A University of Brighton student midwife has had an article published in the British Journal of Midwifery (BJM). Rosie Jennings focused on the management of the third stage of labour at a homebirth. The article explores the management of the third stage of labour alongside the current literature, investigating whether best practice was employed, and her personal experience of a home birth.
Student midwives are taught two practices – active management of third stage labour (AMTSL) which involves administration of a uterotonic drug, which causes the placenta to detach and then controlled traction on the umbilical cord by the midwife. Conversely, the second practice, physiological management of the third stage of labour (PMTSL), is a 'hands-off' approach where cord clamping is delayed until pulsation ceases and the placenta is delivered naturally without any medication or assistance. Midwives need to be competent in both approaches.
Rosie describes in detail the method used in an experience she observed with her midwifery mentor and analysed this in relation to current literature. She considers the varying viewpoints, such as from Begley (2011), who found that many midwives find it difficult to stick to a truly hands off approach in PMTS, despite this being the recommendation of the World Health Organisation. This is a sensitive subject and is often described as a 'guilty secret' in view of textbooks and guidelines stating that any kind of cord traction is wrong.
Rosie, who is currently studying Midwifery BSc(Hons) at the university, said: "It has been a great experience to go through the process of writing a reflection to getting it published in a national midwifery journal. Throughout my training as a student nurse, and now as a student midwife, this has been one of my personal aspirations and I am really proud and grateful for the support I have received from the team at the British Journal of Midwifery and the midwifery lecturers at the university in reaching this goal."
The article explores the policies and current literature affecting practice and Rosie's personal experience as a student where she describes overcoming boundaries such as confidence, hierarchies in student-mentor relationships and bridging the theory practice gap.
Fawzia Zaidi, University of Brighton senior lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said: "I am extremely proud of Rosie's achievement. The journal is reviewed by some of the foremost authorities in the profession."
The article features in the British Journal of Midwifery, Vol 20, Issue 8, published on 2 August, 2012.
