Midwives

Core Tasks

1. Monitor maternal condition during labor by checking vital signs, monitoring uterine contractions, or performing physical examinations.
2. Identify tubal and ectopic pregnancies and refer patients for treatments.
3. Provide necessary medical care for infants at birth, including emergency care such as resuscitation.
4. Conduct ongoing prenatal health assessments, tracking changes in physical and emotional health.
5. Monitor fetal growth and well-being through heartbeat detection, body measurement, and palpation.
6. Establish and follow emergency or contingency plans for mothers and newborns.
7. Identify, monitor, or treat pregnancy-related problems such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, pre-term labor, or retarded fetal growth.
8. Obtain complete health and medical histories from patients including medical, surgical, reproductive, or mental health histories.
9. Evaluate patients' laboratory and medical records, requesting assistance from other practitioners when necessary.
10. Maintain documentation of all patients' contacts, reviewing and updating records as necessary.
11. Assess the status of post-date pregnancies to determine treatments and interventions.
12. Set up or monitor the administration of oxygen or medications.
13. Suture perineal lacerations.
14. Perform post-partum health assessments of mothers and babies at regular intervals.
15. Test patients' hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood glucose levels.
16. Counsel women regarding the nutritional requirements of pregnancy.
17. Provide information about the physical and emotional processes involved in the pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum periods.
18. Refer patients to specialists for procedures such as ultrasounds or biophysical profiles.
19. Assist maternal patients to find physical positions that will facilitate childbirth.
20. Assess birthing environments to ensure cleanliness, safety, and the availability of appropriate supplies.
21. Incorporate research findings into practice as appropriate.
22. Estimate patients' due dates and re-evaluate as necessary based on examination results.
23. Provide comfort and relaxation measures for mothers in labor through interventions such as massage, breathing techniques, hydrotherapy, or music.
24. Provide, or refer patients to other providers for, education or counseling on topics such as genetic testing, newborn care, contraception, or breastfeeding.
25. Provide patients with contraceptive and family planning information.
26. Collect specimens for use in laboratory tests.
27. Inform patients of how to prepare and supply birth sites.
28. Respond to breech birth presentations by applying methods such as exercises or external version.
29. Perform annual gynecologic exams, including pap smears and breast exams.
30. Develop, implement, or evaluate individualized plans for midwifery care.
31. Recommend the use of vitamin and mineral supplements to enhance the health of patients and children.
32. Provide information about community health and social resources.
33. Compile and evaluate clinical practice statistics.
34. Treat patients' symptoms with alternative health care methods such as herbs or hydrotherapy.

Technology & Tools

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