The journey of birth
SUPPORTING WOMEN

How can we support women on their birth
journeys?

WOMAN
W With woman
O Open
M Mindful
A Affect
N Nurture
What can we think of when we think about women we may support?

WITH WOMAN
Support her journey

HOW CAN WE ‘BE WITH’ WOMAN?
LISTEN
CHOICE
ENCOURAGE
PRAISE
COMMUNICATE
EMPATHY
BOUNDARIES
GOODBYE
HOW?

LISTEN
Do we?
LISTEN
EYE
CONTACT
CLARIFY
PHARAPHAS
E
OPEN
QUESTIONS
DON’T
INTERUPT
INTERESTED
NOT
INTERESTING
NON-
JUDGEMENTAL
GENUINE

Think
What makes you feel heard?

CHOICE
ALWAYS ALLOW INFORMED CHOICE - GIVE OPTIONS -
EXPLAIN

ENCOURAGE
Is this you?

PRAISE
Do not underestimate the power of words

COMMUNICATE

What happens when communication goes wrong?
Communication is vital to ensure care is done safely

EMPATHY
CAN YOU WALK IN ANOTHERS FOOTSTEPS?

BOUNDARIES
Know your boundaries – respect a woman’s boundaries

Why set boundaries?
 Setting boundaries protects ourselves and others
What are our professional boundaries?
 Where are our personal boundaries?
Are we respecting the boundaries of others, staff or patient?
Do we know what lies outside our boundaries?

Help her say …….GOODBYE
A time of change, end of old life, beginning of new life.

O Is for Open
Open – freely giving – accurate – honest – communicate – choice.

M is for Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a mind-body approach to well-being that can help you
change the way you think about experiences and reduce stress and
anxiety.
When we are truly mindful we are patient and nonreactive, fully
observant, accepting of what is happening, and acknowledge it.
Mindful listening includes both nonverbal and verbal responses,
consisting of encouragement for the speaker to express
themselves, expand upon what they are saying, and clarifying what
they have said.
A receptive attitude allowing the other person the space to
express their complete idea, without interjection or interruption.
Why is mindfulness important?

Because……….
Feeling invalidated, disrespected and not heard
can be a huge emotional trigger
for some women
that may initiate a downward spiral into
doubting themselves
and their ability to birth their baby.

A is for Affect
How will your practice affect the women your caring for?
‘They will
Remember the way
You
Made them
Feel.’
Are you making women feel confident, calm, in control, loved,
cared for, listened to, empowered and special ?

Never underestimate the effect of your words
The language we use with women is so important

“If a woman doesn’t look like a goddess in labor”
“Then someone isn’t treating her right” – Ina May
Gaskin”

N is for Nurture
Nurture a woman so she can nurture her baby
HOW?
Loving calm environment
Personal centered care
Allow time for rest and recuperation
Support and give information
Treat with dignity and respect
Build confidence
Language
Remember this is HER journey
SUPPORT!

When we nurture a woman
She will grow and blossom into the beauty that is motherhood

What can we do?
To support women in
B be the woman
I inspirational
R respect
T teach
H honest

Be the woman – How?

Put yourself in her shoes
What is her life like?
What has she been through?
How is she feeling?
First experience of hospital?
Other health conditions, mental health, disabilities?
Previous trauma?
Family situation?
Young?
Expectations?
Difficult pregnancy?
Afraid of journey, change, unknown?
Then treat her like you would want to be treated

Are you Inspirational?
Both to women in your care but also those you
work with

How can you be inspirational?
• Language – How do you talk about women and colleagues?
• How do you present yourself? – Warm, open, friendly?
• Do you praise, build up your team?
• What does your care say about YOU?
• Do you embrace new challenges?
• Are always looking to improve ?
• Are you keeping up to date on new evidence based research?
• Is the woman center of your care?
• Are you able to admit mistakes and use to improve?
• Are you ‘shining’ brightly?

RESPECT
How can we respect the women in our care?
R recognize – opinions, wishes, plans, journey
E environment – calm, safe, friendly, homely?
S support – choices, cultures, needs.
P personal – person centered safe care.
E empower – commend, praise, explain.
C choice – give information, options.
T trust – build a relationship.

TEACH
Who?
First ourselves
Then others……

The gift of knowledge
Women Colleagues
Educates Educates
Empowers Empowers
Informed Choice Good safe care
Confidence Improves service
Builds trust Builds relationships
Equips Equips
Supports Supports good practice

Honest
Whatever the situation be honest

Why should we be honest?
Being honest will enable us to give our best

What do we want the story of a woman’s
birth to be?
It’s not just the ending that counts it’s the journey along the way.