The job of the midwife may vary from patient to patient, however, the basis of what they do remains the same and that is providing prenatal care and childbirth assistance.
The Task requirements for a Midwife are as follows:
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The Midwife assists maternal patients to find physical positions that will facilitate childbirth. Often they provide training to the patient before the baby is due to be born.
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The Midwife is responsible for monitoring maternal conditions during labor by checking vital signs, monitoring uterine contractions, or performing physical examinations. These things are necessary to make sure that the baby and mother are both progressing well.
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The Midwife provides comfort and relaxation measures for mothers in labor through interventions such as massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, and music. The Midwife normally works with the maternal mother from the onset of the pregnancy finding out as much as possible in order to provide the service necessary at the time of birthing.
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The Midwife is responsible for setting up and/or monitoring the administration of oxygen. In case the use of medications is needed a physician must first prescribe them before the Midwife can administer them to the patient. There are some simple pain medicines that you can get from over the counter that a Midwife may administer to the patient after the baby has been born.
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The Midwife assesses the birthing environment to ensure cleanliness, safety, and the availability of appropriate supplies. Some Midwives actually bring the appropriate supplies that will be needed for the actual birthing procedures while others require that the patient provide all the needed materials.
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The Midwife must assess the status of post-date pregnancies to determine treatments and interventions.
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The Midwife often will collect specimens before the birth and afterwards so that they can be tested in laboratories to make sure that baby and mother are both doing well and in good health.
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The Midwife conducts ongoing prenatal health assessments, tracking changes in physical and emotional health.
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The Midwife works with the mother in order to develop, implement, or evaluate individualized plans for midwifery care.
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The Midwife establishes and follows emergency or contingency plans for mothers and newborns. She is held accountable for a safe delivery for both baby and mother.
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The Midwife estimate patients’ due dates and re-evaluates as necessary based on examination results.
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The Midwife evaluates patients’ laboratory and medical records, requesting assistance from other practitioners when necessary. If the Midwife feels that a complication might incur then often they will refer the mother to a specialist.
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The Midwife responds to breech birth presentations by applying methods such as exercises and external version.
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The Midwife must identify, monitor, or treat pregnancy-related problems such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-term labor, and retarded fetal growth.
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The Midwife must be able to identify tubal and ectopic pregnancies and refer patients for treatments to their own physicians.
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The Midwife must inform patients of how to prepare and supply birth sites.
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The Midwife monitors fetal growth and well-being through heartbeat detection, body measurement, and palpation.
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The Midwife maintains documentation of all patients’ contacts, reviewing and updating records as necessary.
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The Midwife obtains complete health and medical histories from patients including medical, surgical, reproductive, or mental health histories.
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The Midwife performs post-partum health assessments of mothers and babies at regular intervals.
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The Midwife provides information about the physical and emotional processes involved in the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
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The Midwife provides necessary medical care for infants at birth, including emergency care such as resuscitation.
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The Midwife provides, or refers patients to other providers for, education or counseling on topics such as genetic testing, newborn care, contraception, and breastfeeding.
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The Midwife refers patients to specialists for procedures such as ultrasounds and biophysical profiles.
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The Midwife sutures perinea lacerations
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The Midwife must test patients’ hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood glucose levels.
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The Midwife compiles and evaluates clinical practice statistics.
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The Midwife must complete and file a birth certificate for the patient and child.
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The Midwife is responsible for counseling women regarding the nutritional requirements of pregnancy.
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The Midwife collaborates in research studies when permitted. They often incorporate research findings into practice as appropriate.
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The Midwife provides postpartum patients with contraceptive and family planning information.
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The Midwife recommends the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to enhance the health of patients and children.
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The Midwife treats patients’ symptoms with alternative health care methods such as herbs and hydrotherapy.