Midwifery basics 1. Why do so many women struggle to breastfeed? Exploring psychological, social and cultural influences on infant feeding decisions Amy Brown – Professor of Child Public Health at Swansea University Public health messages encourage new mothers to breastfeed, but breastfeeding rates in many Western regions remain low. Given high maternal intentions to breastfeed, and […]
by Karen Devine, midwife As a midwife on a busy neonatal unit (NNU), I am constantly aware that not only are parents and families who use the facility out of their comfort zones, but also the student midwives who come for experience can feel this way, too. I have been there! I remember the daunting […]
There can be no doubt that we should be implementing relationship-based continuity of carer for most women and their babies. The evidence has been mounting over years and is compelling: there are few developments that offer so much benefit, with fewer risks (See http://www.gtc.ox.ac.uk/images/stories/academic/skp_report.pdf). It is difficult to understand why this evidence is still seen […]
Fetal Navigation Techniques “I turned my OP baby and regulated my own contractions in an hour, directly avoiding induction and possibly other interventions. This was my second labour, which from this point on flowed smoothly to a physiological birth in just a few hours. My first baby had also started labour in a less than […]
‘A child is born’ …and then? How will that life unfold? Will this baby be well and healthy at birth, with a mother who has been wrapped around in loving care, not only in her childhood and life, but also in pregnancy, labour, birth and the early weeks of life? Will this baby be […]
STUDENT SURVIVAL GUIDE 2: Practice placements In the second article of this new series, Afshan Ali and Anna Matthews provide advice on how to approach practice placements. This includes practical tips on what to take with you and what might be expected of you when you get there, as well as how to prepare for […]
MIDWIFERY BASICS 8. Becoming an accountable midwife In the final article of the series, Jancis Shepherd explores some of the challenges of becoming an accountable practitioner. Becoming a midwife is the 16th series of ‘Midwifery basics’ targeted at practising midwives and midwifery students. The aim of these articles is to provide information to raise awareness […]
MIDWIFERY BASICS 5. Professional Issues In Practice In this fifth article of the series, Jancis Shepherd explores issues of supervision of student midwives in perineal suturing, the practical and legal implications of misadministration of medicines and accountability issues. Jancis Shepherd Lead Midwife for Education at University of West London SCENARIO Jane is the Supervisor of […]
MIDWIFERY BASICS 4.Promoting professional behaviour in practice In this fourth article of the series, Jancis Shepherd discusses the issues of maintaining confidentiality, use of social media and veracity of students’ practice assessment documents, to demonstrate the need to uphold the NMC Code (2015a) in clinical practice. Becoming a midwife is the 16th series of ‘Midwifery […]
MIDWIFERY BASICS Becoming a midwife: 2. Professionalism, public confidence and course application In this second article of the series, Jancis Shepherd considers why professionalism is an issue in maintaining public confidence, why midwives need to demonstrate good health and good character and how applicants are selected for midwifery courses to meet these attributes. Becoming a […]