We are debating at Uni about whether midwives are equipped to manage and provide support and care for women who may suffer domestic abuse.

The task has been split into a yes we are equipped and no we are not equipped and we have been split into groups to debate it, whether we personally agree or not.

Its raised some really interesting points and I thought I may open this discussion here and see what our members views are....

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J
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

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I don't feel miwives in training are really given enough training/support to help them deal with this. We were supposed to ask 'that' question at booking, but I always felt that I wouldnt really know what to do if someone said 'yes. help me'

Its being integrated into pre-reg education now, hence the topic so we are becoming more aware of DA and how to deal with it.

We were discussing how the relationship we have with women is so special that we access thier bodies and minds on a regular basis, plus with continuity of carer and care we can build up trust and due to the frequency of contact over a long period of time this facilitates this deepening of trust. Hence this unique relationship means they are open to us (on the whole) as we do not present a threat as social workers may do, if they divulge they (in their minds) may have their baby put on the register...

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J
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

"You're braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem. And smarter than you think."
Christopher Robin in Pooh's Grand Adventure

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

A bit off topic, but I was at one of my mandatory update days today - DV has been taken off ou programme for next year, mental health will be taking more of a high profile spot as they anticipate that this will be an expanding area of concern once the new CEMACH report is published.

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Love Dory xxx
Just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'....

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We do domestic violence in mandatory training, and our uni is talking of the possibility of now encouraging mental health nurses onto the midwifery course, I think its a great idea.
I met a girl recently, won't give too much detail but she had been badly beaten up by her partner, it was awful, dr scanned her-she was 23 weeks and I explained the scan and why prior to him coming in room and she just said "oh do you think he'll be able to tell me what I'm having as they couldn't tell", I quickly thought about this and replied, "not to sound too harsh but his main focus is to find your babies heartbeat and make sure all is well, and that there is a live baby in there" I hope you don't all think this is too harsh of me but I felt I had to get the message accross to her, I felt awful, the senior midwife discussed the events an orange kardex was filled in etc.. But MW said after-whats the point? she'll go back to him, its so frustrating mmm I think maybe if she would have had someone with alot more knowledge, sympathy and more realistic and up to the minute with options available I feel we would have had a better result.

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I think that part of our role is to understand why women try and block it out and why they stay. They are scared, not just of physical harm but many suffer long term mental/emotional abuse and so dont feel they deserve any better, or that someone would even want them. So many are told they are worthless. Plus these women often think that the partner wont harm the baby and the baby will have a roof over its head, especially if there are other children to consider. Its about self esteem and survival often.

I trained as a volunteer with womens aid and also rape crisis line and you would see this situation time and again. Even if we only touch the surface we will have made a difference, once we can build up trust with these women, there is more chance of them opening up to us. Some families manage to get through it with help and support.

In an ideal world we would make every woman/child safe immediatley but women, relationships and families arent like that, they all have their own way of dealing with things and its up to us to take our cue and support these women in the ways they need us to, to do what we can to make them and their baby and family safe.

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J
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

"You're braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem. And smarter than you think."
Christopher Robin in Pooh's Grand Adventure

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

i'm have chosen to focus my health promotion presentation on DV. I think that the care and information we give to women around DV is awful. I have been really suprised throughout my training about how much of a taboo subject it still is and how midwives are scared to approach the subject, even at booking. I think we are missing a massive opportunity as midwives to help these women.

Good for you! By not being afraid of the subject, you'll help others in the profession get past that also, and be helping lots of women in the process!

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Sasha, Doula, Mama, Wife, Student Midwife

Three little wild boys and one soldier husband

Anyone else have a view?

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J
StudentMidwife.NET Founder & Director

"You're braver than you believe. Stronger than you seem. And smarter than you think."
Christopher Robin in Pooh's Grand Adventure

Please help us raise funds for a bereavement room in Honey's memory by taking part in the SMNET Auction & Raffle here thanks x

I've just done an assignment on Domestic Abuse in pregnancy...
It made me realise that, no we aren't equipped to 'deal' with it..
Yes we 'ask' it as routine enquiry because we 'have to' but many studies have shown that we dont 'like' asking or just dont... and then when we get a reply of 'yes im been abused' we don't know how to deal with it.. we cant deal with the consequences of asking the question...
There needs to be WAY more training on asking the question and then even more training of deal with the consequences...
Not just midwives either, all healthcare professionals need the same training...
I think one thing that really got to me when I was doing this assignment is that in my trust there is no 'specialist' midwife or even a guideline or policy for domestic abuse!! It really shocked me! I put it as a recommendation in my assignment and got good feedback for it

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Duel X
3rd year student midwife
SM.NET Stafford University Representative
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