I have uploaded the assignment instructions and the article that will serve as the topic of the assignment. Please read all instructions and the article. Also, do the extra slide with ACOG recommendations or standpoint about Birth-Doulas.
Assignment Objectives
1. Demonstrate communication, professionalism, and collaboration skills
· Submit the powerpoint to the drop box prior to the start of the session
· Arrive on time with a working microphone and camera
· Meet from a quiet location with a stable internet connection
· Present your information live, succinctly, and clearly
· Actively engage in discussion of your peers' projects without distraction
2. Develop an understanding of the ACNM core documents and their application to practice
· Select one ACNM position statement or issue brief
· Briefly describe the selected statement
· Discuss how three of the ACNM Code of Ethics apply to the position statement or issue brief you selected
· Describe which three of the Hallmarks of Midwifery the position statement or issue brief illustrates
· Reflect on how this will guide your practice as a nurse-midwife
3. Appreciate the value of collegial networks and collaborative learning.
You signed up for this session in week 1 of the course. Please check your calendar for the date and time you signed up for. Your faculty will provide joining information.
Each student will choose a position statement from the list of ACNM Position Statements, Clinical Bulletins, or Issue Briefs (links located in Module 4). You'll apply ethical principles and the Hallmarks of Midwifery to your chosen statement and consider how this statement will affect future practice. Each student will present their slides in 3-5 minutes, with a few minutes for discussion after each presentation.
Step by Step Instructions.
1. Choose an ACNM position statement, Clinical Issue, or Issue Brief that addresses a topic that you are interested in.
2. Create your slides:
· Plan to briefly share the key points of the statement with your group. They should be familiar with your statement so you do not have to read it to them. Please do not use this time to provide a lengthy lecture about this topic. If the position statement is long, then bullet the salient points. Only share what you must to describe the position statement's stance. (One slide)
· Identify 3 of the ACNM code of ethics that are relevant to your chosen statement. (One slide)
· Identify 3 of the Hallmarks of Midwifery (Hallmarks are found in the ACNM Core Competencies document) that the statement utilizes or illustrates. (One slide)
· Finish with a reflection on how you foresee the statement and the associated ethical implications/hallmarks or midwifery that may guide your practice (One slide)
· Follow these best practices for your presentation, including image attribution: https://library.frontier.edu/ld.php?content_id=57245504Links to an external site.
· Include a reference slide at the end using APA 7th edition.
· Practice your presentation–it should take 3-5 minutes to present.
3. Read the position statements chosen by the other participants in your group so you are prepared to discuss.
4. Submit your slides to the dropbox before your presentation begins–this assignment is due on the day of your presentation, NOT on the canvas due date!
5. Arrive at the correct session on time and presentation ready with headphones/earbuds available and in an environment conducive to participation.
6. Present your slides to the group & help facilitate a group discussion on your topic.
Optional– Accessing ACOG position statements
If anyone is interested in exploring and comparing an ACOG position statement, committee opinion, or practice bulletin on the same topic. They may access the ACOG document as follows.
1. Go to the ACOG website-www.acog.org
2. Go to "My ACOG" in the upper left corner
3. Login with username: [email protected] .
password: TeddyBear!
If you choose to include the ACOG statement in your ethical discussion then feel free to add one additional ppt. slide to highlight the key points made by ACOG.
