UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA • DELIA RAINE • SENIOR LECTURER AND ADMISSIONS TUTOR FOR MIDWIFERY
THE ROLE OF THE MIDWIFE ST IN THE 21 CENTURY MIDWIFE Anglo Saxon word meaning “with woman”
CHILDBIRTH • CHILDBIRTH IS MORE THAN THE ACT OF GIVING BIRTH. • FOR A WOMAN IT IS A CONTINUOUS PROCESS ,FROM CONCEPTION THROUGH PREGNANCY,LABOUR,BIRTH AND BEYOND.
RESPONSIBILITY AND SPHERE OF PRACTICE • A practising midwife is responsible for providing midwifery care during the antenatal,intranatal and postnatal periods. • A midwife is the guardian in and expert of normal childbirth. • Works in partnership with woman and her family. • Needs of the woman/baby are the primary focus of midwife’s practice.
RESPONSIBILITY AND SPHERE OF PRACTICE • Enables woman to make decisions about her own care-based on individual needs. • Respect’s the woman’s right to refuse any advice given. • Is responsible for maintaining and developing her own competence. • Contacts medical practitioner where a deviation from the norm is outside her sphere of practice.
ACTIVITIES OF A MIDWIFE • Provides sound family planning advice and information.—fertility re-occurring day 21. • Diagnose pregnancy and monitor normal pregnancy. • Provides a programme of parenthood preparation, preparation for childbirth including advice on nutrition and hygiene: • E.g. Folic Acid—Listeria--STI’s --
ACTIVITIES OF A MIDWIFE • Care for the mother/fetus during labour. • Assist the mother giving birth. • Examine and care for the newborn baby— immediate resuscitation if needed. • Care for and monitor progress of mother/baby in the postnatal period.
HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES • Nutrition—to ensure optimal growth/development of the fetus.--problems with obesity in young mothers. • Smoking cessation ----to promote health in mother and the fetus—problems associated with smoking include e.g. cleft palate, pre-term labour. • Drug abuse---to support mothers either taking and/or withdrawing from drugs. • Alcohol and binge drinking!—fetal alcohol syndrome, and alcohol related birth defects.
HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES • Screening for domestic abuse—raised incidence during pregnancy. • Mental health issues—antenatal and postnatal depression----suicide leading cause of maternal deaths. • Physical postnatal exercises –promoting health and integrity of the pelvic floor • Promoting breastfeeding as healthy option for mother and baby.
HEALTH PROMOTION ACTIVITIES • Raising awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome---co-sleeping. • Teenage pregnancy--
ANY QUESTIONS? • If you wish to discuss studying for midwifery at the University of Cumbria, please contact me at : • 01228 616004---office •
[email protected] • Delia Raine • Senior Lecturer and Admissions Tutor for Midwifery • Fusehill campus
