Informative Essay On Midwifery

Hearing the word midwife leaves many people thinking of unprofessional, inexperienced women who help deliver babies naturally, without the help of medication. In truth, nurse-midwives are registered nurses who have attended additional schooling for women’s health and are taught to make women feel as comfortable as possible. In the beginning, remedies were the females’ legacies, their “birthright”; these females were known as “wise-women by the people, witches of charlatans by authorities”. (Ehrenreich, 1973). “Females were wanderers, traveling from one place to another, healing the sick and wounded.” (Ehrenreich 1973). These women were among the first human healers and they were especially helpful when it came to childbearing. The midwives

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) published the expected standards for pre-registration midwifery education. They stated that Student Midwives are required to assist in the care and support of several women throughout their antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum period. This is achieved via the caseload holding scheme (Nursing and Midwifery Council, 2009). Midwifery led continuity of care models are described as care given during the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period from a known and trusted midwife in order to empower a woman to have a healthy pregnancy and birth (Sandall, Soltani and Gates, 2016). In September 2005 research was published supporting midwifery-led continuity of care, which they found was linked to a number of benefits for both mothers and babies, in contrast with obstetrically led and shared care (The Royal College of Midwives, 2014).

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 1946 the World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. This definition integrates the main concepts of health and identifies that health can be viewed differently by individuals and groups (Bowden, 2006). Health and well-being are the result of a combination of physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors (Dunkley, 2000a).

Early prenatal care can prevent potential medical problems and increase opportunities for positive outcomes for mothers and infants.

Early in medical history of the United States, Doctors started a smear campaign against midwives. They were portrayed as dirty, ignorant, and for the poor. This was done in order for Doctors to retain all medical power over people. The United States puts doctors on pedestals; therefor, we believe them and blindly do as they say. When it comes to birthing, we have lost touch with our basic instincts. The hospital restricts the way women can have births, they give medicine, and induce, and drug mothers. Doctors put a time limit on a birth because medicine is a business. If

Child birth is supposed to be the most natural process in the world. However, this does not seem to be the case in America. Child birth has become an industrialised and unpredictable process that is becoming increasingly confined to the sterile walls of a hospital. In America today fewer than two percent of mothers are choosing to give birth at home (Tuteur 1). Home births are frequently being discouraged by medical professionals within the US, and this trend is different from many other developed and non-developed countries. In America, the comfort and freedom of one’s own home has become a perilous environment for expecting mothers. The causes of this problem are inherently cultural, and statistical trends point to the primary cause being differences in midwives found at homebirths and those in the hospital. Midwives attending homebirths should be better regulated and integrated into the rest of the healthcare system.

　　Nancy Dye’s, History of Childbirth in America, explores the social evolution of childbirth by breaking it into three stages: before the 18th century, late 18th century to 1919, and the 1920s on. In the first stage, pregnancy is a social event that is attended to by midwives and female friends and relatives.[ Nancy Dye, History of Childbirth in America. (1980), 97-108.] It was the pinnacle of femininity and the power women held. The midwife, who was not seen as a medical professional would see to everything in the pregnant woman’s home where the birth would take place by natural means.[ Dye, History of Child Birth in America, 97-108] Even though this was seen as a happy moment it was crowded with the cultural emphasis on the likelihood of pain and death that brought fear and confusion to women.[ Dye, History of Child Birth in America, 97-108] This stage in the history of childbirth is important to understand because it is this era that acts as a foundation for the rest to come. Also, as the stages are followed through one will

For the purpose of this assignment a discussion of how the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC, 2015a) can guide the provision of person centred nursing care will be explored. Relevant literature will be used to establish the importance of person centeredness in clinical practice and how this can be articulated by the nurse using the guidelines of the code. A conclusion will be included to summarize the findings. It is proposed that the NMC Code epitomises person centred values and by adhering to the code a nurse can provide person centred care.

In past centuries, only women attended to women during childbirth. Men were usually not involved, unless they were needed for their strength or other emergencies. However, with the medicalization of childbirth, the presence of male physicians emerged. By the 19th century, tensions between male physicians and midwives heightened as male physicians began to introduce new techniques and anatomical knowledge that interfered with the traditional social birthing process. Much of this tension rose from the gender roles that categorized the work and success of men and women within the work of childbirth. In A Midwife’s Tale, Laurel Ulrich explores Martha’s diary to present the challenges midwives faced during the late 18th century. Midwives, such as Martha Ballard, were challenged by male physicians and diverged from the style of their work because of the perception that omen were considered more emotional, nurturing, and social in their work while men were more knowledgeable of science, anatomy, and new tools.

Across the enormous continent of Africa, there are a myriad of birth practices, customs, and traditions. From spiritual ceremonies, consumption of certain fruits, blessing ways to having supportive birthing assistants are some of the very common and important customs from African countries, especially Ghana. One of the oldest and most widely recognized customs is midwifery. Midwifery is the act of assisting women and their families before, during, and after childbirth. Moreover, some midwives also perform abortions and aid in post abortion care

The midwives role is not to deliver the baby. Their role is to be a

Being a midwife refers to a profession where the midwife would work in partnership with the women throughout her pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period. Not only is being a midwife women-centred, however, their role also includes ensuring the partner and family members are prepared and aware of the process. Within a women’s health, the midwife should focus on health, family planning, nutrition, domestic and other health issues as the main priority is the

According to the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNMb) (2015), home births account for 1.4% of all births in the U.S. In eight years the number of home births in the US increased by 41% (ACNM, 2015b). Providing home births falls within the scope of practice of midwives and is supported by the American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM, 2015b). A mother can have the option of a home birth as long as the home birth follows regulations set in place by the state and can provide a favorable safe environment for both mother and newborn (ACNM, 2015b). Both the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) state that the ultimate decision of having a home birth is a patient’s right, especially if she is medically well informed (Declercq, & Stotland, 2016).

Prenatal care is medical care for pregnant woman and is important for a healthy pregnancy. Its key components include regular checkups and prenatal testing, eating healthfully, exercising, and beginning as soon as one knows she is pregnant.