SMOKING IN PREGNANCY
To understand the role of the midwife, the first thing it has to be explained is the midwife definition. International midwives say:
"A midwife is a person who, having been regularly admitted to a midwifery educational programme, duly recognised in the country in which it is located, has successfully completed the prescribed course of studies in midwifery and has acquired the requisite qualifications to be registered and/or legally licensed to practise midwifery.
The midwife is recognised as a responsible and accountable professional who works in partnership with women to give the necessary support, care and advice during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, to conduct births on the midwife`s own responsibility and to provide care for the newborn and the infant. This care includes preventative measures, the promotion of normal birth, the detection of complications in mother and child, the accessing of medical care or other appropriate assistance and the carrying out of emergency measures.
The midwife has an important task in health counselling and education, not only for the woman, but also within the family and the community. This work should involve antenatal education and preparation for parenthood and may extend to women`s health, sexual or reproductive health and child care.
A midwife may practise in any setting including the home, community, hospitals, clinics or health units."
One of the most important roles in midwifery is the health promotion, which is a big area, so I am going to try to focus it in a specific theme : Smoking in pregnancy.
The aim of this essay is try to describe the midwife´s role promoting the health in this area.
It is indicated in the NICE guidelines that the midwives are the responsable of taking action in the first booking interview.
The first step is the explication and use of a CO breath test, and ask if the woman smokes, or if anyone else in the house smokes. If the woman...