Suma Datta, RN

SNC

Midwifery and Obstetrical Nursing-II

Define Midwifery: Midwifery is the health science and health profession that deals
with pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period (including care of the newborn

Define Midwife: A midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor,
delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing centers or at
home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital.
Or
A Midwife is a person who having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme
duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed
course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and or
legally licensed to practice midwifery (ICM)
Role of a midwife

1. Bangladesh has made significant strides in reducing newborn and maternal deaths, with
midwives playing a prime role in achieving the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

2. Right to have a safe delivery.

3. Midwives themselves are accountable to ensure safe pregnancies and deliveries, provide
quality services to their client, the pregnant woman, the women in labor or the mother and child
in the post-partum period. This is based on the right of every woman to be accompanied by a
competent midwife

4. Midwives have an essential role to play in preparing for and providing sexual and reproductive
health (SRH) services in humanitarian settings due to their unique knowledge and skills, position
as frontline providers and geographic and social proximity to the communities they serve.

5. A Midwife is a primary caregiver for pregnancy, the role of the midwife will take the place of
an obstetrician. It's important to note that a midwife is not the same as a doula, a professional
labor support person who is not medically trained and does not provide medical care.

6. Understands and facilitates normal childbearing and spreads health and well-being to women
and their families
7. Supports, facilitates and implements the woman's choice and can critically evaluate the
evidence-base for midwifery knowledge and practice
8. Locates appropriate assistance or intervention while providing continued family support
Suma Datta, RN
SNC

Obstetrics: It is the branch of medicine that deal with the care of women during pregnancy,
childbirth and the reproductive period following delivery.

Obstetrical nursing, also called perinatal nursing, is a nursing specialty that works with
patients who are attempting to become pregnant, are currently pregnant, or have recently
delivered.

Abnormal obstetrics

Abnormalities that develop during pregnancy may be directly related to the pregnancy or not
(for no obstetric disorders, see Pregnancy Complicated by Disease). Obstetric abnormalities
increase the risk of morbidity or mortality for the woman, fetus, or neonate, as do such factors
as maternal characteristics, problems in previous pregnancies, and drug use (High-Risk
Pregnancy).

Common abnormal obstetrics

Most of the following complications are evident before onset of labor:
 Multifetal pregnancy
 Post term pregnancy
 Premature rupture of membranes
 Abnormal fetal presentation
Some of the following complications develop or become evident during labor or delivery:
 Amniotic fluid embolism
 Shoulder dystocia
 Fetopelvic disproportion
 Preterm labor
 Protracted labor
 Umbilical cord prolapse
 Uterine rupture (rare)
Some complications may require alternatives to spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery.
Alternatives include
 Induction of labor
 Operative vaginal delivery
 Cesarean delivery
Some complications (eg, postpartum hemorrhage, inverted uterus) occur immediately after
delivery of the fetus and around the time the placenta is delivered.
Suma Datta, RN
SNC

Some placental abnormalities, such as placenta accreta, may be discovered during pregnancy
or only after delivery.
Also neonatal resuscitation, perinatal problems, meconium aspiration syndrome,
and preeclampsia and eclampsia.
Common Problems in Obstetrics
 Caesarian Section
 Postpartum hemorrhage
 Postpartum infection Complications of Pregnancy
 Diabetes Mellitus
 Urinary Tract infection
 Pre-term labor
 Third trimester bleeding
 Hypertension,
 Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
 Multiple Gestations
 Premature Rupture of Membranes
 Post-term pregnancy
 Abnormal and Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding
 Vaginal Infections
 Pelvic Masses
 Endometriosis
Suma Datta, RN
SNC
Suma Datta, RN
SNC
Suma Datta, RN
SNC
Suma Datta, RN
SNC
Suma Datta, RN
SNC
Suma Datta, RN
SNC