Rubric
Ethical Principles
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Ethical Principles |
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Criteria |
Ratings |
Pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeEthical and Hallmarks of Midwifery Content |
10 ptsProficientThe presentation includes an overview of the chosen statement. The presentation clearly identifies 3 ethical principles and/or codes of ethics that reflect pertinent ethical implications raised within the position statement. Presentation clearly identifies and explains how 3 Hallmark of Midwifery are illustrated by the statement. 7 ptsApprenticeThe presentation is not clear or does not include an overview of the chosen statement and/or the presentation identifies 1-2 ethical principles and/or codes of ethics that reflect pertinent ethical implications raised within the position statement. Presentation identifies and explains how 1-2 Hallmarks of Midwifery are illustrated by the chosen statement. 4 ptsNoviceThe presentation does include an overview of the chosen statement. The presentation does not clearly identify, explain, or include the Hallmarks of Midwifery and/or pertinent ethical principles/code of ethics. 0 ptsNo MarksNo ethical or Hallmark of Midwifery content addressed. (0 pts.) |
10 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomePresentation |
5 ptsProficientPresentation is well delivered and reflect thoughtful consideration of the required readings and other course content. PPT. slides use bullets and graphs in an attractive manner. Slides include citations and a Reference slide. (Max 5pts) 3 ptsApprenticePresentation is well delivered and reflect consideration of require readings but is given in generalities. Some slides are wordy with few graphics. No citations and/or no references are included. (Max 3pts) 1 ptsNovicePresentation is vague and poorly delivered. All slides are wordy with no graphics. No citations and no references are included. (1pts) |
5 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeParticipation |
5 ptsProficientActively engage in your peers' presentations without becoming distracted. Participate in the discussion by making several substantive contributions. 3 ptsApprenticeEngage in peers' presentations with few distractions. Some participation in discussion with few substantive comments. 1 ptsNoviceStudent is distracted during the presentation, does not make any substantive contributions to the discussion (1pts) |
5 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeProfessionalism |
5 ptsProficientStudent arrives on time to the correct session with a working microphone and camera. Student joins the session from a quiet, professional location. 3 ptsApprenticeStudent arrives late, to the wrong session, creates a disruption, or joins from an environment that is not conducive to respectful participation. 1 ptsNoviceStudent arrives more than 5 minutes late, microphone and/or camera are not working, or joins from a loud or chaotic environment. |
5 pts |
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8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1230, Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374 • ph. 240.485.1800 • fax: 240.485.1818 • www.midwife.org | 1
POSITION STATEMENT
Birth Doulas
Doulas are trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to a laboring person
and their support people. Their work on the maternity care team is known to improve birth
outcomes and increase satisfaction with the birth experience.1 Birth doulas are an integral part of
the maternity care team, promoting physiologic birth,2 attending to the nonclinical needs of the
laboring person, and enhancing communication and relationships among the client and their
midwife, physician, and nurse.
The continuous labor support provided by birth doulas is consistent with the hallmarks of
midwifery: incorporation of scientific evidence into clinical practice; promotion of patient- and
family-centered care; recognition of the therapeutic value of human presence; collaboration with
members of the interprofessional health care team; and advocacy for informed choice, shared
decision-making, and the right to self-determination.3 Federal, state, local, and institutional
policies that promote continuous labor support will yield optimal birth outcomes for mothers and
babies and result in substantial cost savings overall.4,5
The American College of Nurse-Midwives (ACNM) affirms the following:
• The skill, training, and expertise provided by doulas make them a valuable part of the
health care team, working collaboratively to facilitate a safe, satisfying, and client-
centered labor and birth experience.
• Decades of research clearly demonstrate that continuous labor support contributes to
improved outcomes, such as lower cesarean rates, lower rates of epidural anesthesia
use, and higher rates of breastfeeding initiation, without risk of harm.2,6
• Given that states now recognize investments in doula care as an integral part of
maternity care reform, ensuring adequate remuneration and investment in all
evidence-based maternity care will advance sustainable efforts to improve maternal
and infant health outcomes.7
• By providing culturally congruent, client-centered care and advocacy, community-
based doulas may give support that will help protect parents from the effects of
racism and racial bias in health care settings.8
Background on the Benefits of Continuous Labor Support
Physical, emotional, and informational support is essential to ensuring the best perinatal
outcomes. The physical support provided by a birth doula can include guiding position changes
during labor, ensuring adequate energy and hydration for the client, and relieving the client’s
discomfort and pain by offering comfort measures. Physical support can also include massage
and help with ambulating or getting in and out of the bathroom or tub. This type of support not
only increases a laboring person’s sense of well-being, confidence, and comfort, but it also may
shorten the duration of labor.9 Emotional support is essential because labor and birth are intense
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1230, Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374 • ph. 240.485.1800 • fax: 240.485.1818 • www.midwife.org | 2
life experiences, often occurring in an unfamiliar health care setting. The relationship among a
doula and the birthing person, their support persons, and the provider can enhance the birthing
person’s confidence and trust in themselves and the birth process and increase pride and
satisfaction in labor and birth. Making positive memories of the birth experience can create a
strong foundation for the future challenges of parenting. Informational support expands and
explains what the other perinatal care providers may be offering, provides reassurance about the
normal course of labor and birth, and allows access to evidence-based information about options
in labor and birth for the laboring person and their support person.10 Trained birth doulas can
assist maternity care providers in explaining health care jargon, terminology, and routine
processes to the people they serve in culturally congruent ways. Informed and shared decision-
making is enhanced when a doula is part of the maternity care team.
