1 / 27

Maternal Health Well-Being & Beyond

Maternal Health Well-Being & Beyond. Dr Mary Steen Research Fellow in Midwifery RCM/UCLan (joint apt). Introduction. Exercising during pregnancy and after birth has many positive effects Minimise minor discomforts associated with pregnancy Improve self-esteem and self-image

betty_james
Download Presentation

Maternal Health Well-Being & Beyond

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Maternal Health Well-Being & Beyond Dr Mary Steen Research Fellow in Midwifery RCM/UCLan (joint apt)

  2. Introduction • Exercising during pregnancy and after birth has many positive effects • Minimise minor discomforts associated with pregnancy • Improve self-esteem and self-image • Prepare the body for strenuous exercise • Speed post-partum recovery Ref: Hatch et al,1993; Wolfe et al, 1994; Dunkley; 2000 Zeanah & Schlosser, 1993; Horns et al, 1996)

  3. Introduction (2) • A review - women who exercise regularly are more likely to have shorter labours • Less intervention and recover more quickly after birth (ref: Clapp,2000) • Safety parameters whilst exercising important (ref: ACOG, 1994) • Low impact, Pilate-based exercises and relaxation techniques are safe • These can play an important part in promoting and maintaining health

  4. New Initiative • An antenatal & postnatal health & fitness programme has been developed • Women identified a need for this service • Health & Leisure services of the local authority identified the need • Maternity services in Leeds identified the need to develop a community-based initiative • That would promote the normality of childbirth and also meet the governments public health agenda.

  5. Collaboration • Liaise with the health & fitness manager at South Leeds Stadium • Already provided specialised classes for ‘Cardiac Rehab’ ‘Active Living’ • Under a local scheme that involved GP’s referring patients to undertake exercise • Via a ‘Prescription for Activity’ Pass

  6. Prescription for Activity • Relatively new idea • Several GP’s are involved in the scheme • Concession price of £1.25 • Decided to opt into this scheme • Midwife referral • At the final session of the postnatal classes women receive a ‘Prescription for Activity’ Pass • Women can attend for another 3 months at the concession price.

  7. Aims of the Initiative • To promote health & fitness during pregnancy • Prepare for Birth • Maintain health & fitness after childbirth

  8. Piloted: • Successfully piloted in April/May 2004 • Women had to attend at least 4 sessions • Completed an evaluation form: • 10 women (antenatally) • 11 women (postnatally) • Both programmes evaluated very highly • Evidence that women’s self-esteems had increased

  9. Continuation of the programme: • The health & leisure services trained the midwife to undertake exercise to music course • Two of their fitness instructors were funded to undertake Pilate-based exercise training and an antenatal and postnatal exercise course • 5 more midwives were funded to undertake the Pilate-based training

  10. Main programme: • 15 month period (June 2004/Sept 2005) • 10 Antenatal sessions: 6 workshop/exercise classes • 10 Postnatal sessions: 6 workshop/exercise classes • Attendance varied from 6 to 12 women • Women had to attend at least 4 of 6 sessions • To complete an evaluation form

  11. Evaluation of main programmeAge Range

  12. Ethnic Groups:

  13. Exercise before Pregnancy

  14. Antenatal workshops – helpful?

  15. Postnatal workshops – helpful?

  16. Exercise Classes- helpful?

  17. Women’s Views - Antenatal: • ‘Very helpful to have a midwife help you exercise who knows what correct exercises to do’ • ‘Every pregnant woman should come to the classes, you meet other pregnant mums and exercise, Tuesday’s don’t come round fast enough! • ‘I’m more sure about everything to do with my pregnancy and birth’ • ‘I feel good about myself and I have more confidence’

  18. Women’s Views - Postnatal • ‘I couldn’t do my the pelvic floor exercises properly before I can now’ • ‘I did some of the exercises in early labour and used the positions I was shown, it really helped’ • ‘I was going to have an epidural but after attending the antenatal sessions I opted for a home birth, I’m so pleased I did’ • ‘I always go home feeling good about myself and fit and healthy’ • ‘I bring my mum as well we both have enjoyed it’

  19. It’s Fun

  20. Are u doing your Pelvic Floor Exercises?

  21. Future Plans • The midwife ‘champion’ started a new role in Sept 2005, • Manages to still be involved and when in Leeds goes to the sessions and is available to chat to women and promotes normal birth, health and well-being • The fitness instructors have continued to undertake the exercise classes and promote active birth

More Related