Enabling Learning in Nursing and Midwifery Practice - Essay Example

Midwifery learning package Physical well-being After delivering, there are a few things that mothers must do in order to remain physically fit. Sleep is one of the essential aspects that mother must put into consideration after delivering. The new mother must ensure that she sleeps and rest to cope with the pressures of having a new baby. A mother can only take a nap when the baby is asleep. Also, it is essential for mothers to create leisure time of her daily chores whenever the baby is asleep. Leisure practices uplift the mental state of mothers. This paper outlines a midwifery learning package in the early postnatal duration, health care principles and midwifery philosophies. New mothers should adopt a new diet immediately after delivery. The diet should give new mothers more energy to sustain their daily chores. In addition, new mothers also need food that will help them heal faster. The diet should contain a lot of fluids to replace the fluids that they lose in their bodily functions. The new mothers need should feed on a balanced diet to keep them healthy and their babies. They also need to eat a lot of fibre to prevent constipation. The mother should also monitor the colour and smell of her vagina discharge. After delivery, the vagina discharges bloody discharge that is pink in colour. In case there is a change in colour to red, mothers should consult a doctor immediately. Also, mothers should also be on the lookout for any clots or smelly bleeding. If the new mother has stitches, they may experience pain and soreness for the first few days. As a result, new mothers should use painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and soreness. In addition, new mothers may also consider adding an ice pack to the sore area. If the mother feels any excessive discomfort, it is wise to seek advice from a midwife or her doctor. The new mother should be aware of the period she should wait before having sex. This is important as some mothers may want to get back to their usual love life after giving birth. A new mother should be able to comfortably have sex after six weeks. By this time all the soreness and bleeding around her vagina has disappeared. However, a woman may become pregnant even before this period ends. Contraceptives should be considered before the woman is ready to have sex again. This will mean that the woman has enough time to nurture her baby before she can have another one. Contraception also means that the mother will have enough time to recover from the stress of giving birth. For new mothers, a postnatal check-up is necessary to monitor on her progress. The post natal check-up is recommended after six weeks. However, a mother may feel like she needs to be checked up before this time. If this happens the mother may consider calling for the services of a midwife. The midwife can check up on the new mothers and recommend a visit to a doctor or medication if necessary. The check-up is very important to both the new mother and the child to check on their progress. The check-up may discover any unusual occurrence or infection which is easily treated if detected early. Breast feeding confidence New mothers may suffer a confidence crisis after giving birth. The confidence of a new mother must come from within. This implies that the mother must get used to the sight, smell and sounds made by her baby. All these factors help the new mother to feed her baby perfectly and the care of the needs of the baby. The smell of the baby is essential in feeding babies since it sticks with the mothers immediately they touch their new-born babies. The mother must watch the baby and observe their behaviour when they are hungry. It is not advisable to feed the baby on a fixed schedule. Mothers should note that after the baby feeds, the body secretes more milk for the baby. This should array the fears that many new mothers have about not being able to feed the baby comprehensively. The baby will also have a way of informing the mother when it’s hungry or thirsty so the mother does not have to worry. The mother must avoid worrying about her ability to breast feed. The baby’s stomach is very tiny after birth. Many mothers worry that their breast milk may not be enough for the baby and have doubts on how to feed the baby. However, it is important to note that advice can help you overcome this doubt. The new mother may consider calling a midwife and get all her questions answered. This will make her calm and also increase her confidence to feed. A newborn has the ability to control the amount of milk she consumes. The mother should believe that the baby is able to feed itself. Thus, knowing such facts increases the confidence of new mothers. For a new mother it is necessary to sleep and rest for 6 to 8 hours. Confidence to breastfeed may be affected by physical stress. Therefore, if a new mother is tired or sleepy she might not be able to breast feed. For a new mother to be able to rest properly, it is important to reduce consumption of stimulants. One way of making time for rest is sleeping when the baby sleeps. The mother may also consider getting help from a relative or hire someone. The relative may help the mother to avoid stress. Many new mothers suffer from post natal stress due to lack of rest. The mother may also consider having micro naps during the day. Breast feeding is a very important for the future of the baby. Breastfeeding ensures that the baby gets enough nutrients for growth. Breast feeding is also essential because it boosts the immunity of the baby. It also helps reduce of autoimmune disorders that the baby may develop later in life. In addition, breastfeeding helps increase the bond between a mother and child. A mother who breastfeeds creates a strong bond that they share throughout their lives. Women who are unable to breast feed should consult their doctor on the best way to handle this condition. The mothers should also consider changing their bras to make them more comfortable. Some mothers may feel shy to breastfeed when someone else is around. It is important for them to remember that breastfeeding is natural. With time, they will get comfortable when breastfeeding. Reference list Brown, S. J., Davey, M. A., & Bruinsma, F. J. (2005). Womens views and experiences of postnatal hospital care in the Victorian Survey of Recent Mothers 2000. Midwifery, 21(2), 109-126. McLachlan, H. L., Forster, D. A., Yelland, J., Rayner, J., & Lumley, J. (2008). Is the organisation and structure of hospital postnatal care a barrier to quality care? Findings from a state-wide review in Victoria, Australia. Midwifery, 24(3), 358-370. Top of Form West, S., Clark, T., & Jasper, M. (2007). Enabling learning in nursing and midwifery practice: A guide for mentors. Chichester, England: John Wiley & Sons. Bottom of Form Read More