In addition to their work during birth, doulas provide support to birthing people before and after
birth. Prenatally, doulas meet one on one to aid with readiness for labor as well as provide
education about how to cope. Postnatally, doulas often support the family by cooking, cleaning,
and caring for other children. This allows the parent(s) to focus on bonding with and feeding the
baby. Many doulas are also certified breastfeeding counselors and can work to improve the
breastfeeding/chestfeeding experience.
ACNM supports the collaborative role doulas play in the care of pregnant and birthing people
and recognizes the importance of their skill set as a positive addition to the health care team.
References
1. Bohren MA, Hofmeyr G, Sakala C, Fukuzawa RK, Cuthbert A. Continuous support for
women during childbirth. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;7(7):CD003766.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub6
2. Zielinski RE, Brody MG, Low LK. The value of the maternity care team in the promotion
of physiologic birth. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2016;45(2):276-284.
doi:10.1016/j.jogn.2015.12.009
3. American College of Nurse-Midwives. ACNM core competencies of basic midwifery
practice. Published March 20, 2020. Accessed April 5, 2021.
https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/acnmlibrarydata/uploadfilename/000000000050/AC
NMCoreCompetenciesMar2020_final.pdf
4. Kozhimannil KB, Hardeman RR, Alarid-Escudero F, Vogelsang CA, Blauer-Peterson C,
Howell EA. Modeling the cost-effectiveness of doula care associated with reductions in
preterm birth and cesarean delivery. Birth. 2016;43(1):20-27. doi:10.1111/birt.12218
5. Greiner KS, Hersh AR, Hersh SR, et al. The cost-effectiveness of professional doula care
for a woman's first two births: a decision analysis model. J Midwifery Womens Health.
2019;64(4):410-420. doi:10.1111/jmwh.12972
6. Thurston LAF, Abrams D, Dreher A, Ostrowski SR, Wright JC. Improving birth and
breastfeeding outcomes among low-resource women in Alabama by including doulas in
the interprofessional birth care team. J Interprof Educ Pract. 2019;17:100278.
doi:10.1016/j.xjep.2019.100278
8403 Colesville Road, Suite 1230, Silver Spring, MD 20910-6374 • ph. 240.485.1800 • fax: 240.485.1818 • www.midwife.org | 3
7. Mehra R, Cunningham SD, Lewis JB, Thomas JL, Ickovics JR. Recommendations for the
pilot expansion of Medicaid coverage for doulas in New York State. Am J Public Health.
2019;109:217-219. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2018.304797
8. Ogunwole SM, Bennett WL, Williams AN, Bower KM. Community-based doulas and
COVID-19: addressing structural and institutional barriers to maternal health equity.
Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2020;52(4):199-204. doi:10.1363/psrh.12169
9. Lawrence A, Lewis L, Hofmeyr GJ, Styles C. Maternal positions and mobility during
first stage labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(8):CD003934.
doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003934.pub3
10. American College of Nurse-Midwives. Appropriate use of technology in childbirth.
Published April 2001. Updated May 2014. Accessed January 17, 2021.
https://www.midwife.org/acnm/files/ACNMLibraryData/UPLOADFILENAME/0000000
00054/Appropriate-Use-of-Technology-in-Childbirth-May-2014.pdf
Note. The terms midwifery and midwives as used throughout this document refer to the education
and practice of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs) and certified midwives (CMs) who have been
certified by the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB).
Original Source: Division of Advocacy and Government Affairs
Approved by the ACNM Board of Directors: 2022