Postnatal Care
...postnatal care and support to Rosie and her family, following the birth of her third child.
The Midwives rules and standards (Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) 2004) state that "the ‘postnatal period' mean's the period after the end of labour during which the attendance of a midwife upon a woman and baby is required, being not less than ten days and for such longer period as the midwife considers necessary". In a previous publication of the Midwives Rules and Code of Practice by the United Kingdom Central Council (UKCC) (1998) this period of time was for up to twenty-eight days. Rule 6 of the Rules and Standards (NMC 2004), states that the primary focus of the midwives practice should be the needs of the mother and baby and that the midwife should work in partnership with the woman and her family to enable the woman to make informed decisions in her care. In providing the care to a woman the midwife will work within the boundaries of the NMC's Code of professional conduct (2004b), by gaining consent before giving care and in maintaining the woman's confidentiality and privacy in her home.
The puerperium, also known as the postnatal period, is the time immediately following the birth of a baby and represents the period of time when a woman's reproductive organs and structures are returning to their near pre-gravid state. This period is estimated to be between six to eight weeks depending on the individual woman (Coad and Dunstall 2005). For the purpose of the essay the definition of the post natal period will be the first ten days.
The role of the midwife during the postnatal period should include care of all aspects of the woman's health. During this time women are adjusting physically, emotionally and socially to a major life changing event. The care that a woman receives should be tailored to meet her individual needs (Royal College of...
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