UNIVERSITY OF CUMBRIA
• DELIA RAINE
• SENIOR LECTURER AND ADMISSIONS
TUTOR FOR MIDWIFERY
THE ROLE OF THE MIDWIFE
ST
IN THE 21 CENTURY
MIDWIFE
Anglo Saxon word meaning “with
woman”
CHILDBIRTH
• CHILDBIRTH IS MORE THAN THE ACT
OF GIVING BIRTH.
• FOR A WOMAN IT IS A CONTINUOUS
PROCESS ,FROM CONCEPTION
THROUGH
PREGNANCY,LABOUR,BIRTH AND
BEYOND.
RESPONSIBILITY AND SPHERE
OF PRACTICE
• A practising midwife is responsible for
providing midwifery care during the
antenatal,intranatal and postnatal periods.
• A midwife is the guardian in and expert of
normal childbirth.
• Works in partnership with woman and her
family.
• Needs of the woman/baby are the primary
focus of midwife’s practice.
RESPONSIBILITY AND SPHERE
OF PRACTICE
• Enables woman to make decisions about
her own care-based on individual needs.
• Respect’s the woman’s right to refuse any
advice given.
• Is responsible for maintaining and
developing her own competence.
• Contacts medical practitioner where a
deviation from the norm is outside her
sphere of practice.
ACTIVITIES OF A MIDWIFE
• Provides sound family planning advice and
information.—fertility re-occurring day 21.
• Diagnose pregnancy and monitor normal
pregnancy.
• Provides a programme of parenthood
preparation, preparation for childbirth
including advice on nutrition and hygiene:
• E.g. Folic Acid—Listeria--STI’s --
ACTIVITIES OF A MIDWIFE
• Care for the mother/fetus during labour.
• Assist the mother giving birth.
• Examine and care for the newborn baby—
immediate resuscitation if needed.
• Care for and monitor progress of
mother/baby in the postnatal period.
HEALTH PROMOTION
ACTIVITIES
• Nutrition—to ensure optimal
growth/development of the fetus.--problems with
obesity in young mothers.
• Smoking cessation ----to promote health in
mother and the fetus—problems associated with
smoking include e.g. cleft palate, pre-term
labour.
• Drug abuse---to support mothers either taking
and/or withdrawing from drugs.
• Alcohol and binge drinking!—fetal alcohol
syndrome, and alcohol related birth defects.
HEALTH PROMOTION
ACTIVITIES
• Screening for domestic abuse—raised
incidence during pregnancy.
• Mental health issues—antenatal and
postnatal depression----suicide leading
cause of maternal deaths.
• Physical postnatal exercises –promoting
health and integrity of the pelvic floor
• Promoting breastfeeding as healthy option
for mother and baby.
HEALTH PROMOTION
ACTIVITIES
• Raising awareness of Sudden Infant
Death Syndrome---co-sleeping.
• Teenage pregnancy--
ANY QUESTIONS?
• If you wish to discuss studying for
midwifery at the University of Cumbria,
please contact me at :
• 01228 616004---office
• delia.raine@cumbria.ac.uk
• Delia Raine
• Senior Lecturer and Admissions Tutor for
Midwifery
• Fusehill campus