1 / 14

Midwifery: What Comes with the Job?

Midwifery: What Comes with the Job?. Outline. Who they were vs. who they are. Descriptions Brief History Job Duties then and now Comparison to Doctors. Who were midwives?. Prior to 18 th century: Primarily women After childbearing years Symbols of motherhood

grady-yang
Download Presentation

Midwifery: What Comes with the Job?

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. Midwifery: What Comes with the Job?

  2. Outline • Who they were vs. who they are. • Descriptions • Brief History • Job Duties then and now • Comparison to Doctors

  3. Who were midwives? Prior to 18th century: • Primarily women • After childbearing years • Symbols of motherhood • Considered strong in their faith • Ones who were “called” • Career transcending generations

  4. And who are they today? • Men and women • Usually Registered Nurses • Hold Bachelor’s Degrees • Certified in Midwifery • 2-4 years experience

  5. Given same respect and status as ministers Model Christians Practicing witches Mothers of the community Medical professionals Superstitious and poorly trained Respected elders Honorary family members Descriptions of Midwives

  6. Important points in History • Midwifery mentioned in the Old Testament • 350 B.C.- Aristotle stresses importance of prenatal care (healthy diet and exercise) • 1633- Chamberlen’s invention of forceps* • 1651- William Harvey “Father of Midwifery”; midwifery should imitate nature

  7. 1720’s Maubray: 1st teacher of practical midwifery • 1761 Sir Fielding Ould denied licensure on account of midwifery career • 1847 I.P. Semmelweiz: link between puerperal fever and hand washing • 1850’s experimentation with surgery (C-sections and vaginal tears) • 1871 Robert Tait: hysterectomies, tubal pregnancies • Karl Crede: cure for gonococcal blindness

  8. 1902 Midwives Act: set up Central Midwives Board • 1921 Sheppard Towner Act: improvement of infant and mother health- licensure and training mandated for midwives by state • 1936 Public Health Act: improve prenatal care by establishing Welfare Centers for poor • 1961 Central Midwives Board and General Nursing Council: 3 mos. Midwife training for nurses

  9. Job Duties in the Past • Treatment of “minor” illnesses • Prenatal care • Assisting in delivery • Education of new mother • General help to the family • Assisting Doctors when they were summoned

  10. Responsibilities of Today’s Midwives • Be able to assess and handle normal birthing complications • Know when to call for further assistance • Take responsibility for mother and child before, during and after birth

  11. Treatment of Midwives • 15th-17th centuries midwives= suspicious • Viewed as possible witches or evil beings • Yet trained and given power to baptize Reasoning? • The corruptible sex? Adam and Eve • Views of the time regarding education of women

  12. Midwives Extensive practical experience Apprenticeships Handled other aspects of female care (birth control) Emphasis on natural non-invasive procedures $5-$10 fee for complete services Doctors Little or no practical experience Academic/book learning Usually only called for difficult deliveries Emphasis on new technology No less than $50 fee for delivery only Comparison of Doctors and Midwives

  13. Who did better?

  14. Reasons for the Downfall of Midwives • Anesthesia and new technology: less painful birth • AMA’s smear campaign • Controversial issues (birth control and abortion) • Heightened value on professional education

More Related