Facilitator: Jane Houston
Join us at this pre-conference event with colleagues from the World Health Organization (WHO) celebrating the worldwide contribution of midwives.
Welcome and introduction from the World Health Organization (WHO) by Frida Berg with video greetings from
- Chief Nursing Officer: Dr Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu
- Director General: Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus
We will then explore the following topics:
- Evidence to reality in 6 countries, strategic findings (Clara Fischer and Prof. Lorena Binfa)
- Evidence to reality – From STAGE – recommendations on midwifery and how to take this forward (Justine Le Lez)
- Essential Childbirth care course and the Interprofessional Midwifery Education Toolkit (Dr Florence West and Indie Kaur)
- What’s new in WHO? (Dr Emily McWhirter)
Following a Question and Answer period, Dr Anshu Banerjee will provide closing remarks from WHO.
Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OAqCOOGfz0
Speaker: Susana Ku
Facilitator: Paola Wilkin
We are a growing transnational collective consisting of members from the Global South and North, including midwives, doulas, scholars, educators, and mothers calling for an expansion of midwifery research to include what we coin “Critical Midwifery Studies”. We envision a Critical Midwifery Studies that uses three principles: 1.engagement and collaboration with rapidly developing fields within critical theory, 2.midwifery-led, 3. self-critical (developing ways to implement critical theory into practice). Systemic injustice is a threat to sexual, reproductive, maternal, and newborn health, hence the application of the art and science of midwifery. The effects of this injustice are reflected in the high maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates in formerly colonized countries of the Global South, in marginalized communities of the Global North, and in underprivileged classes around the world. We aim for an open discussion about midwifery research, education, practice, policy, and regulations, that are largely White and Western-centric, using positivistic and universalist principles of biomedical research. Although we recognize the global struggle for legitimacy that midwives face as they work to make their models of care more accessible, this coincides with pressure to engage with dominant and dominating paradigms, using language and approaches that are valued by regimes of power.
Our presentation will include a summary of our experience launching the first bilingual summer school for Critical Midwifery Studies held on July 2022, with delegates around the world. We will explain how our collective planned this activity including principles of equity and accessibility https://tinyurl.com/yc55dbw6.
Recording: https://youtu.be/TKrSfdmC9nM
Speaker: Sarah Smits
Facilitator: Liz McNeill
Sharing knowledge and stories to promote the work of The Midwife Project. A project to support the preservation of Mayan midwifery wisdom and bridge the gap between the knowledge of the younger generations of clinically trained midwives and the elder traditional midwives. Honouring and understanding the importance of both the knowledge of modern and traditional midwifery practices to best serve their community.
Lake Atitlan, Guatemala has a prevalent population of Mayan people still practicing Mayan cosmology and ways of life.
Due to cultural practices and barriers to accessing the only hospital around the lake, many women birth at home with Mayan midwives. Yet the Mayan midwifes, some of whom have been practicing midwifery for 40 years, report how births are becoming more complicated and welcome the opportunity to learn different skills to support their communities growing needs.
The Midwife project aim to bridge this gap. A 6 month training program was initiated in 2022 whoch offers the opportunity for the elder midwives to learn clinical skills and for the younger generation of midwives to learn the traditional Mayan practices.
Every week more and more women, some as young as 12 who have had the calling to become midwives join the project. It is an important opportunity to strengthen the community of Mayan midwives, so they can better support their community.
Recording: https://youtu.be/mILlyDhuadE
Speaker: Brenda Araujo Salas
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
A partir de las ilustraciones elaboradas por Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, una joven madre del pueblo Matsigenka, perteneciente a la amazonía peruana, describiremos las prácticas tradicionales en salud materna que aún se mantienen vigentes en las comunidades más alejadas de la vida moderna. Se describirán las concepciones y prácticas culturales durante la primera menstruación, los cuidados en el embarazo, la atención del parto por parte de la familia y parteras, y los cuidados en el posparto.
Conocer gráficamente las prácticas en salud materna a través de la mirada de una mujer del mismo pueblo, nos permite visualizar detalles significativos que se dan en la los cuidados de las mujeres gestantes y los recién nacidos. La importancia de este material es educativa y en favor de una mejora en la atención del parto para fundar la comprensión y el respeto a las costumbres y participación de las parteras y especialistas tradicionales de salud, ya que, actualmente, gran parte de las comunidades amazónicas tienen acceso a establecimientos de salud, pero estos ofrecen servicios sin pertinencia cultural. Por otro lado, el material también permite el reconocimiento de la importancia de los conocimientos de las mujeres Matsigenka en los niños, niñas y adolescentes.
English:
From the illustrations elaborated by Yaquemilsa Matiashi Vicente, a young mother of the Matsigenka people, belonging to the Peruvian Amazon, we will describe the traditional practices in maternal health that are still in force in the communities farthest away from modern life. We will describe the cultural conceptions and practices during the first menstruation, pregnancy care, childbirth care by the family and midwives, and postpartum care.
The graphic presentation of maternal health practices through the eyes of a woman from the same village allows us to visualize significant details in the care of pregnant women and newborns. The importance of this material is educational and in favor of an improvement in childbirth care, in order to establish understanding and respect for the customs and participation of midwives and traditional health specialists, since, at present, most Amazonian communities have access to health facilities, but these offer services without cultural relevance. On the other hand, the material also allows the recognition of the importance of Matsigenka women’s knowledge in children and adolescents.
Recording: https://youtu.be/voZyHiTevvw
Speakers: Cindy Farley, Jo Lethermon and Emily Western
Facilitators: Ally Anderson & Kinanthi Lebdawicaksaputri(shadow)
Abstract:
Moxibustion refers to the practice of burning the herb “moxa”- mugwort or Artemistae argyi – for its health properties. This practice originated from traditional Chinese medicine. Its most common use in childbearing populations is to assist in turning a breech presenting fetus to vertex prior to labor. This practice has an abundance of evidence attesting to its effectiveness with limited or no harm, and yet it is not often used, in part, due to providers’ lack of understanding. Hypnobirthing is a set of techniques that aim to give women and birthing people a more serene and joyful birthing experience by minimizing the pain and stress commonly associated with labor. Hypnobirthing involves training related to physiologic birth processes, relaxation techniques, self-hypnosis, visualization, light touch, and breathwork. It is taught in classes or workshops and can be supplemented with audio recordings and reading materials. It does not guarantee a completely pain-free labor, however, studies show that many women who use hypnobirthing techniques report having a less painful and more positive birthing experience. Sustaining midwifery mastery of alternative and complementary therapies that provide options to our patients requires education and support. Two Georgetown midwifery students will share the latest information about these therapies in the 9th annual Georgetown University Student Café at the VIDM. Integrative therapies offer a more wholistic approach to health care that combines techniques from several disciplines to be used in lieu of or in conjunction with medical treatments depending on the conditions and patient preference.
Recording: https://youtu.be/JCJzjLVHoN8
