Becoming a midwife enables you to help expectant parents throughout pregnancy, from prenatal care to postpartum support. With online midwifery programs, you can acquire skills such as health promotion and disease prevention for your patients. You can also benefit from flexible scheduling and the opportunity to work in various settings, such as hospitals or private clinics. Here are a few ways that nurse-midwives help before, during, and after birth:
Before Birth
Your role as a nurse-midwife begins before the baby is even born and includes various tasks to support a healthy pregnancy. With the skills acquired from online midwifery programs, you monitor the health of both mother and baby. Some of the roles you take on during this time include:
Providing Prenatal Care
As a midwifery student, you will learn how to provide prenatal care for expectant mothers. This includes regular check-ups and screenings to monitor the health of both mother and baby. Your online midwifery programs cover topics such as prenatal nutrition, anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, and common complications that may arise during this time. You get to use this knowledge to provide care for your patients.
Managing High-risk Pregnancies
Before birth, some women do experience risks such as gestational diabetes or hypertension. Part of your training includes learning how to identify these risks and manage them appropriately. You will also learn about the appropriate interventions and referrals that may be necessary for high-risk pregnancies. Your practical sessions may entail simulation exercises and case studies that prepare you for these scenarios.
During Birth
Your midwifery training will equip you with the ability to conduct care for both the mother and the newborn during labor and delivery. You will be taught how to monitor the fetal heart rate, recognize the signs of distress, and intervene accordingly. The following are some of the roles you will play during birth:
Assess Labor Progression
During the birth phase, you must monitor the mother’s contractions and cervical dilation. You need to observe the fetal heart rate for abnormalities and assess the position of the baby to determine complications. Your skills in assessing the progress of labor will enable you to identify potential problems and provide timely interventions.
Support Postpartum Care
After delivery, you support the mother and newborn with immediate postpartum care. Care includes promoting skin-to-skin contact between mother and newborn, initiating breastfeeding, and assessing for potential complications. You will also provide teaching about postpartum care and changes to expect during recovery.
After Birth
Following the baby’s delivery, you will facilitate delivery of the placenta and verify that it is completely expelled. You will also examine the mother’s perineum for any tear or laceration and provide care if present. Your training also includes the identification and management of any complication that may arise in the postpartum period. Some of your roles during this period include:
Administration of Medications
You may be responsible for administering medications to the mother, such as analgesics or antibiotics. When local policy permits, you may also administer medications to the newborn, including vitamin K or antibiotic eye ointment. You will need to be familiar with the dosing and potential side effects of these medications. When you have concerns or questions, you should consult with the attending physician.
Postpartum Education
Online midwifery programs emphasize how postpartum education contributes to caring for mothers and their newborn babies. Your role includes teaching them to breastfeed, instructing them on safe sleep practices, and dealing with postpartum depression. You will reduce the risks of complications and empower the new parents with the necessary knowledge to care for the newborn.
Continuity of Care
Unlike in a hospital setting, where the caregiver may change throughout the labor and delivery, midwives try to establish relationships with their patients. That means being there for them during prenatal appointments, attending the birth, and following up with postpartum care. You check in on the mother and baby’s physical and emotional well-being, provide support, and answer any questions or concerns.
Register for Online Midwifery Programs
Online midwifery programs allow you to gain the necessary knowledge and skills needed to become a midwife. You don’t have to put your life on hold or move to a new location to pursue this career. Enroll in an online midwifery program and make a positive impact on the lives of mothers and babies.
