Caring and Compassion in childbirth – Lessons to be learnt from postnatal care data ‘the authentic nature of caring: 7th International Normal Labour and Birth Conference

‘Group 1’
Title: Caring and Compassion in childbirth – Lessons to be learnt from postnatal care data ‘the authentic nature of caring’
Background: Having a positive birth experience is pivotal on the care received from midwives during labour (Larkin et al., 2012). Indeed, the care midwives provide to women and what is said by them is remembered for many years later (Bondas-Salonen, 1998). For some women, the maternity care they receive is excellent while for others it is extremely poor. The Department of Health (2012) in their recent vision and strategy for nurses’, midwives and care staff, entitled ‘Compassion in Practice’ recognises the dichotomy of care that exists and the importance of ‘putting the people we care for at the heart of everything we do’ (p. 9). The strategy is strongly underpinned by six fundamental values: care, compassion, competence, communication, courage and commitment. Following this guidance led by the Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ms Jane Cummings it is envisaged that this research on postnatal data may inform midwives about caring and compassion in intrapartum care.

Initially, Healy et al., (Unpublished PhD, 2012) provide a brief overview of their findings into women’s experiences of postnatal care. The main focus of this paper however, is to provide a further in-depth theoretical insight into the opposing care experiences of women in the postnatal period by utilising Martin Heidegger’s existential philosophical perspective on the modes of ‘Being’. These include ‘Being-with’ and his opposing concept of being in the everyday mode of the ‘they’. By applying these concepts to the findings of this research an explication of why midwives and other care staff may demonstrate acts of authentic or inauthentic midwifery care is provided.

Method Heideggerian, Hermeneutic phenomenology, using longitudinal, group and individual in-depth interviews of both primigravid and multigravid women
Results – Results of this in-depth research will be presented at the conference

Discussion - Healy et al., (Unpublished PhD, 2012) highlight that a woman’s experience of postnatal care is influenced by whether the postnatal carer discloses their inauthentic or authentic self. The existential nature of being human as emphasised by Heidegger (1962) therefore implies that this is similar for midwives who provide intrapartum care.

Conclusion – The findings of this study highlight that it is the authentic nature of postnatal care which matters to women. These findings may be applied to women during childbirth.

Statement on ethical matters related to the study: Ethical approval received prior to commencement of data collection