The Concept of Compassionate Midwifery

Background Despite wide agreement that women want kind, compassionate midwives (Byrom and Downe 2015), unkind, disrespectful care blights maternity care on a global scale (Bohren et al 2015). Increasingly, professional... [ view full abstract ]

Background

Despite wide agreement that women want kind, compassionate midwives (Byrom and Downe 2015), unkind, disrespectful care blights maternity care on a global scale (Bohren et al 2015). Increasingly, professional regulation and guidance emphasise the need to provide compassionate midwifery yet the meaning of this has never been researched.

Method

 To conduct an analysis of the concept of compassionate midwifery, a six step model adapted from Roger's Model of Concept Analysis (2000) was used. The search strategy included key words to search academic databases and grey literature sources between 1990 to 2015. Data related to both compassion and midwifery was used in the analytical process to identify the scope, attributes, antecedents and consequences of compassionate midwifery.

Results

Explanations of compassionate midwifery were rare in the literature therefore the gathered data were evaluated in relation to elements of the compassion process: recognition of suffering, emotion, motivation and action (Ménage et al 2017). Compassionate midwifery is defined as the interrelations of authentic presence, noticing suffering, empathy, relationship, emotion work, motivation to support, empowerment and alleviating suffering through negotiation, knowledge and skills. Antecedents and consequences were also identified and depicted in a model of the concept.

Discussion

This concept analysis on compassionate midwifery makes a valuable contribution to midwifery theory and provides a theoretical starting point for the profession. The consequences of compassionate midwifery, e.g. reduced fear in childbirth, empowering women and increased woman/midwife trust, are also associated with supporting normal birth. This finding builds on the work of Cooper (2015) in identifying compassion as a powerful midwifery tool when supporting normal labour and birth.

Conclusions

This unique examination of compassionate midwifery provides a starting point for reflection on practice, education and further analysis. Empirical studies will take the process further by studying the experience of compassionate midwifery from different perspectives. A theory of compassionate midwifery will develop as new findings emerge.

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References

Byrom, S. and Downe, S. (2015) Introduction. Whats  Going on in Maternity Care? in The Roar Behind the Silence: Why Kindness and Compassion and Respect Matter in Maternity Care, ed. by Byrom, S. and Downe, S. London. Pinter and Martin Ltd

Bohren et al (2015) 'The Mistreatment of Women during Childbirth in Health Facilities Globally: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review (the Mistreatment of Women during Childbirth: A Systematic Review)' 12 (6), e1001847 

Cooper, T. (2015) Promoting Normal Birth; courage through compassion, in The Roar Behind the Silence: Why Kindness and Compassion and Respect Matter in Maternity Care, ed. by Byrom, S. and Downe, S. London. Pinter and Martin Ltd 

Ménage, D., Bailey, E., Lees, S., and Coad, J. (2017) 'A Concept Analysis of Compassionate Midwifery'. Journal of Advanced Nursing 73 (3), 558-573    

Rodgers, B., (2000) 'Chapter 6 Concept Analysis: An Evolutionary View'. in Concept Development in Nursing. Second Edition. ed. by Rodgers, B. and Knafl, K. Philadelphia: WB Saunders Co, 77-102