SMNET - StudentMidwife.NET

  1. Please Register!
    SMNET is an education based community supporting student midwives and those thinking about a career in midwifery. If you are a student, applying to become a student or are considering midwifery as a job then you have come to the right place. Register for free now to receive support, access educational information and to participate in discussion and debate.

COTW SMNET Catch of the week 23/1/12

Discussion in 'Catch Of The Day' started by iolaus, Jan 23, 2012.

Page 1 of 8

  1. iolaus Education Moderator

    Message Count:
    9,372
    Likes Received:
    164
    Book Reviews:
    1
    SMNET Staff Past Quiz Winner
    For anyone who's not sure - these are real situations designed to help you get an idea of what other people would do in this situation, to help you evaluate the care you'd provide, to get other ideas if you are in the situation in the future - and to make you realise just how much there is to learn in midwifery and just when you think you have it sussed something will happen to make you realise that nature has ways of taking us all by surprise, no matter how experienced you are. The women and their families have very kindly agreed for their experiences to be shared online and in accordance with the NMC all are completely anonymous.

    Some of these situations will be lovely normal births, others will end up in theatre or have a nice birth with complications afterwards, as in real life not all pregnancies will have a happy ending. There are various settings so don’t forget where you are (can’t transfer to theatre from a homebirth without ringing an ambulance etc). Intermixed with the intrapartum cases there will be antenatal or postnatal scenarios thrown in as midwifery is not all about the birth.

    Each event will last for 1 week, with me setting the scenario on the Monday and unfolding a bit more each day until Sunday when I conclude it, ready for the next. However if I am around and basic questions are asked (such as why I did something or what something means) then I’ll answer them earlier.

    Join in, make comments - be they practical suggestions of what could have been done, a 'OMG I'd never have done that', a 'why did that happen?', 'similar thing happened to me', or a 'I haven't got a clue - hope mum and baby were ok'. The more people and comments who are part of this the more fun and interactive

    Thought we'd involve our nursing members this week and focus on another aspect on women's health which still has a big impact on midwives, even if we aren't usually directly involved



    Emma is a 32 year old woman had her third baby just over 3 weeks ago, you go to her home to discharge her from midwifery care following her 3rd vaginal birth at term just over three weeks ago.
    iolaus, Jan 23, 2012
    #1

  2. Mum of three Member

    Message Count:
    758
    Likes Received:
    9
    Book Reviews:
    0
    Not really sure but will have a guess. Checks on mum such as check uterus is contracting well, ask about bleeding, check if perenium is healing well if there were stitches etc. Ask how her bowels and bladder are. Talk about pelvic floor exercises, talk about future contraception? or that may be more 6 week check. Ask about feeding, check baby, weigh baby? See if mum has any questions about her feeding. If all is well then pass her over to health visitor care.
    Not sure what else, watching with interest.
    ps, in my tired state I read that as she had her third baby 3 years ago and thought I wonder why she was still under MW care?!! Doh
    Mum of three, Jan 23, 2012
    #2

  3. soapbox26 Member

    Message Count:
    660
    Likes Received:
    24
    Book Reviews:
    0
    subscribing with interest again!
    soapbox26, Jan 23, 2012
    #3

  4. DeterminedJode Member

    Message Count:
    239
    Likes Received:
    0
    Book Reviews:
    0
    subscribed :)
    DeterminedJode, Jan 23, 2012
    #4

  5. Penguin Moderatorgator

    Message Count:
    11,707
    Likes Received:
    310
    Book Reviews:
    7
    SMNET Staff Past Quiz Winner
    Subbing, dont have a clue :)
    Penguin, Jan 23, 2012
    #5

  6. peppa37 Member

    Message Count:
    186
    Likes Received:
    14
    Book Reviews:
    0
    Not sure about this one but just wondered if it's usual to still be under midwifery care 3 weeks after having a baby. When I had my baby the midwife visited every day for the first few days and then a couple more times until 10 days after, at which point the HV took over.

    I guess I would be having a chat about how things are going, how feeding is going, checking baby's weight etc... Sorry I'm pretty clueless on this one!
    peppa37, Jan 23, 2012
    #6

  7. Mush Well-Known Member

    Message Count:
    4,536
    Likes Received:
    337
    Book Reviews:
    0
    Subscribing
    Mush, Jan 23, 2012
    #7

  8. muffinbuns Member

    Message Count:
    518
    Likes Received:
    0
    Book Reviews:
    0
    Check if there were any worries from the last visit and ask about them. Ask about how baby is feeding (BF or AF), how many wet nappies a day, check babies weight and make sure NNST has been done already. Ask about PV loss, check perineum if necessary, and ask how mum is feeling/coping. Check if Emma has any questions or concerns, and also take note of the home environment.
    muffinbuns, Jan 23, 2012
    #8

  9. Dharma Active Member

    Message Count:
    2,251
    Likes Received:
    19
    Book Reviews:
    0
    Has Emma been under midwifery care for 3 weeks for a medical reason? or is this the norm where you are..... i can only remember the midwife coming to see me about 4 times after dd2 (vaginal birth)
    Dharma, Jan 23, 2012
    #9

  10. Snork Maiden Member

    Message Count:
    306
    Likes Received:
    5
    Book Reviews:
    0
    So is this going to be one for the HVs?

    ****

    Upon arrival, have a general glance around to see if mum seems to be coping; by this I mean not expecting a spick and span home, expecting to see a bit of chaos as long as everyone seems happy and mum is tending to baby.

    Ask mum for her notes and have a look through to quickly see what her pgcy was like, what kind of labour and delivery she had, if placenta and membranes came away completely etc. Also how long she stayed in with baby and for what reason (assuming it was a hospital birth), if there were any issues. The fact she's still under midwife care suggests to me that she may have spent a while in hospital or been readmitted...

    Chat with mum, find out how she's feeling, if she's got any support/help. Ask about any issues that stand out in notes and pay attention to non-verbal signs mother gives, as well as what she tells you.

    Ask if you can palpate uterus to check it's shrinking back down okay. If she had stitches ask how they are, if they've dissolved. Any pain going to the loo? Lochia?

    Ask how baby feeds. If breastfeeding ask if all is okay there, any issues?

    Weigh baby and record in red book.

    If happy with everything, sign off to health visitor.
    Snork Maiden, Jan 23, 2012
    #10
Page 1 of 8

Share This Page