Midwifery and Perinatal Care

Midwifery is a brunch of clinical nursing, which is a highly professional field. A midwife is supposed to attend childbirth, provide support during labor and delivery, and supervise the general care of women and their newborn directly after birth. The term midwife which originally meant “with a woman,” was first documented in 1300.However, records dating back to the second century confirm the role of midwives as a special field in nursing. Contemporary midwives provide care to women during normal pregnancies and deliveries and call on obstetricians or other physicians if complications develop. Communication between midwife and the pregnant woman is emphasized, and midwives focus on working with the mother-to-be to reduce the risk for complications during the process of childbirth. Midwives also concentrate on the needs of the family, and encourage family participation in the process. They pay special attention to the cultural values and personal preferences of the women in their care. There are two recognized types of midwives in the United States: direct entry midwives and nurse-midwives.

  

助产转业与孕期保健

  助产专业是临床护理中的一个分支，是一个具有高度专科性的学科领域。助产士不仅在妇女孕期和分娩过程中提供全程而全面的支持和监测，而且负责产妇和新生儿的全面护理。助产士最初的意思是“与女性相关的”，公元1300年就有助产士的最早相关记载。然而，早在公元2世纪的一些记录就已经确立了助产士在护理学中的地位。当代助产士在妇女正常怀孕和分娩期间提供照护，同时监测并发症的发生并负责联系产科或其他相关科室的医生。助产士和孕妇之间的沟通是非常重要的，助产士与产妇共同致力于减少孕期危险因素并预防分娩期间的并发症。同时，助产士也注重满足家庭成员的需要，鼓励家人参与分娩过程。助产士特别关注孕妇和其家庭的不同文化价值观和偏好。在美国，有两种方式可以获得助产士资格，一是直接考入，另一种是经过护理培训。