The care of a midwife given to a bereaved mother

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I, the undersigned declare that this project which I am submitting is all my own work and research.

 

               

Signature __________________________                Date:    /       /

Name of University:                University of Limerick

Module Code:                        NS4061

Module Title:                        Introduction to Midwifery

Essay Title:        The care of a midwife given to a bereaved mother

Date submitted:                        1st December, 2009

Title:                                        Introduction to Midwifery

Presented to:                        Sandra Atkinson 

Presented by:                        Niamh Whyte

Student’s ID No:                        09004729

Word Count:                        2,068

As the basis of my reflective assignment, I have incorporated Gibb’s Cycle. During my

Placement I have reflected on a particular experience that was thought-provoking. The bereavement and grief of a mother who has experienced a miscarriage is one of the most important issues to experience as a student midwife. There is not any knowledge that can be gained from a book effectively in comparison to an actual experience that will gain the relevant skills of caring.         “A miscarriage is the unintentional early ending of pregnancy by a    

Natural or accidental accident.” (The World Book Encyclopaedia, 1980).

My focuses in this assignment is mainly the grief the mother experiences due to the death of her child. By my second week of placement in the antenatal ward, I had already developed my interpersonal skills with the women. When I had my first experience with a woman who had a miscarriage, I understood the difficulty that arises in this profession. It immediately became clear that there is more than just skill and knowledge associated with the profession but deep engagement and effective communication with others. This particular experience had never occurred to me. I was always under the impression that the profession dealt with woman and baby. My Midwife introduced herself and myself to the woman. I remained silent as I could not use my usual conversational tactics which mainly focused on the well-being of the baby. The midwife sat on the bed beside the woman and held her hand. Even basic body language skills could convey that she was nervous and tense. The midwife spoke to the woman in a gentle easy tone. The midwife was completely involved and was sympathetic to the woman and used her own experience of having had a miscarriage herself as a way of understanding to the woman. “The most beneficial resources that a health care professional can offer to a grieving family are a non – judgement, deep sense of caring and personal involvement.” (Canadian Paediatric Society. 2001).

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The midwife used eye contact and helpful gestures by simply involving her in her own

experience and at the same time the midwife recognised the uniqueness of the situation.

The care and support determined by personal significance of miscarriages are unique and individual to each woman.  Interpersonal stress is clear when the woman cannot synchronise grieving. There is no pattern for every person’s response to death of their baby as grief for each individual is intrinsically unique. (Midwifery and Obstetrics, All Wards and Departments, February 2007).  By using her own experience, the midwife developed a level of trust with the ...

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