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Educators and midwives in collaboration

The group here in Leeds has a high proportion of midwives who are involved in the parentcraft education programs in the area. There are several National Childbirth Trust teachers as well, so I have slanted the workshop program to focus a little more on ideas for parent education courses than I would normally.

It makes a huge difference to midwives in labour wards when women arrive in labour with a few ideas about alternatives to drugs for easing pain. It is also very heartening for childbirth educators when the receive feedback from the parents that their ideas were supported and encouraged in the labour ward. Good communication and co-operation between the parent education leaders and the labour staff is vital if we are to provide better, more woman centred maternity care.

It is also important for educators who work in the community to be aware of the pressures and working conditions being experienced by midwives in the hospitals. The NCT educators in this group have been working with some of the midwives to offer “Active Birth” classes for parents, and it is clear that they have enjoyed this collaboration. I wish more educators could have this kind of contact with midwives as I think it would be of great benefit to both groups. We will explore these issues further tomorrow.

Posted by andrea at March 03, 2004 04:43 AM

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