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Women must take charge of their birthing process

Women have been encouraged to take charge of their birthing process and to clarify any misconceptions that remain about the obstetrician or midwife making decisions on behalf of the mother, a conference was told on Sunday.

A birthing plan, made in collaboration with the mother to be, the obstetrician and the midwife, should be put in place early on in the pregnancy and all factors regarding the mother and baby’s health and mother’s physical and emotional well-being should be taken into consideration, said Mariam Al Gobari, senior midwife, Al Ain Cromwell Hospital, UAE. She was speaking at the Midwifery Conference held alongside the 6th Obs-Gyne Exhibition and Conference at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The conference was inaugurated by Eisa Al Haj Al Maidoor, Director-General of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The event continues today and tomorrow and is expected to attract 1,500 healthcare professionals working in the obstetrics and gynaecological fields in the Middle East.

“All women in labour should be in control of and involved in the birth process, and the way in which care is given is key to being in control. To facilitate this, healthcare professionals and other caregivers should establish a rapport with the woman in labour, finding out her expectations for labour, being aware of the importance of tone and demeanour, and of the actual words used during the process and so forth. This information should be used to support and guide her through labour,” said Al Gobari.

“In case of an emergency, clinical intervention should be administered; otherwise the birthing plan should be followed as per the mother’s wishes. A midwife will be able to assist the mother and coach her on the various birthing positions that will both ease labour pain and enable her to have a simple, safe delivery,” she said.

According to Al Gobari, there’s no one optimum position for labour. In fact, most women end up changing positions frequently during labour; they must let their bodies be their guides. “The various positions consist of standing, walking, laying on the side, utilising an exercise ball, resting on hands and knees, and sitting in a backwards position.

“A midwife should always be there to support and guide the mother, but also should be responsive to her requests. A midwife should deliver one-on-one care to a woman in established labour as this will make it less likely for her to have a caesarean section or instrumental birth, and therefore she will be more satisfied and have a more positive experience of birth,” she said.

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