melissa hatter vidm presentation

The View From Both Sides

Midwifery-Assisted Birth Experience of a Student

Nurse-Midwife

Melissa Hatter, BSN, RNC-OB

Virtual International Dayof the Midwife

May, 2011

Last Clinical Day for Spring Semester!!!

Personal Background Married with 18-

month old son Lived in North

Carolina for 3 ½ years

Raised and currently living in Alabama

Educational Background Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing at the

University of Alabama, Capstone College of Nursing—Graduated in May, 2007

Master’s of Science in Nursing, Nurse-Midwifery at East Carolina University, School of Nursing—Expected Graduation in May, 2012

Passion for Women Women’s unique health care needs

[See Brucker (2011)]

The role of women in the health of the family [See Welch et al. (2009)]

Women’s health care choices Women’s rights Family planning

“Calico” My first

“midwifery” experience!

Calico the Cat had her kittens in my closet

What nature intended

Midwifery or Medical?A Personal Choice

Working as a labor and delivery nurse

No midwives in my hospital system

Passed up opportunity for free obstetrical services

Traveled 1 hour each way to For Women’s Health

After delivery, received hospital bill for full cost of services

Fought with BCBS-TN for payment for midwifery services in hospital

Prenatal Care Becky Yates, CNM and

Rebecca Hunnycutt, CNM Student nurse-midwives in the clinic Appointments available to fit husband’s

school schedule Time and attention provided by the

midwives Questions answered

Labor and Delivery Experience

Preterm labor onset

Early labor at home

Decision to call midwives

Electronic fetal monitoring and variable decelerations

Desire for natural childbirth

Labor and Delivery Experience

Coaching Husband Family via

telephone Midwife

Birthing ball Positioning

Delivery Unmedicated Hands and knees

positioning Awareness—”ring

of fire” Short umbilical

cord

Immediate Postpartum and Breastfeeding

Premature infant, white male—required “extra” attention

Breastfeeding attempts Husband’s response to birth experience

Happy Family!

Nurse-M idwifery in the Southeast US

North Carolina & Alabama CNMs are licensed

as RNs and approved to practice midwifery

Must hold collaborative agreement with physician involved in obstetrics

[See Advanced practice (2004); FAQ (2005)]

Dilemmas No CMs, CPMs, or

other midwives in either state

Practice is not independent; must have physician approval to practice

Limited access to care in many rural areas

Making a Difference Educate yourself

Educate the public

Advertise midwifery services

Reach out to underserved women

Attend events such as local, state, national conferences and VIDM

Conclusion Awareness during pregnancy, labor,

delivery, and breastfeeding Confirmation of choice to become nurse-

midwife Desire to make patient experiences as

beautiful as mine Make a difference!!!

ReferencesBrucker, M.C. (2011). Modern pharmacology. In T.L. King & M.C. Brucker (Eds.),

Pharmacology for women’s health (pp. 3-24). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ). (2005). American College of Nurse-Midwives,

North Carolina Affiliate. Retrieved from

http://www.ncmidwives.org/for_consumers/questions.html

Advanced practice nurses: Collaborative agreement, Alabama Board of Medical

Examiners S 540-X-8-.17 (2004). Retrieved from

http://www.alabamaadministrativecode.state.al.us/docs/mexam/8MEXAM.htm

Welch, N., Hunter, W., Butera, K., Willis, K., Cleland, V., Crawford, D., & Ball, K.

(2009). Women’s work: Maintaining a healthy body weight. Appetite, 53(1), 9-15.

Retrieved from EBSCOhost.