Title: Arte de la Partería Indígena: Resistencias, desafíos y continuidades
Speaker: Tania Pariona Tarqui
Facilitator: Paloma Terra
Los objetivos de este mapeo son: identificar organizaciones de parteras indígenas, además de delinear la situación en la que se encuentran y las experiencias que se han generado cada país, acorde a su contexto histórico y aspectos legales. Finalmente, indicar las buenas prácticas, recomendaciones y retos señalados por las organizaciones de parteras de cada país.
Uno de los elementos relevantes del mapeo, es las diferencias que existen entre el ejercicio de la partería y la relación con el Estado, esto de acuerdo al nivel organizativo alcanzado por los grupos de parteras y los avances legales en el reconocimiento de la misma. Por ejemplo, algunas parteras en sus países presentan un estado de sobrevivencia por el poco o nulo reconocimiento de los pueblos originarios y la partería indígena, en otros casos por su nivel de organización hay parteras indígenas que en sus países exigen autonomía al Estado.
Sin embargo, en todos los países se dan prácticas de control, desprestigio y criminalización. Esto realza la importancia de fortalecer las organizaciones de parteras y de los pueblos originarios para la construcción de propuestas desde los sistemas de salud indígenas y la articulación horizontal con los Estados.
Como parte de sus recomendaciones se destaca la necesidad de fortalecer el tejido organizativo entre las parteras tanto a nivel nacional como en la región, el politizar la lucha por el respeto a las parteras y todas las mujeres como sujetos de derechos para que puedan tomar decisiones informadas sobre su cuerpo, su maternidad y la atención del parto desde su propia tradición y la necesidad del cuidado de las abuelas parteras que viven en situaciones vulnerables como garante de la continuidad generacional para el cuidado de las mujeres y comunidades de los pueblos indígenas.
Recording: https://youtu.be/zuIlj3va4E4
Title: Biomechanics for birth: New learning & insights for practice: The 3 R’s
Speaker: Molly O’Brien
Facilitator: Linda Wylie
Midwifery work is wide ranging. In essence we are public health practitioners, protecting, maintaining and enhancing the health and wellbeing of women and their families. As skilled practitioners we seek to understand and mitigate myriad factors that contribute to ill health while aiming to support and optimise birth physiology as per our code of proficiency.
Specifically, the presentation focuses on labour dystocia and the midwifery skill of recognising when birth goes awry using the art and science of watchful attendance. It looks at ways to support physiology to reduce difficulties during the birth process and seeks to resolve mechanical difficulties by optimising physiology including the use of biomechanical techniques.
This presentation highlights areas of midwifery training and education that hinder understanding of anatomy and physiology in relation to the birth process and the baby’s journey through the pelvis. It examines the impact the dominant biomedical model of care has on midwifery practice, the profession as a whole and the women who use the service.
Recording: youtube.com/watch?v=FVN63zUtXXI
Speaker: Margaret Jowitt
Facilitator: Adetoro Adegoke
In ancient times Hippocrates considered that at the appointed hour the fetus put its feet against the fundus of the uterus and pushed but for the last 500 years the baby has been relegated to being a passenger in the story of birth. In the 21st century it is time to consider how material and structural remodelling of the uterus and cervix in the last four weeks of pregnancy unleash the body’s ability to help the birthing baby find the best way through the pelvis. At crowning, the fetus activates his mother’s fetal ejection reflex to release oxytocin and complete his journey. The mother and fetus need to move instinctively to enable each to act on the other to effect a straightforward birth.
Being with women throughout labour, midwives are ideally placed to advance scientific knowledge of how birth works. They observe the evolving hormonal milieu as labour progresses, they see how the mother’s mind and body work in concert with her fetus to provide a smooth passage. They recognise the importance of the social, emotional and physical environment in facilitating or impeding birth. A better understanding of the mechanobiology of birth will avoid aggressive medical and surgical intervention which can disrupt the transition to confident motherhood.
The art of midwifery is to educate and inspire the mother to trust the power of her body and her baby to work together in birth, and also to recognise when more help is needed to achieve a safe birth.
