505), 1416.
...o find a balance between interventional and non-interventional birth. With this being said, I also understand that there are strict policies and protocols set in place, which I must abide to as a healthcare provider, in any birth setting. Unfortunately, these guidelines can be abused. Christiane Northrup, MD, a well recognized and respected obstetrician-gynecologist has gone as far as to tell her own daughters that they should not give birth in a hospital setting, with the safest place being home (Block, 2007, p. xxiii). Although I am not entirely against hospital births, I am a firm believe that normal, healthy pregnancies should be fully permissible to all midwives. However, high-risk pregnancies and births must remain the responsibility of skilled obstetricians. My heart’s desire is to do what is ultimately in the best interest of the mother, and her unborn child.
How do you feel about home birth? When it comes to most peoples minds they most likely think that is just horde, and that they world never even think of baring there child that way. After reading this I hope that you will change you mind, or reconsider it. home birth is better then the hospital in many ways, and i'm going to share with you many of those ways with you. In the articular ( Midwifes alliance) is says, (Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health (JMWH), a landmark study** confirms that among low-risk women, planned home births result in low rates of interventions without an increase in adverse outcomes for mothers and babies. This study, which examines nearly 17,000 courses of midwife-led care, is the largest analysis of planned home birth in the U.S. ever published.The
In the early nineteen-hundreds, the American Medical Lobby was almost successful in stopping out its competition: Midwives. The Journal of the American Medical Association (AMA) published an article in 1912 “The Midwife Problem”, which analyzed a survey given to obstetricians of their thoughts on midwives were. The article states “a large proportion admit that the average practitioner, through his lack of preparation for the practice of obstetrics, may do his patients as much harm as the much-maligned midwife.” This statement demonstrates the discrimination of skilled midwives. Comparing a trained midwife to a unprepared obstetrician. “doctors are the main reason women don’t have midwives.” says Cristen Pascucci the Author of “ Why Are We Asking Doctors if Women Should Have Midwives?”. Midwife led care is the norm all around the world for mothers and babies, so why not in the United States you may ask. Many may say that the United States has a dysfunctional system of maternity care, leading to poor outcomes for mothers and babies. After the 1912 “Midwife Problem”, prenatal mortality has been higher in hospitals and lower in at home births. (Pascucci, 2014) The doctors employed by the AMA in 1912, failed to take down the glorious, strong willed midwives. Even after 100 years of scrutiny, midwives are still going strong and proving their ways of doing things are
According to Leah Albers, Certified Nurse Midwife, three-quarters of all of the deliveries are performed with women in a supine position, or lying on their backs (Keen, DiFranco, Amis, & Albers, 2004). However, as evidenced throughout history women across all cultures have used both upright and “gravity-neutral” or supine positions to give birth to their babies. Before the introduction of the forceps in the 17th century, women were rarely shown to be giving birth in a supine position. Earlier in history women were encouraged to give birth guided by their own “inner wisdom” in a position that was most comfortable for them; a position which was rarely lying on their back (Keen et al., 2004). The majority of women today, especially in Western society, deliver their babies in supine positions because it is the most preferred position of the midwife or nurse and has been a tradition for many years (de Jonge, Teunissen, van Diem, Scheepers, & Lagro-Janssen, 2008). On the contrary, the use of supine positions rather than upright positions is not the most optimal modes of delivery for the mother and the baby. Thus, to change the clinical practice on labor and delivery units, it is the responsibility of the nurse to continue to seek evidence-based practice research and obtain knowledge through education to guide the mother through informed choice, in choosing a birthing position during the second stage of labor that is most comfortable to her and will yield the most optimal outcomes for herself and her baby.
