Speakers: Salamatu Umar, Hayat Imaam Gomma & Mardiya Adamu
Facilitator: Jane Houston
Background: Globally, water birth is viewed with mixed opinions. While some countries endorse it for benefits like pain relief and a soothing birthing environment, others are cautious due to safety concerns and limited evidence on long-term outcomes.
Aim: This study assessed perceptions of water birth among reproductive-age women in Gombe State, Nigeria, focusing on perceived benefits and risks.
Method: A sequential explanatory mixed-method design was used, incorporating multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected from 418 respondents via self-structured and online questionnaires. In-depth interviews were conducted in the qualitative phase using convenience sampling. Ethical guidelines were strictly followed. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.
Result: Findings indicated that 77.25% of participants held a positive view of water birth, with 80.9% believing it enhances the birth experience. However, 54.8% identified neonatal water aspiration as a potential risk. Qualitative results highlighted mixed perceptions: while some participants were positive and interested in trying water birth, others remained skeptical, expressing concerns about its safety.
Conclusion: The study found a generally positive perception of water birth among reproductive-age women, though concerns about neonatal risks such as water aspiration and maternal infection persisted.
Recommendations: Community outreach programs are essential to address misconceptions and skepticism engaging community leaders to foster positive perceptions and Support from NGOs for advocacy, funding, and awareness-raising to enhance water birth’s acceptance and safety in Gombe State.
Speaker: Carla Godoy
Facilitator: Susana Ku
Las parteras desempeñan un papel fundamental en la salud y el bienestar de nuestras comunidades, pero han enfrentan desafÃos como la falta de reconocimiento, apoyo institucional y oportunidades laborales. Es esencial fortalecer su rol, generar empleo y garantizar el respeto por su labor.
Más que un oficio, ser partera es una vocación que implica acompañar a las madres en momentos cruciales con profesionalismo y seguridad. Sin embargo, a pesar de su importancia histórica, muchas veces no reciben el reconocimiento que merecen. Para cambiar esta realidad, es clave impulsar oportunidades laborales en hospitales, clnicas y programas comunitarios de salud.
La solución pasa por la organización, la creación de redes de apoyo y la búsqueda de alianzas con el sector público y privado. Al unir fuerzas, es posible reducir el desempleo dentro de la comunidad de parteras y asegurar que su labor sea vista como indispensable para el bienestar social.
El camino hacia un mayor reconocimiento y estabilidad laboral requiere compromiso y trabajo conjunto. La unión de las parteras es su mayor fortaleza para lograr que su profesión sea valorada y esencial en la sociedad.
….
Midwives play a fundamental role in the health and well-being of our communities, but they have faced challenges such as a lack of recognition, institutional support, and job opportunities. It is essential to strengthen their role, create jobs, and ensure respect for their work.
More than a profession, being a midwife is a vocation that involves accompanying mothers in crucial moments with professionalism and confidence. However, despite their historical importance, they often do not receive the recognition they deserve. To change this reality, it is key to promote job opportunities in hospitals, clinics, and community health programs.
The solution lies in organization, the creation of support networks, and the pursuit of partnerships with the public and private sectors. By joining forces, it is possible to reduce unemployment within the midwifery community and ensure that their work is seen as indispensable to social well-being.
The path to greater recognition and job stability requires commitment and collaborative work. The unity of midwives is their greatest strength in ensuring that their profession is valued and essential in society.
Check time in your location https://bit.ly/VIDM25-session-20
Speaker: Cindy Farley, Katie Booan and Chastity Burchuk
Facilitator: Caroline Maringa (Nyambura)
Ankyloglossia, commonly known as tongue-tie, is an unusually short, thickened, or tight band of tissue tethering the tongue and restricting its movement. It is estimated to affect 4-10% of newborns. In the newborn period, it can be associated with breastfeeding difficulties, often diagnosed when nipple pain develops during nursing. Longer term consequences can include eating and speech problems. Other oral structures can be affected by tight tissues, such as cheeks and lips, contributing to limited oral range of motion.
Ankyloglossia occurs on a continuum from mild to severe, and therefore, management options vary. Tincture of time and instruction on latch and positioning during breastfeeding can be all that is needed for the mildest cases. Other options can include physical therapy and massage to the oral structures of the infant. Frenulectomy is the surgical release of the tight tissue and is accomplished with a small incision. There has been an increase in the diagnosis of ankyloglossia and frenulectomy, raising concerns regarding overdiagnosis and unnecessary surgery.
Midwives are intimately involved in the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding and the promotion of maternal and infant health, particularly in the early weeks after birth. This presentation will review diagnostic criteria and the latest evidence regarding ankyloglossia and will equip the midwife with assessment skills and management options to offer the parents of the infant with ankyloglossia. This is the 10th Annual Georgetown Student Cafe presented by midwife students at Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States.
Speaker: Judith Mercer
Facilitator: Ally Anderson
This presentation will explain how sustained umbilical cord circulation from placental transfusion after birth facilitates a large auto-transfusion from the placenta to the infant that holds potential for saving babies lives. This transfer of blood provides an innate force within the newborn’s body enhancing blood flow and perfusion, essential for normal growth, development, and regeneration. High progesterone levels, prime the body to receive blood at this time. Enhanced blood volume causes high pulmonary artery pressure for approximately the first 10 post-birth hours likely driving maximum perfusion throughout the whole body. The enhanced blood volume floods the newborn’s brainstem and other organs, prevents hypovolemia as well as subtle or overt ischemia, and helps the newborn regain homeostasis after the stress of birth.
This presentation provides evidence for each facet, explains how they work together to ensure newborn health, and will discuss the high cost of immediate (ICC) or early cord clamping (ECC).
