June 27, 2004

More on midwifery in Spain

This weekend I am presenting a “Teaching Skills” workshop in London. It is the usual interesting mix of participants - midwives, National Childbirth Trust educators, students and some Yoga teachers.

One of the group members is a midwife who is from Spain, whom I met before in an Active Birth workshop. I shared my experiences of my last week in Spain with her and she agreed that the basic problem in Spain is that the “midwives” that work in many hospitals there see themselves as technicians with skills that give them sought after status within the medical model. They see themselves as specialist nurses, focusing on tasks rather than the needs of the women in their care.

In other western countries, especially those with a strong history of midwifery, there a completely different concept of midwifery. The total care of the pregnant woman, including her spiritual, emotional, psychological and physical health are considered part of their scope of practice and midwives aim to care for the woman through her whole episode of childbearing. This doesn’t always happen, of course, because the maternity services are not always geared to provide these level of personalised service, but the education midwives nevertheless receive enables them to undertake this kind of total care whenever possible.

Although maternity care in Spain leaves much to be desired, this midwife commented that she felt women were starting to demand better services and alternatives to the medicalised, hospital based birth that is currently the norm. She is one of the new generation of midwives, many of whom have sought their education in England. There was a period in Spain when there were no courses in midwifery available at all, and now they are currently only training about 100 midwives a year. The workforce is rapidly ageing because of this gap of about 15 years when no courses were available. There is a looming crisis in maternity care and many of the midwives who have been waiting in the wings in England may well return to Spain. If this happens, the returning midwives will bring with them a different concept of midwifery care. Many women in Spain (according to my informant today) are looking for alternatives, and these midwives may well be able to do this.

There could be exciting changes in the wind in Spain, of these predictions are fulfilled!

Posted by andrea at June 27, 2004 07:04 AM

Comments

Dear Andrea

I wonder if you can help me.

I am going to be studying for the Diploma in Midwifery in March 05. My longterm plan for myself and my family is that we will be moving to spain after my training.

My query is are Midwifes recognised in Spain? I have been told on a number of occassions that only doctors attend the deliveries and that Midwifery lead care is unheard of.

I am so excited about doing my training but feel all of the hard work will be a waste of time if I wont be able to put it fully into practise.

Are you able to clarify the situation for me.

Kindest regards

Mandy Varley

Posted by: Mandy Varley on July 8, 2004 07:40 PM