They must assess the needs of the woman to determine and provide a care as instructed, this can be before conception and then throughout the antenatal and postnatal period. The focus when looking after women is to provide holistic care and making sure it's done with compassion and love. This includes respecting the women's individual choices and needs in a variety of different situations. According to NMC (2008) guidelines, midwives must treat people with care, compassion, dignity, respect and must be impartial. These competencies and proficiencies are assured through pre- and post-registration education. Being insightful when communicating and having an active listening skills provides the whole family with the feeling of being valued and considered. This includes being interested and being able to respond appropriately to establish productive and professional relationships with the women and their families. Midwives need to have the ability to be tactful, but also being able to exert influence through respect and credibility. Giving out clear and respectful messages that can be understood by women and also being able to recognise non-verbal cues and behaviours of family members is necessary (Mayes, 2011 and Nicholls L, Webb C. 2006). Midwives are also still accountable for their actions regardless of what happened, even when delegating tasks to other members of staff. The use of effective communication is
Pairman,S., Tracy, S., Thorogood, C., & Pincombe, J. (2013). Theoretical frameworks for midwifery practice. Midwifery: Preparation for practice.(2nd ed, pp. 313-336). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia
Throughout history mankind has come up with some wonderful inventions and innovations, but out of all the creations by far the most beautiful and precious is human birth. I first developed an interest in nursing and in particular midwifery years ago. I believe it is a great service within the health profession because of the privileged position to assist in human childbirth. The word midwife means with woman. Centuries before obstetricians delivered babies, midwifes assisted women in having at home births. But it was only formally established as a profession in the early 1900’s. A nurse-midwife is a registered nurse that specializes in midwifery. The job of midwife is to assist in family planning and birth control advice, provide general gynecological services (such as pap smears and breast exams), aid women in childbirth, and help women by providing prenatal and postpartum care. Nurse-midwives are required to have a Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree and pass the American College of Nurse Midwifery (ACNM) board examination to obtain certification.
Chances are that terms such as “midwife” and “home birth” conjure up for you old-fashioned images of childbirth. These words may bring to mind scenes from old movies, but you’re not likely to associate them with the modern image of childbirth. Do you know anyone who has had a midwife-assisted birth or a home birth? Would you consider one?
I initially considered midwifery when I attended an antenatal scan with my auntie and heard the heartbeat of the unborn baby for the first time. Listening to discussions regarding health concerns and family support highlighted the importance of the midwife and mother relationship. Two years ago I was given the opportunity to be my mum’s birthing partner alongside my dad. I saw how the midwives interacted and were supportive through the birthing and decision making process. It was found that the baby was breach and the safe option was a caesarean section, and with the complications discussed mum was able to make the right decision. I attended pre and postnatal appointments and listened to the midwives offering advice and guidance, develop a birthing plan as well as check and monitor the health and wellbeing of mum. These first hand experiences have given me a deeper understanding of the role of a midwife and how communication and building trusting relationships is key during these emotional and vulnerable times for a woman, and inspired me to become a midwife.
The term midwife is derived to mean with woman. Midwives are predominately the health care professionals that care for women, and their families, from conception, throughout their pregnancy, labour and postnatal period (The Royal College of Midwives, RCM, n.d.). Women with uneventful pregnancies are under a midwife’s care (The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, NICE, 2014a). These women are encouraged to meet with their midwife regularly throughout their pregnancy (NICE, 2015), although primigravida women are advised to meet more frequently than multigravida women, in order to assess the clinical aspects of the woman’s pregnancy (NICE, 2014a). During the regular assessments of the women, the midwives are also able to intertwine their practice with a contribution to education and health promotions. The amount of informative material available to women is vast, with the midwife providing their client with holistic and individualised (Sporek, 2014) care which includes the promotion of good health. Health promotion is in place for the purpose of protecting the public (Beldon & Crozier, 2005). Within
As early as the mid 1800s, women were choosing to give birth less with traditional midwives and began seeking the care of doctors. Childbirth often ended in mortality, of the mother and more often, the baby. Women in the middle and upper classes doubted the training of midwives. Doctors received formal training and were believed better suited to care for the challenge of childbirth. Medicine was embraced and encouraged by anyone that could afford it. Doctors were seen as a status indicator and midwives were only suitable for the poor. By late 1800s, doctors attended about half of the births in the United States. (Feldhusen, 2000)
In the modern context being a midwife as given in the story is like being a middle level manager in an organisation. The organisation being the mother and top management being the leader which intervenes occasionally. In this context, first we will do through how this is achieved in organisations, how it is beneficial for them and what is there at the other extremity.
Women receiving care from midwives are less likely to have preterm deliveries, or have a