WORKING AS A COORDINATOR MIDWIFE IN A TERTIARY ...

Past experience has taught her the reality that even if she is invited into a room and gains
the knowledge she wants, events and outcomes remain unpredictable, however some
knowledge is better than none.
She reveals her veiled dilemmas in these situations of wanting to know what is
happening, wanting to be sure of safe practice but also wanting to uphold the partnership
and trust which exists between the midwife and her client. Irene sounds as though she is
teetering on the edge of a precipice knowing she needs to have more information to be
assured of safe practice, not knowing how long to wait, what is safe, what tactic to utilize
to gain the information she needs and knowing even then, armed with the knowledge she
wants, she may encounter an outcome which is unexpected and over which she has no
control. She is dependent on her communication skills to acquire the information she
needs to be prepared for the next step of the woman’s journey. Her journey, the woman’s,
and the midwife’s journeys may become inextricably intertwined if Irene discovers a
situation where her support is required. All she can do subsequently is coordinate
whatever situation unfolds. She goes on to explain:
Most stories would be along the same lines where I am invited into a room where
I have had very little prior involvement and find a situation where I see practice
which is not good. It is often situations like women being made to push when they
shouldn’t be, especially when epidurals are on board so then unnecessary
intervention occurs.
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