Creating confidence by building on experience

This article, the second in a two-part series, looks at changes in practice that might be encountered by midwives in Scotland, as the term ‘woman-centred care’ and the attendant new schemes of care are tried and tested. The challenges are examined, good points come to light but problems too, emerge. While being ready to look forward and embrace change for good, midwives should be sure that the changes are initiated by those in whom they have full confidence.

The challenge of negotiating the maze of woman-centred care in Scotland

Reid

Hillan

McGuire

1997

Policy developments: a Scottish perspective

Reid

Hillan

McGuire

1997

This article, the first of two considering woman-centred Care In Scotland, describes the action for change In the maternity services In Scotland before the publication of The Provision of Maternity Services in Scotland — A Policy Review (Scottish Home and Health Department, 1993). This article examines the Policy Review and concludes by asking how midwives see themselves In the centre of the changes. This question, the subject of current Scottish research soon to be published, is central to the effecting of Improved maternity care.

Critical incident analysis of the third stage of labour

Clements¹

2000

Critical incident analysis is a method of reflective practice that enables a particular topic to be studied in great detail. Under the headings and guidance of Gibbs’ reflective cycle (Gibbs, 1988), the management of the third stage of labour has been carefully analysed, criticised and discussed. Active management of third stage has become almost routine practice in many maternity units, with professionals justifying their actions by acknowledging the potential risk of postpartum haemorrhage. It is interesting to discover that women can perhaps tolerate a greater blood loss than previously thought and it must be accepted that the entire birthing process involves normal physiological events that have evolved for a good reason. While it is imperative that safety of mother and baby remain the priority, woman-centered care and informed choice should form the basis of all midwifery practice.