WORKING AS A COORDINATOR MIDWIFE IN A TERTIARY ...

Irene was skilled and able to view the whole situation with clarity which Draycott,
Winter, Croft and Barnfield (2006) explain occurs when leaders achieve a “helicopter
view” (p.95) in an emergency situation. Irene knew how to respond however she also
needed to calm the doctor who was immobilized by anger. She recognized the importance
of being clear headed and did not enter into the emotions of the situation, instead she
prioritized her actions.
It took courage for the LMC to commence chanting to encourage the baby to breathe,
within the medicalised caesarian section operating theatre environment. Downe (2004)
explains how some home birth midwives will “call the baby” with the belief that at the
point of birth “the spirit of the baby has to decide to stay or go” (p.x). Irene reveals this
midwifery ‘knowing’ yet also holds the tension of how such chanting might impact on
the obstetrician. She realizes that he was the one who ‘at the end’ saved this baby’s life.
The woman had reluctantly transferred from choosing to birth her baby at home, where
she had empowerment and control, to being transported to an emergency life saving
surgical environment. Irene gave the woman and her LMCs the opportunity to play the
complementary roles they believed important to address the spirituality of the situation.
As the coordinator she found herself at the inter-section of different world views, where
all had the safety of the mother and baby at heart. There was tension in holding
possibilities open for the woman to still have aspects of her desired birth experience
amidst this emergency situation. This midwife reflects:
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