The View From Both Sides
Midwifery-Assisted Birth Experience of a Student
Nurse-Midwife
Melissa Hatter, BSN, RNC-OB
Virtual International Dayof the Midwife
May, 2011
Last Clinical Day for Spring Semester!!!
Personal Background Married with 18-
month old son Lived in North
Carolina for 3 ½ years
Raised and currently living in Alabama
Educational Background Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the
University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing—Graduated in May, 2007
Master’s of Science in Nursing, Nurse-Midwifery at East Carolina University, School of Nursing—Expected Graduation in May, 2012
Passion for Women Women’s unique health care needs
[See Brucker (2011)]
The role of women in the health of the family [See Welch et al. (2009)]
Women’s health care choices Women’s rights Family planning
“Calico” My first
“midwifery” experience!
Calico the Cat had her kittens in my closet
What nature intended
Midwifery or Medical?A Personal Choice
Working as a labor and delivery nurse
No midwives in my hospital system
Passed up opportunity for free obstetrical services
Traveled 1 hour each way to For Women’s Health
After delivery, received hospital bill for full cost of services
Fought with BCBS-TN for payment for midwifery services in hospital
Prenatal Care Becky Yates, CNM and
Rebecca Hunnycutt, CNM Student nurse-midwives in the clinic Appointments available to fit husband’s
school schedule Time and attention provided by the
midwives Questions answered
Labor and Delivery Experience
Preterm labor onset
Early labor at home
Decision to call midwives
Electronic fetal monitoring and variable decelerations
Desire for natural childbirth
Labor and Delivery Experience
Coaching Husband Family via
telephone Midwife
Birthing ball Positioning
Delivery Unmedicated Hands and knees
positioning Awareness—”ring
of fire” Short umbilical
cord
Immediate Postpartum and Breastfeeding
Premature infant, white male—required “extra” attention
Breastfeeding attempts Husband’s response to birth experience
Happy Family!
Nurse-M idwifery in the Southeast US
North Carolina & Alabama CNMs are licensed
as RNs and approved to practice midwifery
Must hold collaborative agreement with physician involved in obstetrics
[See Advanced practice (2004); FAQ (2005)]
Dilemmas No CMs, CPMs, or
other midwives in either state
Practice is not independent; must have physician approval to practice
Limited access to care in many rural areas
Making a Difference Educate yourself
Educate the public
Advertise midwifery services
Reach out to underserved women
Attend events such as local, state, national conferences and VIDM
Conclusion Awareness during pregnancy, labor,
delivery, and breastfeeding Confirmation of choice to become nurse-
midwife Desire to make patient experiences as
beautiful as mine Make a difference!!!
ReferencesBrucker, M.C. (2011). Modern pharmacology. In T.L. King & M.C. Brucker (Eds.),
Pharmacology for women’s health (pp. 3-24). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ). (2005). American College of Nurse-Midwives,
North Carolina Affiliate. Retrieved from
http://www.ncmidwives.org/for_consumers/questions.html
Advanced practice nurses: Collaborative agreement, Alabama Board of Medical
Examiners S 540-X-8-.17 (2004). Retrieved from
http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/8MEXAM.htm
Welch, N., Hunter, W., Butera, K., Willis, K., Cleland, V., Crawford, D., & Ball, K.
(2009). Women’s work: Maintaining a healthy body weight. Appetite, 53(1), 9-15.
Retrieved from EBSCOhost.
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