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www.shoremidwives.co.nz
What we do
Scope of practice of a Midwife
So, you are pregnant, and you know you need to find an LMC (Lead Maternity Carer). You know that most women in New Zealand receive their pregnancy care from midwives… but do you know what a midwife is, and what she does? According to the Midwifery council of New Zealand, our scope of practice is as follows.
Midwifery Scope of Practice
The midwife works in partnership with women, on her own professional responsibility, to give women the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period up to six weeks, to facilitate births and to provide care for the newborn.
The midwife understands, promotes and facilitates the physiological processes of pregnancy and childbirth, identifies complications that may arise in mother and baby, accesses appropriate medical assistance, and implements emergency measures as necessary. When women require referral midwives provide midwifery care in collaboration with other health professionals.
Midwives have an important role in health and wellness promotion and education for the woman, her family and the community. Midwifery practice involves informing and preparing the woman and her family for pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenthood and includes certain aspects of women’s health, family planning and infant well-being.
The midwife may practise in any setting, including the home, the community, hospitals, or in any other maternity service. In all settings, the midwife remains responsible and accountable for the care she provides.
The Midwifery Council of New Zealand is the organisation responsible for the protection of the health and safety of women and babies during the childbirth process by providing mechanisms to ensure that midwives are competent and fit to practise midwifery.
Midwives in New Zealand practice in a variety of settings, and types of practice. Full Bloom Midwifery services operates as a group of independent midwives, providing continuity of care to a caseload of women. We provide support to each other to allow women to have 24/7 access to midwifery care when needed, whilst allowing us to take part in our required ongoing education.
We view our role as clearly fitting within the boundaries of the scope laid out by the Midwifery council, and we all take part in the Midwifery Recertification Program, to remain fit and competent practitioners. For more information on what a midwife does, and what you can expect from her, visit NZCOM (http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,78,0,0,html/For-Women).
A word about consumer feedback
An important and integral part of New Zealand Midwifery Recertification is consumer feedback. New Zealand midwives recognise that the best people to evaluate our practice are the women who we provide services to. New Zealand midwifery is founded on a philosophy of partnership between the birthing woman, her family, and the midwife. For this reason, consumers are involved throughout the recertification process. A consumer is present when a midwife has her review, and helps to look at things from the perspective of the woman receiving care. But the most important way a woman can help to shape midwifery practice to fit the needs of new Zealand birthing women, is by providing feedback to their midwife. This can be done anonymously, and all women whom we care for will be offered the chance to provide feedback to help us in our ongoing development. For more information on Midwifery Standards Review, visit NZCOM (http://www.midwife.org.nz/index.cfm/1,136,html)