Protecting And Supporting The Birth Process Holistically.

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).

When a woman gives birth there is a massive change in her hormones, and these changes evoke maternal behavior [2]. For example, oxytocin also known as the “bonding hormone or the love hormone” is a chemical messenger that is released into the brain in response to social contact, it’s especially noticeable with skin-to skin contact such as breast-feeding [2]. Oxytocin not only provides health benefits, but it also promotes bonding, such as between a breast feeding mother and her infant, and creates a desire for more contact with the individual evoking the release [2]. However, it’s not necessary for maternal behavior

Midwives assist women with a majority of their reproductive needs, and midwifery is becoming more prominent in the United States. Midwives provide a variety of cares in a variety of settings. They assist women with individualized and evidence-based care; similar to nurses. Obstetric nurses and midwives preform a lot of the same skills for a pregnant or postpartum woman. It is important for nurses to recognize and respect midwifery because it is the woman’s right to choose her provider and plan of care. Obstetric nurses will possibly have to work with a midwife and support them in the hospital setting. Midwives are educated and have a scope of practice that can easily overlap with nursing practice, so

The midwife’s role in a woman’s pregnancy first begins with antenatal care. The physical environment should not alter the midwife’s performance of duties as the focus should

The assignment will be written in the style of the British Journal of Midwifery (BJM), the abstract is incorporated into this introduction and Harvard 2014 will be used for the referencing style.

Continuity of care may have different meanings, ranging from continuity of caregivers, to a shared philosophy of care by large numbers of caregivers with different professional backgrounds or ideally one-to-one care (Waldenstrom et al. 2000). The purpose of midwifery continuity of care is to allow women and their midwives to get to know each other over time. This involves not only a personal knowledge of each other, but also the ability to be able to work out, investigate, talk about and consider the complex decisions, bearing in mind the woman’s needs and expectations. The relationship has a professional purpose, which is the provision of safe and effective midwifery care (Homer, Brodie & Leap, 2008).

After participating in a well-managed physiological third stage, the student midwife further improved her learning experience and enhanced her knowledge by critically reflecting on the scenario using Gibbs' reflective cycle (1988). She concluded that Laura’s midwife demonstrated excellent midwifery values, good communication, competence, commitment, courage and compassion. She formulated a client centred care plan and delivered evidence based, safe and effective care, while protecting and supporting the birth process holistically. This experience has reinforced the student midwife’s view of the importance of keeping the midwifery skills up-to date and adhering to the ethical and legal duties while providing care for women and their families.

Skin to skin contact in the delivery room and breastfeeding are best for mothers and infant. Skin to skin contact helps mothers become confident with their infants, decreases the mother’s anxiety toward motherhood, helps produce more breast milk, and helps them become aware of their infant’s cues, not to mention an incredible lifelong bonding experience. As for the infant’s benefits of skin to skin contact, it helps with temperature regulation, stabilization of the heart rate, control of the infant’s blood sugar, and helps with weight gain. When initiating immediate skin to skin contact, infants should be placed on their mother’s chest for instinctive skills. The infant begins to smell their mother’s breast and look at their mother, which

In the past, in the United States the majority of women delivered at home with no anesthetics; women might have received assistance through a family doctor, including midwife care (Thomas, 2011). A radical change happened by the 1960s, when hospital childbirths had become the norm, the pain of the experience was reduced by epidural anesthesia controlled by a physician. Pregnant women received education on breastfeeding and other topics during their medical visits (Thomas, 2011).

The important attachment factor is oxytocin between mother and baby. The nipple stimulation that happens when baby causes a hormone called oxytocin to be free in the mother, which in turns trigger milk let-down. The oxytocin makes mother to become intimate with her newborn baby and makes them to attach to each other. Babies can similarly imprint on their mother, deriving feelings of peace and pain reduction along with mother.

Oxytocin is a hormone, neuropeptide, and medication(oxytocin, 2015). During labor this hormone is released to help with contractions, as a medication, it is used to cause contraction of the uterus in order to start labor or increase the speed of labor, and to stop bleeding following delivery(oxytocin, 2015). However, after a child is born, this hormone is also released as a mother introduces breastfeeding (Yang, Wang, Han, Wang, 2013). Oxytocin, also plays a role in social bonding, after childbirth and bonding with the baby (Chiras, 2012).

This is the beginning of the mother’s involvement with the midwife. This is an opportunity for both parties to establish a personal relationship, partnership. This is where education exchange can occur, recognition of responsibilities, options and choices are determined which are supported and discussed with the mother and her supporters. (Pairman, 2010, pg. 431-432)

Mothers and newborns have a physiologic need to be together during the first moment of birth. Interrupted skin-to-skin attachment between mothers and babies can be harmful and can negatively impact short and long term health outcomes and breastfeeding success. Evidence supports instant skin-to-skin care after the birth, vaginally and C-section, during and after cesarean surgery for all stable mothers and newborns will enhance limitless opportunities for care and breastfeeding. Skin-to-skin contact after delivery is golden opportunity. Many studies validate that mothers and babies should be skin-to-skin promptly after birth. Not only promotes healthier baby and successful breastfeeding outcome, it is also

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

Having a child is one of the most dangerous things a woman can do. According to the Center for Disease Control, It is actually the sixth most common cause of death among women age 20 to 34 in the United States [1]. Also, with discomfort ranging from bladder pressure, back pain, hip pain, and of course the actual labor process, it is safe to say that the female reproductive system could use some improvements, including components in the muscular, skeletal, and endocrine systems.