The Role of Midwives in Perinatal Care

Who Is a Midwife?

Midwives are trained and authorized healthcare workers with the authority to render certain healthcare services. Their expertise is primarily extended to the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Midwives can be either male or female, and there are no gender restrictions for a midwife. However, the majority of the practicing midwives are women. Midwives can provide perinatal care, encompassing care during conception and post-pregnancy stages. They can manage and assist in childbirth and render a positive birthing experience for the expectant mother. Their services are more personalized and provide emotional and mental support for the mother during labor.

In addition to perinatal care, midwives provide birth control guidance and other regular reproductive health assessment tests and care. Another interesting feature concerning midwives is that they render services at an affordable rate without compromising the quality of the care offered. Many countries have incorporated midwifery care into their maternity health delivery system. Many of the discrepancies in perinatal health can be easily addressed and tackled by integrating midwifery care.

Studies have revealed that by incorporating a midwifery care approach, there was a dramatic and exponential depreciation in the maternal and baby death rates. Midwives are often preferred and advised for those expectant mothers who desire to experience birth within their home setting and those who are reluctant to have medically assisted labor. However, midwives are different from doctors like obstetricians and gynecologists; they possess certifications in providing necessary perinatal care and childbirth assistance. Midwives cannot tackle complicated pregnancies or labor with anticipated complications during childbirth. Such cases necessitate obstetrics care and assistance by specialist doctors. Midwives can also work in collaboration with obstetricians in hospitals or private settings.

What Is the Role of Midwives in Perinatal Care?

Midwifery care is a holistic and integrative approach for every expectant mother. Midwives carry out specific roles during specific periods in the perinatal period. Some of the key roles and elemental functions performed by midwives concerning perinatal care include the following:

1. During Pregnancy:

• Routine assessment of the pregnancy progression.

• Evaluating the nutritional status of expectant mothers and guiding them to achieve pregnancy health by providing guidance and advice on the food that should be consumed during pregnancy.

• Help the women to keep track of hospital appointments and periodic reviews with specialist doctors.

• Providing necessary advice and guidance concerning pregnancy and aids in resolving expectant mother’s worries and concerns.

• Evaluates the baby’s position within the womb during each stage of pregnancy.

• Ensuring proper nutrition for the baby in the womb by incorporating necessary nutrition in the expectant mother’s diet to check the development of nutritional deficiencies and other associated birth defects in the child.

• Help keep the pregnant women stress-free and comfortable as it can directly impact the baby in the womb.

• Help pregnant women understand the birthing process and make them ready for the same mentally as well as physically.

2. During Labour:

• Keep the pregnant lady emotionally uplifted and encouraged, which helps to gain confidence in bearing the agonizing pain during labor.

• Advising strategies to tackle the pain and schedule qualified doctors to provide necessary anesthesia if required.

• Keep an eye on the progression of labor and ensure there are no approaching complications.

• Keep watch on the baby’s health and safety by assessing and analyzing the baby’s movement and heartbeat throughout the labor.

• In the event of unpredicted complications, they will arrange for an obstetrician to tackle the complication and ease the pain.

• Safeguard the life of both baby and mother by guiding them through a comfortable birthing experience.

3. Postpartum:

The role of a midwife is not restricted to childbirth, they offer immense services for the newborn baby and the mother.

• Check for considerable blood loss during labor and look for the need for stitches.

• Help the new mother with breastfeeding and make them understand the significance of breastfeeding and its impact on their babies.

• Demonstrate the way the baby needs to be held, and help the mother with routine care for the baby, like napkin changing, bathing, and other regular baby care strategies.

• Evaluate the health of the newly born babies and screen and rule out inborn defects and other health concerns.

• Keep in touch with the new mother by phone or in person to help them with their post-pregnancy period.

What Are the Benefits Associated With Midwifery Care?

Midwifery care offers numerous benefits over obstetrics care in the hospital. Some of the notable benefits associated with the midwifery care approach include the following:

• Promotes normal childbirth and positive birthing experience.

• Narrow down preterm birth (birth before the intended delivery date).

• Provides the opportunity to give birth in their own homes.

• More importance for the expectant mother’s choice concerning the pregnancy.

• Appreciable depreciation in the death of the baby, mother, or both during pregnancy or childbirth.

• Minimizes the necessity for assisted childbirth or cesarean sections.

• Diminishes the risk of vaginal tears.

• Creates a constructive approach to breastfeeding among new mothers.

• Personalized and one-on-one care for the expectant mother.

• Diminishes the need for epidural anesthesia, which carries certain complications.

• Provides opportunities for the expectant mother to make informed decisions concerning their pregnancy.

However, in cases with maternal health ailments in the form of pregnancy-induced diabetes (enhanced blood sugar level), boosted blood pressure, and thyroid issues, there are chances for unforeseen complications, and hence, medically assisted childbirth is more advisable over the midwifery approach.

Conclusion

The midwifery care approach is a holistic perinatal strategy to enhance pregnancy outcomes and render a favorable birthing experience for expectant mothers with low risk for complications. In addition to caring for expectant mothers, midwives also guide new mothers in breastfeeding and thus ensure proper nourishment for newborn babies. The midwifery care approach prioritizes the expectant mother's wants and needs, which allows them to make informed decisions. Midwifery care offers assurance and safety for the mother and the baby.

Midwifery care can be accessed in several locations like homes, birth centers, community health centers, midwifery settings, and hospital settings. Apart from perinatal care, a certified midwife provides family planning and reproductive health services. They are also qualified to perform cervical and breast examinations, pap smear tests, and screening for urogenital infections like STDs (sexually transmitted diseases). Their expertise and authority to carry out procedures vary based on their qualifications and certifications.