Empathy and spiritual care in midwifery practice: Contributing to women's enhanced birth experiences

Moloney, Sharon; Gair, Susan

doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2015.04.009

Cited by 62 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Empathic engagement with women is an important determinant of women's positive birth experiences (Moloney & Gair, 2015) and is recognised as an essential aspect of compassionate maternity care (NHS, 2014). However building a bond with a woman in receipt of care requires empathic engagement, which can theoretically facilitate the internalisation of another individual's traumatic event (Figley, 1996).…”

Section: Organisational Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

What are the characteristics of perinatal events perceived to be traumatic by midwives?

2016

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ObjectiveThere is potential for midwives to indirectly experience events whilst providing clinical care that fulfil criteria for trauma. This research aimed to investigate the characteristics of events perceived as traumatic by UK midwives. Methods:As part of a postal questionnaire survey conducted between December 2011 and April 2012, midwives (n= 421) who had witnessed and/or listened to an account of an event and perceived this as traumatic for themselves provided a written description of their experience. A traumatic perinatal event was defined as occurring during labour or shortly after birth where the midwife perceived the mother or her infant to be at risk, and they (the midwife) had experienced fear, helplessness or horror in response. Descriptions of events were analysed using thematic analysis.Witnessed (W; n= 299) and listened to (H; n= 383) events were analysed separately and collated to identify common and distinct themes across both types of exposure. Findings:Six themes were identified, each with subthemes. Five themes were identified in both witnessed and listened to accounts and one was salient to witnessed accounts only. Themes indicated that events were characterised as severe, unexpected and complex. They involved aspects relating to the organisational context; typically limited or delayed access to resources or personnel. There were aspects relating to parents, such as having an existing relationship with the parents, and negative perceptions of the conduct of colleagues. Traumatic events had a common theme of generating feelings of responsibility and blame Finally for witnessed events those that were perceived as traumatic sometimes held personal salience, so resonated in some way with the midwife's own life experience Key conclusions:Midwives are exposed to events as part of their work that they may find traumatic.Understanding the characteristics of the events that may trigger this perception may facilitate prevention of any associated distress and inform the development of supportive interventions.

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Section: Organisational Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

What are the characteristics of perinatal events perceived to be traumatic by midwives?

2016

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“…Empathy is an important component of successful midwife/woman relationships (Seefat‐van et al . , Moloney & Gair ). Several studies have linked high quality midwife/woman relationships to increased trust and feelings of safety and security (Berg et al .…”

Section: Data Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women feel sense of control/empowered (Halldorsdottir & Karlsdottir , Hildingsson & Rådestad , Moloney & Gair , Prochaska , Scott )…”

Section: Data Sourcesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women want midwives to care for them but also care about them by entering into a warm and caring relationship (Howarth et al 2012). Empathy is an important component of successful midwife/woman relationships (Seefat-van et al 2011, Moloney & Gair 2015. Several studies have linked high quality midwife/woman relationships to increased trust and feelings of safety and security (Berg et al 1996, Williams et al 2010, JBI 2012, Davison et al 2015.…”

Section: Emotionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A concept analysis of compassionate midwifery

Ménage

Bailey

Lees

et al. 2016

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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“…A reliance on 'guideline-centred care' (Kotaska, 2011, p.97) is difficult to reconcile with the requirement to place person-centred practice at the heart of midwifery (Hall, 2013;Hunter, 2004;Nicholls & Webb, 2006). For example, research has shown that women value care from midwives who provide informed choice and includes them in clinical decision-making processes (Care Quality Commission [CQC], 2013; Davies, Daellenbach & Kensington, 2011;Fahy, Foureur & Hastie, 2008;Kirkham, 2010;Moloney & Gair, 2015;Walsh, 2010). Above all, women value and rely upon embodied knowledge (Kirkham, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Professionalism and person-centredness: developing a practice-based approach to leadership within NHS maternity services in the UK

Deery

Fisher

2016

Health Sociology Review

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AcknowledgementsThis work was supported by the Health Foundation, an independent charity working to improve the quality of health care in the UK under Grant 4421/4048. The authors are grateful to the participating midwives, obstetricians and childbearing women.The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper. *corresponding author2 Abstract This paper, based on data taken from in-depth interviews with senior midwives and obstetricians and conducted as part of a critical ethnographic study, argues for a greater appreciation of person-centred, value-led midwifery practice. The paper begins with a discussion of the way midwifery practice is shaped by encoded and embodied knowledge. The paper subsequently focuses on an emergent practice based leadership using an adapted Aristotelian conceptual framework derived from MacIntyre (2007). Professional dissonance is highlighted as a difficulty experienced by repositioned managers who are also expected to be leaders in their field. Using data gathered from in-depth interviews it is contended that establishing person-centred care might be better achieved through the development of practice based leadership (rather than solely by adherence to organisational requirements). This type of leadership could potentially nurture a professional environment that promotes qualities, such as agency, commitment and high levels of competence among midwives. Such leadership is central to UK government priorities and is applicable to a global practice development agenda.

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Empathy and spiritual care in midwifery practice: Contributing to women's enhanced birth experiences

Cited by 62 publications

References 32 publications

What are the characteristics of perinatal events perceived to be traumatic by midwives?

What are the characteristics of perinatal events perceived to be traumatic by midwives?

A concept analysis of compassionate midwifery

Professionalism and person-centredness: developing a practice-based approach to leadership within NHS maternity services in the UK

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