Understanding the perceptions and needs of staff regarding cultural competencein the care of aboriginal and torres strait islander women in maternity care at the Townsville Hospital

Abstract

Following the results of the Term Breech Trial, planned singleton vaginal breech birth has become an increasingly rare occurence within Australian public hospitals. Every year in Australia, hundreds of women go to great lengths to locate care providers and a maternity facility that will support them to birth normally. Drama, story-telling and video footage will be used in this presentation. Drama includes setting up the room to reflect the birth environment (dim lights, aromatherapy, music) and presenter ‘labouring’ on the mat as participants enter. Story-telling of the experience of having a breech baby (all the turning strategies employed, negotiations with medical staff, travelling interstate to finda supportivehospital) is demonstrated.Video footage (10-min) divided into 3 discrete segments including pre-labour interview, labour transition, breech birth on birth stool from rumping to skinto-skin betweenmother and babywill be shown. This presentation teaches, through drama, story-telling and birth imagery, howmidwives can normalise breech birth in the hospital environment. It also gives midwives the opportunity to see the mechanism of breech birth as it unfoldswith awoman in an upright birthing position. The tide is turning on vaginal breech birth as more midwives and obstetricians desire to support women with vaginal breech birth. This presentation is both timely and engaging through its use of drama and multi-media.