INMO Professional Development Centre Library Services - Midwifery Education
PDC course facilitator Aparna Shukla reports on some of the library resources supporting the
Art and Science of Antenatal Education programme
The Art and Science of Antenatal Education two-day programme
recently delivered in the Professional Development Centre was
extremely successful. The workshop prepared midwives to design
an effective antenatal education programme for expectant mothers
and fathers. The philosophy of this course is based on the
principles of adult learning and on the belief that antenatal education
is a health promotion activity. Participants were prepared
to encourage expectant parents to see themselves as competent
and able to make informed choices for themselves and for their
baby.
Participants reported enjoying the group work, prenatal yoga,
meditation and in particular learning from each other and developing
a new network of contacts. This workshop provided a very
active learning experience and activities like the labour practical
workstation and baby massage created a positive learning
environment.
Midwifery resources
The Professional Development Centre library service supports
all education programmes with reading lists and the latest
evidence-based research. The following are some examples of
guidelines and articles on the topics covered in the Art and Science
of Antenatal Education workshop.
- Health Service Executive (2012) National Infant Feeding Policy for
Maternity and Neonatal Services. The policy is based on WHO/
UNICEF Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative. It provides guidance on
supporting the initiation of breastfeeding, rooming in and babyled
feeding.
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2010) Antenatal
Care, NICE Clinical Guidance 62. The guideline offers best practice
advice on the care of healthy pregnant women. It places emphasis
on woman centred care and provides information on topics
such as adequate intake of Vitamin D, lifestyle considerations
and screening for infections among many others.
- Children in Scotland, NHS Lothian, National Childbirth Trust & West
Lothian Sure Start (2011) Dads2b Resource; A resource for professionals
providing antenatal education and support to fathers. This
resource was developed to assist expectant fathers to support
their partner through childbirth and to increase their skills and
confidence in caring for their baby.
- Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists and The National Childbirth Trust ‘Making normal
birth a reality; Consensus statement from the Maternity Care Working
Party – our shared views about the need to recognise, facilitate
and audit normal birth’ Normal Birth Consensus Statement. This
statement calls for a standard definition of normal birth in order
for normal birth rates to be compared with confidence.
- MacDonald C. What midwives need to know about baby massage.
Practising Midwife 2012; 15(8): S5-8. The article provides an introduction
to baby massage as well as outlining the benefits of
massage to the baby’s well-being.
- McNeilis M. Women’s experiences of care during labour in a midwifery
– led unit in the Republic of Ireland. Brit J Midwifery 2013;
21(9): 622-631. A study that explores women’s experiences of
midwifery led model of care during labour. Themes explored in
the articles include ‘homely atmosphere’ and ‘woman in control’.
- Bribiescas S. Yoga in Pregnancy. Int J Childbirth Ed 2013; 28(3):
99-102. An article that provides an overview of prenatal yoga
and how it can be of benefit to women during pregnancy.
- Svensson J, Barclay L, Cooke M. (Randomised-controlled trial of two
antenatal education programmes. Midwifery 2009; 25(2): 114-25.
This study compares two antenatal education programmes –
the existing programme in a maternity hospital in Sydney with
a new antenatal education programme which was development
after carrying out a needs assessment collected from expectant
and new parents.
- Ahldan I, Ahlehagen S, Dahlgren LO, Josefsson A. Parents' Expectations
About Participating in Antenatal Parenthood Education
Classes. J Perinatal Ed 2013; 21(1): 11-7. A study that investigates
parents’ expectations on antenatal education and how these
expectations are met.
How to access articles and guidelines
As an INMO member, you have access to hundreds of journals
as well as databases such as Intermid, Maternity and Infant Care
and Cinahl. To access, visit inmoprofessional.ie/Library and
then click on Nurse2Nurse. The front page of nurse2nurse has
links to the articles and guidelines mentioned above. If you need
further information or assistance from the Professional Development
Centre library services please call: 01 664 0614 or email:
library@inmo.ie.
