Evaluation Of Philosophical And Sociological Underpinnings Within Australian Maternity Services

It relies on persuasive tactics to ensure compliance. Being medical-based, it aims to reduce morbidity and reduce premature mortality and is conceptualised around the absence of disease. As midwives do not regard pregnancy and child-birth as states of ill-health, its validity in midwifery care must be questioned (Dunkley, 2000a). The benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented (Appendix Two), however difficulties arise in making this information relevant and personal to each woman. Often, simply giving women ‘information’ makes little difference to them (Dunkley, 2000b).

Being a midwife does not only defined by assisting women in childbirth. The general dictionary definition are the misconception of how people view midwives. Being a midwife means to be ‘with women’ and this leads the construction of the midwifery philosophy, Page (2006) 5 steps and Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) competency standards, in order to provide the best women centred care (Australia Collage of Midwives, 2017). This essay will cover a constructive overview of what Page (2006) 5 steps of being a midwife means, it will also defined what women centred care is and emphasis on the importance it has for the woman. Understanding Page (2006) 5 steps and women centred care helped build the pathway for midwifery philosophy to correlate with NMBA competency standard in order to support midwifery practice. For

Jones (2012) explains that if the baby died during birth or pregnancy the baby was not considered a being, and if the baby survived, Indigenous men would hold ceremonies to establish the baby as a ‘being’. When the baby was birthed the umbilical cord would be severed by a sharp stone and the placenta would be buried. The Policy of Assimilation (1961) noted that more research into Aboriginal health was needed and Aboriginals’ required education in regards to pre-natal and post-natal care. The ministers felt that bush birthing was not hygienic and risky to health of mother and baby. Jones (2012) Ascertains that almost every aspect of Indigenous Australians lives was controlled by the state, and because of this some Aboriginal women would attempt to stay away from the authorities, and give birth in the bush quietly so as the baby would not be seized and removed. With the authorities upholding the power over Indigenous populations, this destroyed the traditional rituals that surrounded childbirth, the state government authorities saw themselves with the best of intentions, but did not take into account the social, emotional and cultural wellbeing and the traditions of the Indigenous

The Australian College of Midwives believes that it is the right of every pregnant woman to have access to continuity of care by a known midwife for her pregnancy, labour and early postnatal period. Midwives are the most appropriate primary care providers for healthy mothers and newborn babies and are able to refer to specialist medical care if the need arises (Hicks, Spurgeon & Barwell, 2003). Midwives must work within the competency standards enforced by The ANMC Australian Nursing & Midwifery Council (2006) in order to obtain and practice as a registered midwife in Australia. Competency 4 states Midwives should “promote safe and effective practice” (ANMC, 2006), this is achievable by providing Midwifery continuity of care to women and

After having less liberty than desired under the care of an Obstetrician while delivering my older sister, my mum decided to seek care from a Midwife for her last two delivers. In comparison to her reflections about her first birth, when recalling my birth she remains enthused about the respect, care and freedom her Midwife gave her. The impact self-governance has on birth always strikes me when my mum speaks of her experiences. It is evident that allowing laboring women to assume ownership of their own bodies affects them, and subsequently their children, for a

Robin Yates’s paper, “Pregnancy and Childbirth, The 1800’s vs. Now: What to Expect When You’re Not Expecting,” was filled with many clear points on the advancement of labor and medicine since the 1800s. This essay was filled with interesting and grabbing facts; however, the structure of the essay needs more support.

When Sarah was out of the bed and standing her whole attitude changed, she was more comfortable and relaxed. Sarah went on to give birth on her hands and knees, there were no complications and the perineum was intact. The student felt that through the use of different positions, listening and observing, she had empowered Sarah to have a normal birth. The two specific topics the author will analyse are positions in labour and the role the midwife plays in facilitating choice.

