Hi Charlotte
You are correct there is little evidence, in terms of primary studies,
looking at the role of midwives in promoting waterbirths. But if you
look at the literature on other topics linked to midwives' promotion of
a care option, for example home births, the reasons some midwives do not
promote these is related to their clinical competence and confidence,
the support they have from managers, availability of resources including
staff numbers to enable educational activities, medical dominance, and
fear of litigation (note I say fear of, not necessarily actual). This
list would apply to waterbirths, as well, although not necessarily in
that order.
Best wishes
LIZ
******************************************************************
Dr Elizabeth R Cluett
PhD MSc RM RGN PGCEA
Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery
University of Southampton
tel; 023 8059 7850
email [log in to unmask]
-----Original Message-----
From: A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health
research. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Charlotte Bachtold
Sent: 12 March 2008 13:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Water birth and the midwife
My name is Charlotte and I am a final year midwifery degree student who
is
in the middle of her dissertation.
I have chosen water birth as my topic and having carried out an
extensive
electronic and hand search of the literature I have decided to focus my
literature review upon what is preventing women from birthing in water.
I
have found a great deal of research regarding the benefits of water
birth
and its 'safety' yet I can find very little on the subject of the
midwives
role and perspective on water birth. From my own clinical experience I
am
aware that midwives play an essential role in the promotion and uptake
of
water birth yet I am having difficulty finding anything on this
interesting
aspect from a research perspective.
It is for this reason that I am writing to you to see if anyone has any
interesting thoughts or ideas on this subject. Any opinions or advice
would
be much appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you,
Charlotte.
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