Nice Guidelines -- Midwives During Postpartum the Essay

NICE Guidelines -- Midwives during postpartum

The Role of Midwife per NICE Guidelines

Pregnancy and childbirth is, in the majority of cases, a normal life event that proceeds to an uncomplicated outcome and can be effectively managed by a skilled midwife attendant. This also extends to assisting new mothers with postpartum care. The midwife is recognized as a responsible and accountable professional who can give the necessary support, care and advice during the postpartum period and provide the necessary care for the infant.

NICE guidelines recommend that new mothers and infants not be separated within the first hour. The midwife should encourage skin-to-skin contact -- before asking about feeding methods. If breastfeeding is the mother's preference, it should be encouraged within the first hour. During the first 24 hours after childbirth, midwives should ensure the woman's well-being and care by documenting blood pressure results and first urine voids within the first 6 hours. The midwife should help facilitate the physiological process of recovery after birth by offering emotional support, encouraging gentle mobilization and providing an opportunity for the mother to talk about the birth and her level of comfort or any concerns she has -- for herself or the infant. The midwife should be looking for vaginal loss, signs of infection and other issues, as well as signs of any life-threatening condition that may require specialized intervention.

Infants should also receive a full exam within 72 hours of childbirth. The vital signs of a healthy baby should be monitored. Respiratory rates should fall within 30 -- 60 breaths per minute. Heart rates should range from 100 -- 160 beats per minute. Temperatures in a normal room environment should be around 37°C. NICE guidelines require that the full exam include a battery of checks including: appearance (including color, breathing, behavior, activity and posture); head (including fontanels), face, nose, mouth, ears, neck and general symmetry of head and facial features; eyes; opacities and 'red reflex'; neck and clavicles and symmetry of limbs, hands, feet and digits; heart (rate, rhythm and sounds, murmurs and femoral pulse volume); lungs and breathing effort (rate and sounds); abdomen; umbilical cord; condition of…