WORKING AS A COORDINATOR MIDWIFE IN A TERTIARY ...

suggested they did a pH 9 on the caesar table and, if it was good, allow her to go
back and labour and if it’s appalling then section her. It was fine. She went back
to her room and gave birth normally a few hours later. I was happy with my
decision because I’d based it on sound midwifery knowledge.
Harman (2007) writes about the authenticity of Dasein and “if you are still looking for
someone or something else to tell you what to do, you have not yet reached the point of
resoluteness” (p.65). Jane was busy and had her own caseload but despite all these
circumstances, she recognized a situation was unfolding which instinctively felt wrong to
her. She did not know the registrar’s practice and she knew the consultant was likely to
be overtired from the hourly phone calls made to her by the registrar. Jane was resolute
enough to use her midwifery knowledge and leap in to this situation to challenge the
consultant and anaesthetist.
She used communication which personalized her feelings and was forthright. Jane reveals
her focus:
In this instance I’m advocating for this young girl who could have ended up with
a scar on her uterus unnecessarily which had implications for future pregnancies.
She would have ended up staying at the hospital for three to four days and her
9 pH is a fetal blood test. This is a transvaginal procedure performed by an obstetrician when the woman is
in active labour to determine the fetal acid – base balance. An abnormal result suggests the fetus is poorly
oxygenated and contributes to determining whether labour proceeds or urgent delivery is indicated.
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