Within Victoria there are multiple models of maternity care available to women. An initial discussion with the woman’s treating GP during the early stages of her pregnancy is critical in her decision-making about which model of care she will choose and this key discussion is essential in allowing a woman to make the first of many informed decisions throughout her pregnancy. According to a survey conducted by Stevens et al. (2010) only 43% of women felt ‘they were not supported to maintain up-to-date knowledge on models of care, and most reported that model of care referrals were influenced by whether women had private health insurance coverage.’ Many elements of these models of care differ: from location of care, degree of caregiver continuity, rates of intervention and maternal and infant health, outcomes access to medical procedure, and philosophical orientation such as natural or medical (Stevens, Thompson, Kruske, Watson, & Miller, 2014). According to the World Health Organization (1985) and Commonwealth of Australia (2008) there is a recognition that ‘85% of pregnant women are capable of giving birth safely with minimal intervention with the remaining 15% at potential risk of medical complications’ (McIntyre & Francis, 2012).

In this article, the authors explored the continuity of midwifery care using the caseload approach that was established in Queensland. This was to address the development of care for women experiencing inequalities and to improve birth outcomes. The authors objective was to investigate midwife’s responsibilities within their scope of practice when applying a caseload model (Midwifery Group Practice [MGP]).

For hundred of years, women have wrestled with their womanhood, bodies, and what it means to be a woman in our society. Being a woman comes with a wonderful and empowering responsibility--giving birth. What sets us aside from other countries is that the process and expectations of giving birth has changed in our society; coming from midwifery, as it has always been since the early times, to hospitals where it is now expected to give birth at. Midwifery was a common practice in delivering babies in

In 1993 continuity of care was recognised by the government and was outlined in the department of health policy paper ‘Changing childbirth’ (DH, 1993). The document focused on choice and continuity of the care a woman should receive. Subsequently, a greater shift towards Midwifery Led Care developed. It has been suggested that a midwife should be the first point of contact for women accessing maternity services (Department of Health 2007, Welsh Assembly Government 2002, Scottish Executive 2001). Nevertheless, statics show that this was the case for only 24 percent of women in 2010, with some improvement by 2013 at 32 percent. Conversely, in 2013 63 percent of women first made contact with their family doctor (The Care Quality Commission, 2013). However 98% percent of women had their the remaining antenatal care provided by a midwife, 40% exclusively and with 60% having shared care with a GP or consultant led care (The Care Quality Commission, 2013).

According to “Human Sexuality: Diversity in Contemporary America,” women and couples planning the birth of a child have decisions to make in variety of areas: place of birth, birth attendant(s), medication, preparedness classes, circumcision, breast feeding, etc. The “childbirth market” has responded to consumer concerns, so its’ important for prospective consumers to fully understand their options. With that being said, a woman has the choice to birth her child either at a hospital or at home. There are several differences when it comes to hospital births and non-hospital births.

The purpose of this essay is to explore and evaluate a local trusts policy for induction of labour due to a prolonged pregnancy. To begin with it will define induction of labour and outline the significance of this policy. Moving on it will look at how the policy has interpreted and delivered national drivers at a local level. It will critically analysis the key national drivers and guidelines that have influenced the local maternity service of induction of labour . It will also examine the local trust policy for induction of labour for post maturity, in order to assess how the changes have been implemented, how these changes are monitored and evacuated, to determine their success in practice. The essay will conclude with key

This discussion will address the importance of the first antenatal appointment and three important aspects of this experience; these are the gathering of the woman’s health history, undertaking a maternal assessment, and maternal screening. Furthermore, a critical comparison of the use of the South Australian Pregnancy Record with the more traditional practice of using the hospital record as the methods of documentation. The establishment of antenatal care was founded in 1920. Since then the practice of midwifery has changed and developed into what we know today, as the midwifery-led continuity of care model, which the first antenatal care visit should aim for. This is an important time where the midwife gets to know the mother, her physical

Home births in comparison to hospital births are “associated with reduced rates of cesarean birth and medical interventions, and similar rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality” (Declercq, & Stotland, 2016). Home births in the Netherlands account for 20% of all births and studies conducted there showed no increased risk for neonatal adverse outcome (Zielinski, Ackerson, & Low, 2015). Studies have also shown that “satisfaction with the birth experience is also high in the home birth setting” (Zielinski, Ackerson, & Low, 2015).