This year the day was celebrated under the theme Midwives with Women: Celebrate, demonstrate, mobilise, unite \u2013 Our time is now.<\/p>\n
Midwives have been helping with home births for decades and still do home births for those who choose to give birth at home.<\/p>
The GCN had the opportunity to talk to two midwives from Great Expectations Midwives about their work and how they are assisting pregnant women during the pandemic.<\/p>\n
Sisters Sarah Jones and Elrika Knoetze gave insight into how midwives work.<\/p>\n
\u201cMidwives are specialists in normal pregnancy and normal births.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are qualified and undergo formal training on all aspects of pregnancy and birth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe work with obstetricians and gynaecologists so that if anything outside of normal presents during the pregnancy or birth, we have someone to refer the client to,\u201d shared Sarah.<\/p>\n
She said as midwives they work very closely with the expecting moms and guide them through the pregnancy journey.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe see our clients at regular intervals during the pregnancy which increases as the pregnancy progresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point of these visits is to monitor the pregnancy so that we pick up any complications timeously, as well as to give health education as required and to get to know the client.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are then present during the labour and birth.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are then available to the client for assistance with the baby and breastfeeding until the baby is six weeks old,\u201d said Sarah.<\/p>\n
The GCN asked Sarah and Elrika how they are helping mommies-to-be during this difficult time as hospitals are under strict regulations.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe way we work has not been affected that much by Covid-19, except for the hospital restrictions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is beneficial in these times to have a midwife as we can still be of support to expecting mommies throughout the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are also able to offer the option of home births if the client is low risk and would like to give birth at home, therefore, limiting their exposure to hospitals,\u201d said Elrika.<\/p>\n
She said if expecting moms are worried about being in hospital having a midwife is something they can look into.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs midwives we also have a more personal relationship with our clients and, therefore, are available to answer questions or alleviate anxieties as and when they come up.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother way of offering assistance during this time is that midwives do home visits after the baby is born.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis allows moms to be discharged from hospital earlier and, therefore, decreases their hospital stay,\u201d said Elrika.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:<\/span><\/p>\n Parents-to-be get some helpful tips on the pregnancy journey<\/a><\/p>\n Consuming alcohol is unsafe during pregnancy<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She said the pandemic has not affected them too much in how they work, but they had to make safety measure adjustments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have not be affected too much as midwives.<\/p>\n \u201cThe only thing that has changed is that we limit the number of people present at consultations and births.<\/p>\n \u201cWe also wear masks during consultations and births.<\/p>\n \u201cHowever, everything else is the same,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way we manage clients has not changed.<\/p>\n \u201cCovid-19 has changed the amount of stress in a global sense and, therefore, we have found that clients are carrying further in their pregnancy than we\u2019ve had previously and sometimes the labours are longer.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is in innate response as stress delays the normal hormonal effects of pregnancy and birth.<\/p>\n \u201cSo maybe it has changed because we\u2019ve had to learn to be more patient,\u201d said Elrika.<\/p>\n The sisters said it\u2019s possible to still have a wonderful pregnancy journey even during a pandemic and midwives can assist in that journey.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a very stressful and unknown situation for all.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we as midwives hope to do is to support and help mommies-to-be as best we can in the circumstances we find ourselves in.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are there to support women in the decisions they need to make and assist them to still have an empowering birthing experience despite the pandemic.<\/p>\n \u201cWomen were made to grow their babies and birth their babies. This is still possible even in this pandemic as long as we feel safe and supported throughout.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is our aim,\u201d said Sarah.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n * Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Dear reader,<\/em><\/p>\n As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as \u201cfake news\u201d) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.<\/em><\/p>\n Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za<\/a>) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za<\/a>).<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Also follow us on:<\/p>\n
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