Reflective Essay on Pool Births
Labouring in Water
This essay is a reflection of the pool birth I witnessed whilst out on my practical placement. The elements of my experience in this area that I will be reflecting on are the advantages and disadvantages of birthing in the pool and the communication between the midwife and the expectant mother. I have chosen this area to reflect on because I would like to feel confident in promoting pool birthing and I would like to be able to support and provide correct advice for a woman considering to birth in the pool. The names of the people involved in my reflection, including the trust I experienced my practical placement have been changed to insure confidentiality is obtained. I will be using the Gibb’s Reflective Cycle (Gibbs, 1988) to help me to discuss, analyse and evaluate throughout my reflection.
I began my first long night shift on delivery suit in ABC hospital and my mentor and I took over the care of a woman who was in early stages of labour. This lady had drawn up her birth plan which showed she wanted no pain relief and wanted to birth in the pool. We read through the notes and saw this lady was 41 weeks pregnant and a Multip. Reading this we knew labour might not be long so we saw the expectant mother to the pool birth room settled her in and did a full set of observations and checks on both mum and fetus. The observations and checks were all within the normal range my mentor also performed a V.E which found the woman was 4cm dilated. By this point in time the woman’s contractions were now quite strong and painful and seemed to be coming 3 in 10 and the woman asked to get in the pool as soon as she could, so we began to fill the pool with a water temperature of 37ºc. We stayed in the room once the woman was in the pool but the midwife did not touch the woman once she was in the pool she just encouraged, answered questions, listened in to the baby every 15 minutes and observed. Once the woman got in to the pool the labour seemed to progress
This essay is a reflection of the pool birth I witnessed whilst out on my practical placement. The elements of my experience in this area that I will be reflecting on are the advantages and disadvantages of birthing in the pool and the communication between the midwife and the expectant mother. I have chosen this area to reflect on because I would like to feel confident in promoting pool birthing and I would like to be able to support and provide correct advice for a woman considering to birth in the pool. The names of the people involved in my reflection, including the trust I experienced my practical placement have been changed to insure confidentiality is obtained. I will be using the Gibb’s Reflective Cycle (Gibbs, 1988) to help me to discuss, analyse and evaluate throughout my reflection.
I began my first long night shift on delivery suit in ABC hospital and my mentor and I took over the care of a woman who was in early stages of labour. This lady had drawn up her birth plan which showed she wanted no pain relief and wanted to birth in the pool. We read through the notes and saw this lady was 41 weeks pregnant and a Multip. Reading this we knew labour might not be long so we saw the expectant mother to the pool birth room settled her in and did a full set of observations and checks on both mum and fetus. The observations and checks were all within the normal range my mentor also performed a V.E which found the woman was 4cm dilated. By this point in time the woman’s contractions were now quite strong and painful and seemed to be coming 3 in 10 and the woman asked to get in the pool as soon as she could, so we began to fill the pool with a water temperature of 37ºc. We stayed in the room once the woman was in the pool but the midwife did not touch the woman once she was in the pool she just encouraged, answered questions, listened in to the baby every 15 minutes and observed. Once the woman got in to the pool the labour seemed to progress
References: Author, A. (2009). Baby Centre : The Pros and Cons of Water Birth. Retrieved May, 8th, 2012, from http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/waterbirth/benefitsandhazards/ Coad, J & Dunstall, M. (2011). Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives. (3rd ed). Churchill Livingstone Elsevier Ltd. Daniels, K. (2012). The Benefits of Water for Labor and/or Birth. Retrieved May, 8th, 2012, from http://www.waterbirthinfo.com/benefits.html Gibbs, G. (1998). Learning by doing: a guide to teaching and learning methods. Oxford: Further Education Unit, Oxford Polytechnic. Johnson, R & Taylor, W. (2011). Skills for Midwifery Practice. (3rd ed). Churchill Livingstone Elsevier Ltd. Macdonald, S & Magill-Cuerden, J. (2011) Mayes Midwifery. (14th ed). Baillere Tindall Elsevier Ltd. RCM. (2008). RCM Evidence based Guidelines for Midwifery-led care in Labour. (4th ed). Royal College of Midwives Trust.