International Midwives Day. Sunday 5 May
By
Robyn
McDougall,
Waimarino Midwife
International Midwives Day is shared world wide by midwives to celebrate the practice of midwifery and the shared journey the woman and the midwife undertake together. This shared journey is a major event in the woman' s life whether it be her first or her sixth journey. It involves the pregnancy, labour, childbirth & postnatal period, and includes the husband and family, her support people and the professional who works with the woman. Since the introduction of autonomous midwifery practice in New Zealand in 1990, it has been possible for women to choose their professional carer and where she will give birth. We are inclined to see maternity care as traditionally based with the general practitioner and midwives giving care only in hospitals during labour, birth and the first few days of baby's life. This is a tradition of only 60 years'
standing. The word midwife means "with woman" and traditionally, women have worked with women in the journey of childbirth throughout history. Midwifery is possibly the TRUE oldest profession in the world. Many hospitals / Crown Health Enterprises are now taking an independent approach to the services they offer to women through this experience. This allows midwives employed by the CHE to provide the very same autonomous service as an independent midwife. This has been confusing for some women and their families because independent midwifery has been thought of as mainly home birthing. This is not true and while home birthing has become popular it has not proved to be the choice of all women. The midwives employed by Good Health Wanganui (GHW) and working from Waimarino and Taihape work in this manner, offering women choices. This is the key issue for midwifery alone: the opportunity for women to make choices. There has been a choice of GP or Obstetrician as Lead Maternity Carer (LMC), the person ultimately responsible for the woman' s care. Now the woman can choose to have a midwife as her LMC. Midwifery takes up many models of midwifery practice and in doing so allows the woman and her family to make choices that are based on informed consent. This practice promotes a partnership with all concerned in the experience and helps to nurture seven original concepts of
human rights; • Is safe • Is satisfying • Respects human rights • Respects cultural and | ethnic diversity • Promotes self determination • Is woman / family centred • Promotes health
Midwifery practice undergoes strict review and each midwife is accountable for her individual practice as set out by the New Zealand College Of Midwives Standards of Practice. Midwives specialise in providing care for normal pregnancy and childbirth, providing a safe and caring environment for the woman and her family. A partnership for the very special journey through pregnancy, welcoming a new life.
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Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 634, 30 April 1996, Page 11
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467International Midwives Day. Sunday 5 May Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 634, 30 April 1996, Page 11
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