Midwife's responsibilities regarding placenta examination: the study of Slovenian maternity hospitals'doctrine

Authors

  • Petra Ramovš University Medical Centre Ljubljana Clinical Department of Perinatology Šlajmerjeva 4 SI-1000 Ljubljana
  • Anita Prelec Medical Centre Ljubljana Division of Gynaecology, Department of Perinatology Šlajmerjeva 4 SI-1000 Ljubljana
  • Ana Polona Mivšek Faculty of Health Sciences Zdravstvena pot 5 SI-1000 Ljubljana

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2015.49.2.41

Keywords:

third stage of labour, examination of placenta, competence of midwives

Abstract

Introduction: The placenta is a temporary organ, essential for the survival, growth and development of the foetus. It is delivered during the third stage of labour. The purpose of this study was to gain information regarding the management of the third stage of labour in Slovenian maternity hospitals, including midwives' competences within this scope of practice. Methods: Descriptive quantitative method was used with a survey questionnaire as a research instrument. Convenience sample included all 14 Slovenian maternity hospitals. The data were gathered during May and June 2012. The analysis of data was performed with SPSS 17 programme. Results: The response rate to the survey was 86%. Two thirds of the respondents (67 %) report that the third stage of labour is usually actively managed. In general, the placenta is delivered by a midwife (83 %), however, the placenta is not examined only by a midwife, it is also checked by a doctor (83 %). The majority of midwives (83 %) feel professionally confident to examine the placenta autonomously. Discussion and conclusion: The final birth outcome is the responsibility of a doctor. Therefore, in the majority of cases, midwives are not completely independent, despite their competences and qualifications for the management of uncomplicated deliveries.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

Author Biographies

Petra Ramovš, University Medical Centre Ljubljana Clinical Department of Perinatology Šlajmerjeva 4 SI-1000 Ljubljana

Petra Ramovš, dipl. bab.

Anita Prelec, Medical Centre Ljubljana Division of Gynaecology, Department of Perinatology Šlajmerjeva 4 SI-1000 Ljubljana

strok. sod. Anita Prelec, viš. med. ses., spec. gin. por. zdr. n., MSc (UK)

Ana Polona Mivšek, Faculty of Health Sciences Zdravstvena pot 5 SI-1000 Ljubljana

doc. dr. Ana Polona Mivšek, dipl. bab.

References

Bair, M.E. & Williams, J., 2007. Management of the third stage of labor. Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health, 52(4), pp. 412–414.

Begley, C.M., Gyte, G.M.L., Devane, D., McGuire, W. & Weeks, A., 2011. Active versus expectant management for women in the third stage of labour. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11, p CD007412. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD007412.pub3

Bennett, R.V. & Brown, L.K., 2003. The placenta. In: Fraser, D.M. & Cooper, M.A. eds. Myles textbook for midwives. 14th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingston, pp. 143–149.

Burke, C., 2010. Active versus expectant management of the third stage of labor and implementation of a protocol. Journal of Perinatal & Neonatal Nursing, 24(3), pp. 215–228.

Cör, A. & Legan, M., 2006. Posteljica. Medicinski razgledi, 45(4), pp. 391–401.

Fry, J., 2007. Physiological third stage of labour; support it or lose it. British Journal of Midwifery, 15(11), pp. 693–695.

Hanson, L. & Simkin, P., 2011. Optimal newborn transition and third and fourth stage labor management. In: Simkin, P. & Ancheta, R. eds. The labor progress handbook: early interventions to prevent dystocia. 3th ed. Chichester: Wiley–Blackwell, pp. 224–238.

Harris, T., 2011. Care in the third stage of labour. In: Macdonald, S. & Magill-Cuerden, J. eds. Mayes' midwifery. 14th ed. Edinburgh: Baillière Tindall, pp. 535–548.

International Confederation of Midwives – ICM, 2011. Essential competencies for basic midwifery practice 2010. Available at: http://www.internationalmidwives.org/what-we-do/education-coredocuments/essential-competencies-basic-midwifery-practice/ [16. 6. 2015].

McDonald, S., 2009. Physiology and management of the third stage of labour. In: Fraser, D.M. & Cooper, M.A. eds. Myles textbook for midwives. 15th ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone, pp. 531–553.

Nahtigal, R., Mivšek, A.P., Njenić, G., Prelec, A., Skoberne, M. & Velepič, M., 2011. Kodeks etike za babice. Ljubljana: Sekcija medicinskih sester – babic Slovenije. Available at: http://www.sekcija-babic.si/files/Kodeks_etike_za_babice.pdf [30. 10. 2012].

Pajntar, M., 2004. Normalni porod. In: Pajntar, M. & Novak-Antolič, Ž. eds. Nosečnost in vodenje poroda. 2 izd. Ljubljana: Cankarjeva založba, pp. 136–173.

Walsh, D., 2007. Rhythms in the third stage of labour. In: Evidence-based care for normal labour and birth: a guide for midwives. New York: Routledge, 121–134.

Weeks, A., 2010. Postpartum haemorrhage. In: Kehoe, S., Neilson, J.P. & Norman, J.E. eds. Maternal and infant deaths: chasing millennium development goals 4 and 5. London: RCOG Press, pp. 85–98.

Westhoff, G., Cotter, A.M. & Tolosa, J.E., 2013. Prophylactic oxytocin for the third stage of labour to prevent postpartum haemorrhage. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 10, p. CD001808. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001808.pub2

World Health Organization - WHO. Third stage of labour: physiology and management. In: Education material for teachers of midwifery: midwifery education modules-managing postpartum haemorrhage. 2nd ed., pp. 21–37. Available at: http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2008/9789241546669_1_eng.pdf [26. 3. 2012].

Zakon o pacientovih pravicah, 2008. Uradni list Republike Slovenije št. 15.

Zakšek, T., Drglin, Z., Mivšek, A.P., Šimnovec, I., Skubic, M. & Stanek Zidarič, T., 2008. Kompetence za osnovno babiško prakso. Obzornik zdravstvene nege, 42(3), pp. 215–220.

Železnik, D., Brložnik, M., Hajdarević, B.I., Dolinšek, M., Filej, B., Istenič, B., et al., 2008. Opredelitev poklicnih kompetenc v dejavnosti zdravstvene in babiške nege. In: Poklicne aktivnosti in kompetence v zdravstveni in babiški negi. Ljubljana: Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije – Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije, pp. 15–26.

Published

2015-06-27

How to Cite

Ramovš, P., Prelec, A., & Mivšek, A. P. (2015). Midwife’s responsibilities regarding placenta examination: the study of Slovenian maternity hospitals’doctrine. Slovenian Nursing Review, 49(2). https://doi.org/10.14528/snr.2015.49.2.41

Issue

Section

Professional article