REFLECTIVE ESSAY IN MIDWIFERY

Reflective Essay in midwifery

Reflective Essay in midwifery

Introduction

This is a reflective paper. The paper discusses the impact of effective communication among midwifes and client. Midwifery is a art of assisting at childbirth. (Izraeli, 2007) The term midwife for centuries referred to a woman who was an overseer during the process of delivery.

The rationale for chosen topic is based earlier research that has shown that midwives have had better results than either obstetricians or family physicians, but the Washington study offers the first comparative profile of all three providers. (Tickle, 1994) CNMs are less likely to use continuous fetal monitoring, induce or augment labor or perform interventions such as epidurals (anesthetizing the patient from the waist down) or episiotomies (making an incision in the vaginal area to prevent tissue tears). (Ghaye, 2000)

Overview Of The Framework

We will use gibbs model concerning the critical incident in our reflective essay:

Gibbs (1988) is a common model of reflection that is used within the health professions. Gibbs is clear and precise allowing for description, analysis and evaluation of the experience helping the reflective practitioner to make sense of experiences and examine their practice. To reflect is not enough, you then have to put into practice the learning and new understanding you have gained therefore allowing the reflective process to inform your practice. (Boud, 1985) Taking action is the key; Gibbs prompts the practitioner to formulate an action plan. This enables the reflective practitioner to look at their practice and see what they would change in the future, how they would develop/improve their practice. (Crouch, 1991)

Source: Gibbs (1988)

Description

Mrs. S was very distressed and very upset due to different midwives looking after her instead of one midwife. The main issue was the communication gap among Mrs. S and different midwives. This causes breakdown in communication. Breakdown in communication can cause negative outcomes. That we have seen in this case of Mrs. S.

Feelings/thoughts

The way midwife communicated with mrs S by calming her down was very effective. A decision was made by the coordinator that she should be looked after by one midwife until the delivery or end of the midwife shift. Midwife provided care with their practical skills to help Mrs. S going through the pain of labour. Working with a woman in midwifery care includes support, advocacy, councelling, education, assistance and overall partnership with the woman during pregnancy, labour and postpartum. These roles of midwife are embedded in a philosophical focus of midwifery care, which sees the midwife as empowering women, being women centred and giving choice to women. (Ghaye, 1996) These factors are interconnected in her (midwife) practice and are important concepts of a successful support during childbirth, which are influencing the Mrs. S pain experience. During the birthing process the midwife strive to use language that is supportive and woman-centred, steering away from medically dominated language that would serve to disempower Mrs. S and take away from her birthing experience.

From the midwife's perspective when communication and language between midwife and mother is open, ...