Robert Gordon University... simple advice from School of Midwifery makes a huge difference
A course leader of the Cert HE Maternity Care
Assistant course in
Scotland feels, very strongly, that mothers who struggle
to breastfeed their children can be hugely helped by simple
encouragement....
'Breastfeeding rates in Scotland compared to many other European countries are poor. Mothers seem to be unaware that they are biologically born to be able to feed their young, despite initiatives to try to turn this around. I often hear mothers say ' i gave up breastfeeding because i didn't have enough milk' They don't feel empowered to feed their young, and there are many complex reasons for this.
So, I get the student maternity care assistants when in practice to say to a breastfeeding mother "You breastfeed your baby beautifully" I then ask them to watch the mother's face and body language and to write a reflective piece. 10 times out of 10 they say the mother smiles!
So there you go, midwives and maternity care assistants in Scotland mantra should be "You breastfeed your baby beautifully"
Also, sometimes during the latter stages of labour,when midwives are in attendance, mothers sometimes go through what we call transition and often say "I can't go on etc. etc" It is important that midwives acknowledge her fear but don't turn to drugs, analgesia at this stage, as they can interfere with the normal birth physiology.
Encouraging words at this time that support and empower women to continue doing as they are doing without turning towards analgesia. For example, quietly but clearly making sure that she knows she is going to be a mother very soon. words such as 'you are doing it, you are nearly there, soon you will be holding your baby, or simply telling her how strong she is can help. Also, silence in some instances can also help. Enabling the mother to find her own position, words to express and noises that her body is needing to make, so that she can birth her baby is also important. Midwives create this birth environment with mothers and fathers, to enable this to happen.'
Location: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
'Breastfeeding rates in Scotland compared to many other European countries are poor. Mothers seem to be unaware that they are biologically born to be able to feed their young, despite initiatives to try to turn this around. I often hear mothers say ' i gave up breastfeeding because i didn't have enough milk' They don't feel empowered to feed their young, and there are many complex reasons for this.
So, I get the student maternity care assistants when in practice to say to a breastfeeding mother "You breastfeed your baby beautifully" I then ask them to watch the mother's face and body language and to write a reflective piece. 10 times out of 10 they say the mother smiles!
So there you go, midwives and maternity care assistants in Scotland mantra should be "You breastfeed your baby beautifully"
Also, sometimes during the latter stages of labour,when midwives are in attendance, mothers sometimes go through what we call transition and often say "I can't go on etc. etc" It is important that midwives acknowledge her fear but don't turn to drugs, analgesia at this stage, as they can interfere with the normal birth physiology.
Encouraging words at this time that support and empower women to continue doing as they are doing without turning towards analgesia. For example, quietly but clearly making sure that she knows she is going to be a mother very soon. words such as 'you are doing it, you are nearly there, soon you will be holding your baby, or simply telling her how strong she is can help. Also, silence in some instances can also help. Enabling the mother to find her own position, words to express and noises that her body is needing to make, so that she can birth her baby is also important. Midwives create this birth environment with mothers and fathers, to enable this to happen.'
Location: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Robert Gordon University, Scotland
- A room with a view - Surroundings
- Are you sitting comfortably - Physical comfort
- Cleanliness is next to godliness - hygeine
- Food glorious food - Appetising food
- Getting to know you - Communication
- It's childsplay - All about children
- Let me entertain you - Coping with boredom
- Pleased to meet you - The welcome
- Relatively speaking - Relatives and carers
- The waiting game - Waiting rooms
- There's no place like home - Going home
- Trumpet voluntary - All about volunteers
- A death in the family - Empathy and compassion
- Long Term Care - The long and winding road
- Mobility - Getting there