This document provides an introduction to midwifery care. It states that midwifery means "with woman" and involves both the art and science of caring for women and their families. Midwifery in the US has grown from local care with few resources into a respected profession that offers primary care, gynecology, maternity care, and newborn care through interdisciplinary teams. The document outlines the seven steps of the midwifery management process, which emphasizes the midwife's role as an independent provider based on scientific principles and the flow of a healthcare visit. It also discusses distinguishing characteristics of midwifery like listening, cultural sensitivity, shared decision-making, and being "with woman" combined
This document provides an introduction to midwifery care. It states that midwifery means "with woman" and involves both the art and science of caring for women and their families. Midwifery in the US has grown from local care with few resources into a respected profession that offers primary care, gynecology, maternity care, and newborn care through interdisciplinary teams. The document outlines the seven steps of the midwifery management process, which emphasizes the midwife's role as an independent provider based on scientific principles and the flow of a healthcare visit. It also discusses distinguishing characteristics of midwifery like listening, cultural sensitivity, shared decision-making, and being "with woman" combined
This document provides an introduction to midwifery care. It states that midwifery means "with woman" and involves both the art and science of caring for women and their families. Midwifery in the US has grown from local care with few resources into a respected profession that offers primary care, gynecology, maternity care, and newborn care through interdisciplinary teams. The document outlines the seven steps of the midwifery management process, which emphasizes the midwife's role as an independent provider based on scientific principles and the flow of a healthcare visit. It also discusses distinguishing characteristics of midwifery like listening, cultural sensitivity, shared decision-making, and being "with woman" combined
This document provides an introduction to midwifery care. It states that midwifery means "with woman" and involves both the art and science of caring for women and their families. Midwifery in the US has grown from local care with few resources into a respected profession that offers primary care, gynecology, maternity care, and newborn care through interdisciplinary teams. The document outlines the seven steps of the midwifery management process, which emphasizes the midwife's role as an independent provider based on scientific principles and the flow of a healthcare visit. It also discusses distinguishing characteristics of midwifery like listening, cultural sensitivity, shared decision-making, and being "with woman" combined
Midwifery is both art and science-and above all midwifery is care for women and their families. As discussed in the first chapter of this text, midwifery in the United States has grown from local efforts to care for women with few resources, into a well respected profession that offers women primary care and gynecologic services, as well as maternity and birth care, including newborn care. These services are provided in interdisciplinary settings because midwives rely on the skills of gynecologists and obstetricians, nurses, social workers, and other health professionals, just as they rely on other midwives for their respective expertise. One key to understanding midwifery care is to recognize the interweaving of skills and knowledge from many sources, and the willingness to work with others to achieve the best possible health a woman. The evidence based studies and expert opinions that underpin the science of midwifery are the same as those from which medicine and nursing draw their understanding of health care. In brief, most clinicians practice similarly, often based on the preferences and experience of those who have taught them. Unfortunately, relatively few of the expert recommendations on which clinicians rely are drawn from high quality research. The flawed perception that guidelines are consistently based on solid evldence and lack bias has been acknowledged. 1 for example, the American college of obstetricians and gynecologists has documented of obstetricians and Gynecologists has documented that fewer than one-third of its practice bulletins are based on good and consistent evidence. 2 further, much of pregnancy care cannot be evaluated safely and ethically using the types of research recognized as being most rigorous. Midwifery research continues to account for only a small percentage of scholars are contributing knowledge in this area. Examples range from development of Centering Pregnancy as a model of care to the research done on delayed cord-clamping after birth.3,4 Deciphering the evidence, acknowledging the quality of information from which recommendations are made, and recognizing biases-both from midwives and others-are all key components of midwifery care. Midwifery is distinguished by characteristics that define a partnership wit women. A willingness to listen; sensitivity to cultural, sexual, and generational issues; informed/shared decision making; the patience to be with woman all
combine with professional behaviors to describe midwifery practice. This chapter
addresses both clinical tasks and behaviors. In these pages, the goal is to identify those core skills needed to be a midwife. Essential skills begin with an understanding of the midwifery management process. Developed by midwifery education programs in Mississippi and New Jersey in the mind-1970s, 5,6 its seven steps serve as guide to the process of care at an individual level and offer an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of care [Box 4-1 the midwifery management process emphasizes the midwifes responsibility as an independent care provider and is based on the scientific process. The overlap with the common flow of an individual health care visit is obvious ; this process Box 4-1 The Midwifery Management Process 1. Investigate by obtaining all necessary data for complete evaluation of the woman or newborn. 2. Make an accurate identification of problems or diagnoses and healthcare needs based on correct interpretation of the data. 3. Anticipate other potential problems or diagnoses that might be expected because of the identified problems or diagnoses. 4. Evaluate the need for immediate midwife or physician intervention and/or for consultation or collaborative management with other healthcare team members, as dictated by the condition of the woman or newborn. 5. Develop a comprehensive plan of care that is supported by explanations of valid rationale underlying the decisions made and is based on the preceding steps. 6. Assume responsibility for the efficient and safe implementation of the plan of care. 7. Evaluate the effectiveness of the care given, recycling appropriately through the management process for any aspect of care that has been ineffective. Also recognizes that most care is provided not in discrete sessions but rather over time, and that continuity over time is essential to improve quality of care.