During our time together we will have hands-on experience in basic midwifery skills such as taking blood pressure and vital signs, checking a cervix, the art of palpation, ascertaining blood type and Rh, facilitating the newborn exam, etc...
These skills will come together and be practiced after graduation in your apprenticeship or clinical experiences.
We will study the following topics:
Conducting a Prenatal Visit
The Art of Palpation
Yoni Exams and Checking a Cervix
Pelvimetry
Understanding and Taking Blood Pressure
Checking Blood Type and Rh Factor
Blood Draws and IV Skills
The Midwife's Bag...Birth Tools and Equipment
Preventing and Assessing Tears
Breastfeeding Skills
I have set aside some time to introduce an integrated model of practicing skills and handling variations and complications. We will look specifically at:
Severe Pain in Labor
Hypertension
Fear and/or Emotional Fracture in Labor
Emergency Childbirth
Bleeding in Labor
Cord Prolapse
Shoulder Dystocia
Surprise Twins or Breech
Nuchal Cord
Postpartum Hemorrhage
Manual removal of the placenta and bi-manual compression
The Midwifery Model of Neonatal Resuscitation
Administration of Oxygen
Recognizing and Treating Shock
It is my hope that by the end of this class you will be able to handle these situations and not allow the fear of any of these circumstances to direct your practice or actions.