A Consumer-Oriented Nurse-Midwifery Service

Abstract

Much of the work in this paper is based on the responses of 42 women who completed a childbearing experience with the nurse-midwifery program at the University of Minnesota. Of these 42, 30 were primiparas and 12 multiparas; 34 of the group were married. Only 2 were under eighteen and 5 were over thirty. As a whole, their responses indicated that they had been through an extremely momentous experience which is continuing to influence their lives. Outstanding is their need for personalized care and some control over their own experience. It does not seem that they are an unusual group of people. Our major focus, directed toward facilitating the parents in their efforts to have a safe and satisfying childbearing experience and to grow in their own experience of themselves, seems so well exemplified by this mother's searching thoughts: “Bearing a child is an enormous process of ‘growing and becoming,’ one which changes relationships of one with husband, mother, father, in-laws, siblings, and oneself. It takes a while to catch up in the adjustments of these relationships, and just as one feels a balance, or satisfactory relationship has been achieved, the baby grows, a new change is added, and one must realize continual movement and change is the norm. Becoming a mother has added a new dimension to my life and my character, and in many ways has helped me approach my definition of ‘perfect health.’ For as well as creating new problems, tasks, and demands, it has given me new options for love, for developing my creativity, and understanding life. I am not a ‘believer’ in the doctrines of religion, but giving birth brought me to the brink of believing, knowing God, the source of life. In other words, having a child, growing towards motherhood and achieving it, is all a very profound experience, one which makes me very proud of all women and their abilities. It has strengthened me, deepened my knowledge of life and myself. I don't know if ‘perfect health’ is possible. I will always be trying to achieve it, but I actually doubt that it is obtainable. I believe the emphasis should be on the struggle to develop health, so as not to become overly disappointed, or concerned with ‘failure.’ So although I did not check ‘No. 7’ on your chart, I am accepting of a ‘No. 5,’ and accepting that when one is alive , one must expect pain as well as health.” If a professionally-directed, consumer-oriented service can assist a mother to develop in this way, then some of our major goals of health care will have been realized.