The perceptions and experiences of women who achieved and did not achieve a waterbirth.

BACKGROUND: There is a gap in knowledge and understanding relating to the experiences of women exposed to the opportunity of waterbirth. Our aim was to explore the perceptions and experiences of women who achieved or did not achieve their planned waterbirth. METHODS: An exploratory design using critical incident techniques was conducted between December 2015 and July 2016, in the birth centre of the tertiary public maternity hospital in Western Australia. Women were telephoned 6 weeks post birth. Demographic data included: age; education; parity; and previous birth mode. Women were also asked the following: what made you choose to plan a waterbirth?; what do you think contributed to you having (or not having) a waterbirth?; and which three words would you use to describe your birth experience? Frequency distributions and univariate comparisons were employed for quantitative data. Thematic analysis was undertaken to extract common themes from the interviews. RESULTS: A total of 31% (93 of 296) of women achieved a waterbirth and 69% (203 of 296) did not. Multiparous women were more likely to achieve a waterbirth (57% vs 32%; p < 0.001). Women who achieved a waterbirth were less likely to have planned a waterbirth for pain relief (38% vs 52%; p = 0.24). The primary reasons women gave for planning a waterbirth were: pain relief; they liked the idea; it was associated with a natural birth; it provided a relaxing environment; and it was recommended. Two fifths (40%) of women who achieved a waterbirth suggested support was the primary reason they achieved their waterbirth, with the midwife named as the primary support person by 34 of 37 women. Most (66%) women who did not achieve a waterbirth perceived this was because they experienced an obstetric complication. The words women used to describe their birth were coded as: affirming; distressing; enduring; natural; quick; empowering; and long. CONCLUSIONS: Immersion in water for birth facilitates a shift of focus from high risk obstetric-led care to low risk midwifery-led care. It also facilitates evidence based, respectful midwifery care which in turn optimises the potential for women to view their birthing experience through a positive lens.

'Teaching on the Run' with Australian midwives in a tertiary maternity hospital.

Teaching On The Run (TOTR) is an Australian program for health professionals involved in clinical supervision. An amended TOTR program was evaluated with midwives acting as preceptors assisting learners integrate theory with clinical practice. A mixed method study was employed to compare midwives' perceived skills and confidence before and after completion of TOTR workshops. A secondary aim explored midwifery learners' (students and new graduates) perceptions of support from preceptors during the implementation of TOTR. Sixty five midwives completed the TOTR workshops with 46 providing data before program enrolment and 1-3 months after completion of the final TOTR workshop. Significant improvements were found for midwifery preceptors with before and after comparisons using Preceptor Self-Efficacy and Self-Evaluation Questionnaires. Using the Nursing Facilitator Clinical Questionnaire, preceptees or midwifery learners (n = 49) scored the 'qualities of their preceptors', 'their clinical practice', 'clinical learning' and 'how feedback was provided' highly with no changes between 2013 and 2014. Nineteen students then participated in three focus group interviews, analyzed using a six step systematic process. One overarching theme, 'Guiding me through' emerged with four themes: 'Getting to know each other'; 'Willingness to share knowledge'; 'Leading by example'; and 'The system acknowledging and valuing the preceptor role'.

An overview of the first 'no exit' midwifery group practice in a tertiary maternity hospital in Western Australia: Outcomes, satisfaction and perceptions of care.

BACKGROUND: Midwifery group practice (MGP) is a care model offered by a primary midwife in a small team. Evidence confirms MGP is acceptable to women, safe and cost effective. METHODS: We aimed to provide a systematic overview of the first 'no exit' MGP in a Western Australian (WA) tertiary maternity hospital, using a mixed methods approach, involving four phases. Between July 2013 and June 2014: phase one assessed MGP characteristics, obstetric and neonatal outcomes by parity; phase two examined women's satisfaction by mode of delivery; and phase three qualitatively explored perceptions of care. Phase four compared the proportion of MGP women and the 2012 WA birthing population. FINDINGS: Phase one included 232 MGP women; 87% achieved a vaginal birth. Phase two included 97% (226 of 232) women, finding 98% would recommend the service. Phase three analysis of 62 interviews revealed an overarching theme 'Continuity with Midwives' encompassing six sub-themes: only a phone call away; home away from home; knowing me; a shared view; there for me; and letting it happen. Phase four compared the MGP cohort to 33,393 WA women. Intrapartum MGP women were more likely than the WA population to have a vaginal birth (87% vs 65%, P≤0.001) and intact perineum (49% vs 36%, P≤0.001) and less likely to use epidural/spinal analgesia (34% vs 59%, P≤0.001), or have a caesarean (13% vs 35%, P≤0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Mixed methods enabled systematic examination of this new 'no exit' MGP confirming safety and acceptability. Findings contribute to our knowledge of MGP models.