An exploration of midwives' enactment of the defining attributes of midwifery led care in midwifery led intrapartum settings
Deborah Caine
University of East Anglia
I have been a midwife since 2000 and have worked in a variety of settings within the NHS and Higher Education. I am based in Norfolk and was a former contact Supervisor of Midwives. In addition I am a midwifery lecturer and hold a PhD studentship, for which I am currently collecting data . I have an interest from clinical practice in London and Norfolk, in the workings of midwifery-led intrapartum care, the area of my current research. I have written for MIDIRS and The Practising Midwife (TPM) and am on the editorial board of TPM. I have recently contributed to a book about managing emergencies in low tech settings.
Abstract
Purpose To explore how defining attributes of midwifery-led care are enacted in midwifery-led intrapartum settings. These attributes, established by conducting a preliminary concept analysis of midwifery-led care, include... [ view full abstract ]
Purpose
To explore how defining attributes of midwifery-led care are enacted in midwifery-led intrapartum settings. These attributes, established by conducting a preliminary concept analysis of midwifery-led care, include the belief that childbirth is a normal life process, encompassing supportive and trusting relationships between midwives and women, where the midwife is the lead professional and autonomous practitioner.
Background
There is general agreement that UK maternity services should adopt the midwifery-led care model where pregnancy and birth are low risk and normal. This view is underpinned by systematic review (Sandal et al, 2013) and government recommendation (NICE, 2017). Despite the wealth of literature supporting the model, it is not clear what defines midwifery-led care and makes it an effective pathway i.e. how midwives interact with women in labour and what the impact of midwifery-led birthing environments is on midwifery practice. Though such matters have been explored by looking at qualities and outcomes of midwifery-led care separately, comprehensive exploration and analysis is lacking.
Data collection
The study comprises a multiple case study of two midwifery-led units, examining strategies, techniques, and practices used by midwives. This has involved direct non-participant observations of care of labouring women and follow up interviews with midwives.
The research seeks to deepen understanding of midwifery-led care and uncover the mechanisms of midwifery practice.
References
NICE (2017) Intrapartum care: care of healthy women and their babies during childbirth. NICE: London
Sandall J et al (2013) Midwife-led continuity models versus other models of care for childbearing women (Review) The Cochrane Collaboration: London
Authors
-
Deborah Caine
(University of East Anglia)
Topic Areas
Basic science studies of the physiology, biochemistry, psychology, and sociology of normal , Studies of and contributions to practice and/or service organisation
Session
Posters » Poster viewing (13:30 - Monday, 2nd October, Woodlands)
Presentation Files
The presenter has not uploaded any presentation files.
