The time of delivery is a crucial point in our lives, and we all form certain expectations that are often not met later, especially when the birth was not respected. This process involves many factors, not only human, but, What exactly do we expect from healthcare staff during childbirth?
Personally, I did not feel disappointed with the attention of the professionals in the hospital during childbirth and postpartum, except for some comments of bad taste, in the case of my second daughter, who encouraged me to walk referring to my gut had stayed “ as if I had had a C-section, ”or another who did not take my concerns about the cure of episiotomy very seriously.
Both cases were of people I only saw once (less badly), in that transfer of shifts and guards in the hospital. I imagine that we all have some memory of this type, which probably at the time it happens, in full birth or in a tired postpartum we had no strength to respond.
I know of especially flagrant cases, when the mother is little less than vituperated because she is not pushing well or for any reason that escapes the wishes of the staff that attends to you. If in any case that kind of performance seems outrageous, even more so in these sensitive moments.
But overall in both births I felt accompanied, attended, encouraged and respected. I especially remember the person who offered me his arm to squeeze it and was very affectionate with me when it came to reassuring me to put on epidural anesthesia, or to the nurses and pediatrician who affectionately helped me put my first baby to my chest.
These "details" recorded in my mind, both good and bad, as we see respond to emotional issues, accompaniment, touch and empathy with the mother at the time of delivery. I think we would all expect these issues to be necessary when we are going to give birth.
What health workers should offer during childbirth
The debate should not be so much what we expect from health workers during childbirth but what it should be or what they should offer us. After all, they are professionals who may be required certain conditions in their labor care.
According to the report presented by the Technical Working Group of the World Health Organization entitled "Care in normal delivery: a practical guide", the goal of childbirth care is to get a healthy mother and child, with the lowest possible level of intervention in the safest way.
According to this document, the tasks of health personnel are four:
- Encourage the woman, her partner and family during childbirth, delivery and the postpartum period.
- Observe the parturient: monitor the fetal condition and that of the child after birth; evaluate risk factors; Detect problems early.
- Carry out minor interventions, if necessary, such as amniotomy and episiotomy; Take care of the child after birth.
- Move women to a higher level of assistance, if risk factors arise or if complications arise that justify such transfer.
This description assumes that you can easily access a higher level of assistance, something that is common in our environment but that does not always happen, as in poor countries, where sometimes the staff that attends births is not even qualified.
But in our environment, although these would be the “ideal” tasks, they are not usually fulfilled, and an agreement between the health personnel regarding their responsibilities, as well as our claim to them, would be desirable. I suspect that in the highlights, the first and third (in regards to interventions) should be the least achieved.
You, What did you expect from healthcare staff during labor? Were your expectations met or do you keep a bad memory? Did they conveniently perform the tasks outlined by WHO?