Recording: https://youtu.be/K5xj_GBnhVY
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: Siti Fatimah and Andari Wuri Astuti
Facilitator: Raissa Manika Purwaningtias
Abstract:
Background: Teenage decision-making ability is a crucial stage of development. Marriage and adolescent pregnancy have an effect on decision-making ability. Inappropriate decision-making leads to the emergence of health problems, delays in getting health services, and an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, all of which have negative effects on maternal and neonatal health. Objective: This study aims to determine the decision-making experiences of adolescents who marry at a young age during pregnancy and childbirth. Method: This qualitative investigation employed a generic exploratory methodology. This study’s sample was selected using homogenous purposive sampling to include five pairs of adolescents who were married and had children younger than one year. The research analysis was conducted according to the Collaizi step and analyzed using NVivo. Result: There are four major themes that emerge from the research findings: prior knowledge, skills, and preparedness to become parents, decision making, obstacles, and expectations. Teenagers who marry at a young age and have children younger than one year lack the knowledge, skills, and maturity to become parents, and are therefore incapable of making decisions. Parents and spouses have a significant impact on decision-making because they are perceived to have superior knowledge, skills, and experience. Conclusion: During pregnancy and childbirth, decision-making autonomy is influenced by a lack of parental knowledge, skills, and preparation. It is expected that training and education that involves family decision-makers will increase the knowledge, skills, and readiness of couples to become parents. It is also expected to increase participation.
Recording: Not available
Speakers: Rowsan Ara, Joy Kemp and Nabila Purno
Facilitator: Linda Wylie
Abstract:
Bangladesh is one of the most climate-change affected countries. Regular natural disasters, extreme heat, air-pollution and outbreaks of vector-borne diseases put thousands of pregnant women at risk, particularly in hard-to-reach locations with limited access to healthcare services. Midwives play a crucial role in addressing these challenges; they are often the first point-of-contact for women in the healthcare settings and can orient women about birth preparedness, disaster preparedness and in general protecting their health from known environmental and climate risks. The Government of Bangladesh has a workforce of 7,230 midwives. In 2023, a training manual on the Climate-Change Impacts on Sexual and Reproductive Health in Bangladesh was developed by CCHPU and UNFPA then reviewed with national experts. Existing curriculum review found commendable inclusion of gender equality, reproductive health and rights, and disaster management but weak content on the intersection between climate change and health. A three-day Training of Trainers (ToT) program was thus developed, targeting 20 Nursing and Midwifery faculty, serving as a catalyst to disseminate essential knowledge and equip educators with the tools to integrate climate change perspectives into their teaching methodologies. A series of cascade training ensued, with a day-long training for final-year Midwifery students and a specialized session for 50 practicing midwives across various health facilities. These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring a health-workforce well-versed in addressing climate-change impacts, particularly concerning sexual and reproductive health. This content must now be integrated into nursing and midwifery curricula across all education levels.
Speaker: Margaret Jowitt
Facilitator: Caroline Maringa
Abstract: The uterus is a wonder of bioengineering. If only we could respect its mechanism better, we could encourage more babies to be born into the hands of a midwife, who can then swiftly transfer them into the arms of their mother. Within the space of a few hours, the uterus is transformed from a safe haven, a strong fortress for a vulnerable fetus – into the means of their transition to the outside world. Since the mid twentieth century, birth workers have been given a one dimensional view of uterine activity – that contractions start from the fundus and push downwards. Managing labour using this flawed model has tethered women to the obstetric bed, encouraged overuse of synthetic oxytocin and denied the uterus its full directive power. It’s time to think again. We need to learn to respect the uterus, to respect its owner and to respect its occupant, the baby, who also plays an active part in birth. Fortunately, we can rehumanise childbirth with a far more accurate user-friendly model – The Womb’s a Balloon.
Recording: https://youtu.be/DmRj1vII8qk
Speaker: Tracy Donegan
Facilitator: Portia Khanyile Shanduka
Abstract:
In recent years, the integration of light therapy into healthcare has emerged as a groundbreaking innovation. This novel approach, also known as photobiomodulation (PBM,Red Light Therapy, LLLT) harnesses the therapeutic potential of specific wavelengths of light (Red, Blue and Near Infrared) to accelerate wound healing, reduce the risk of infections and enhance overall well-being for mothers. The benefits of light therapy in postpartum care are multifaceted. PBM has been shown to alleviate acute pain by activating TGF-B1 and TRPV 1 in the cells promoting a more comfortable recovery without medication. The non-invasive, quick acting, harmless nature of light therapy makes it an important option for mothers seeking alternative methods to manage pain without relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions. Light therapy stimulates cellular repair and regeneration, expediting the healing of perineal tissues/cesarean incision, reducing inflammation and supports faster healing. This accelerates recovery from labor and birth contributing to a quicker return to normal functionality and comfort. PBM increases cellular energy (ATP) through the mitrochondria in our cells therefore reducing postpartum depletion. This abstract briefly explores the transformative potential of light therapy in postpartum care, emphasizing its holistic approach to recovery.
Recording: https://youtu.be/8K29SqDP4uc
