Preparing for Active Birth: what is most important to expectant couples? (Poster)
File version
Version of Record (VoR)
Author(s)
Donnellan-Fernandez, Roslyn
Shribman, Vanessa
Dellmann, Thomas
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2017
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Preparing for an Active Birth: What is most important to expectant couples?
Purpose
Preparation for childbirth by attending antenatal classes is a norm in Western cultures for expectant parents. But how effective are “classes”, and who do they serve? Do classes meet the needs of the pregnant woman and her significant others, or do they address the needs, and culture of the institutional setting and the providers attending the birth?
Presentation
This presentation examines the self-identified needs of expectant couples whom chose to attend Active Birth preparation workshops at a metropolitan yoga studio in Australia. ...
View more >Preparing for an Active Birth: What is most important to expectant couples? Purpose Preparation for childbirth by attending antenatal classes is a norm in Western cultures for expectant parents. But how effective are “classes”, and who do they serve? Do classes meet the needs of the pregnant woman and her significant others, or do they address the needs, and culture of the institutional setting and the providers attending the birth? Presentation This presentation examines the self-identified needs of expectant couples whom chose to attend Active Birth preparation workshops at a metropolitan yoga studio in Australia. Bi-monthly workshops for small groups (8 – 12 couples) were conducted continuously between the years 1996 – 2016 by three facilitators, two women and a man (yoga teacher / physiotherapist, a midwife, and a relationship counsellor / naturopath). At each workshop participant couples were encouraged to nominate three priorities and/or goals they wanted to address. Goals were recorded and written down by a facilitator. The predominant concerns, fears, priorities, and goals that were identified by expectant couples and their support persons will be summarised thematically. The various maternity care models, service providers, and place of birth preferences identified by participants, (e.g. public, private, obstetric, midwifery, GP share-care) for approximately 1200 couples will be examined. Commonalities, sub – themes, and differences, including their associated relationships with the priorities and goals identified also will be explored. The Application to Midwifery Practice Effective education and preparation for childbirth is an important part of the midwifery role / scope of practice. Awareness of the self – identified needs of expectant parents, including their concerns, fears, goals and priorities is an essential part of understanding the changing culture of birth and parenting in Western societies. It is also necessary to effectively engage and prepare families for the challenges and uncertainties encountered in childbearing, and to equip them to meet their own priorities within different maternity services. Evidence A critical overview of current literature surrounding preparation for childbirth in Western societies will provide a contextual backdrop to the self - identified needs of couples examined in this presentation.
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View more >Preparing for an Active Birth: What is most important to expectant couples? Purpose Preparation for childbirth by attending antenatal classes is a norm in Western cultures for expectant parents. But how effective are “classes”, and who do they serve? Do classes meet the needs of the pregnant woman and her significant others, or do they address the needs, and culture of the institutional setting and the providers attending the birth? Presentation This presentation examines the self-identified needs of expectant couples whom chose to attend Active Birth preparation workshops at a metropolitan yoga studio in Australia. Bi-monthly workshops for small groups (8 – 12 couples) were conducted continuously between the years 1996 – 2016 by three facilitators, two women and a man (yoga teacher / physiotherapist, a midwife, and a relationship counsellor / naturopath). At each workshop participant couples were encouraged to nominate three priorities and/or goals they wanted to address. Goals were recorded and written down by a facilitator. The predominant concerns, fears, priorities, and goals that were identified by expectant couples and their support persons will be summarised thematically. The various maternity care models, service providers, and place of birth preferences identified by participants, (e.g. public, private, obstetric, midwifery, GP share-care) for approximately 1200 couples will be examined. Commonalities, sub – themes, and differences, including their associated relationships with the priorities and goals identified also will be explored. The Application to Midwifery Practice Effective education and preparation for childbirth is an important part of the midwifery role / scope of practice. Awareness of the self – identified needs of expectant parents, including their concerns, fears, goals and priorities is an essential part of understanding the changing culture of birth and parenting in Western societies. It is also necessary to effectively engage and prepare families for the challenges and uncertainties encountered in childbearing, and to equip them to meet their own priorities within different maternity services. Evidence A critical overview of current literature surrounding preparation for childbirth in Western societies will provide a contextual backdrop to the self - identified needs of couples examined in this presentation.
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Conference Title
31st International Confederation of Midwives Triennial Congress
Publisher URI
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2017. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. For information about this conference please refer to the conference’s website or contact the author(s).