A midwife is present at every stage of a woman's life. She deals with sexual education, prevention of women's diseases, counseling in the field of family planning, motherhood and fatherhood. He supports the woman during childbirth and in taking care of the newborn baby. Find out who can use the services of a midwife and on what basis?
Midwifeis a freelance specialist in women's he althcare. The midwife has an appropriate medical education and professional competence confirmed by a university diploma and the right to practice.
A midwife's competence includes not only assisting with the birth, as many people mistakenly believe. The role of the midwife is much greater. The midwife takes care of:
- prevention of female diseases,
- education in the field of family planning methods,
- diagnosis of pregnancy and its management - monitoring, referring to necessary tests,
- care for a physiological pregnant woman,
- lactation counseling,
- conducting physiological labor and puerperium,
- care for the newborn and education in the field of care for the newborn,
- nutrition counseling for pregnant women and newborns,
- education in the field of preventive vaccinations,
- taking delivery or making sudden decisions about the birth of your doctor while your doctor is away.
Midwife only for pregnant women?
The midwife provides her services not only in the field of pregnancy, delivery and puerperium, but also in the care of the newborn baby up to the second month of life. He is a woman he alth specialist, he can provide nursing services to gynecologically and oncologically ill women. She deals with he alth promotion, sexual education, protection of motherhood and fatherhood.
The midwife is available for mature women who are enteringmenopauseand girls who are just starting puberty. A midwife can therefore be present in a woman's life at every stage of her life. Every woman has the right to use the services of a family midwife at the National He alth Fund. The meetings do not have to be about pregnancy and its course, such as the basics of hygiene, pregnancy planning, puberty or menopause. You should ask about an appointment with a midwifeclinic.
How do I choose a midwife?
The selection of a primary care midwife is made by submittingmidwife selection declaration . The midwife may be changed twice a year if the previous choice was unsuccessful. Each subsequent change of the midwife will end up with the issuance of a bill by the National He alth Fund for the amount of PLN 80. The declaration may include the name of a midwife who does not see a given clinic.
When selecting a midwife who will be pregnant or delivering the baby, you should only use the staff available in the hospital. In a small hospital, the choice is rather small, in larger hospitals you can ask about this possibility. In a private hospital, it is possible to select a midwife who may additionally participate in the delivery. However, this is a paid option.
Women can also use the services of a private midwife, the so-calledindependent midwife . Before giving birth, ask about this service. The independent midwife assists with the birth and supports the birthing child by learning breathing techniques and by using non-pharmacological pain relief techniques (TENS). A private midwife helps to latch the baby to the breast after delivery and can also manage the entire pregnancy. Unfortunately, there are not many independent midwives, it is also a paid service.
Maternity speci alties:
- Midwife specialist in he alth promotion and he alth education
- Midwife, specialist in neonatal nursing
- Midwife specialist in family nursing
- Midwife specialist in maternity nursing
- Midwife specialist in organization and management
- Midwife, specialist in epidemiological nursing
- Midwife, specialist in gynecological nursing
The midwife is not the doctor's subordinate. Both the doctor and the midwife work closely together, but it is an equal cooperation. In emergency situations, the midwife is forced to take over some of the doctor's duties and has professional competence for this