Sensitive Midwifery - Issue 44 - October 2019

Dimensions power, nor impose their values on women but rather suggest, advise and assist where necessary. They should model themselves on the concept of the “knitting midwife” who was said to sit in silence, calmly knitting in a corner, respecting the woman and the natural process of birth. Silent midwives are not bossy, nor authoritarian; they facilitate birth instead of directing women what to do,’ is how Nondi describes the mindfulness she finds essential to good midwifery. Two other independent midwives also had words of pure gold to share. Anneri du Plessis who practises in George says that ‘the ideal birth attendant is a silent, low-profile midwife. She keeps her own adrenaline levels low and provides a sense of security in the birth room. The word midwife means to be with women , not away from them; it also means advocating for them and simply being there for them. During labour that can mostly be accomplished without saying a word.’ Giving voice to many students’ thoughts, doula and midwife Colleen Pedersen comments on how in-depth antenatal discussions, excellent preparation and relationship-building is what enables a midwife to be silent, observant and less intrusive during labour. Juanita reminds us that if you want to develop e ff ective relationships, you must build trust, and to build trust, you must listen, which requires silence. ‘Silence allows for connectedness,’ she explains. Self-care enables good midwifery Sensitive Midwifery Symposium in 2019 has had self-care of the midwife as one of its sub-themes, precisely because running on empty can only mean you’ll come to a grinding halt sooner or later, often amidst overbearing noise in your own soul, which will likely overflow into disquiet in the birthplace. After a particularly busy spell of birth accompaniment, independent midwife Michelle van der Westhuizen concludes: ‘We cannot pour from an empty cup, so my cup must be filled. I have poured from this cup four times in ten days and it needs replenishing. Knowing my own personality type and needs helps me to fill this cup.’ Now that’s creative self-awareness! Michelle adds that while it may seem that being a silent midwife is an inherently quiet activity, a lot is really taking place, and that means a midwife is actively giving of herself all the time. ‘Anticipating and following the needs of the labouring mom and her partner, and sometimes a granny and tot as well, may use more energy than not being in tune with them. Taking deep breaths and short breaks helps. Stay hydrated and have healthy snacks. I avoid ca ff eine at births and only have tea,’ she advises. Finding your inner calm Nondi Gaba points out that a more respectful, quiet environment is possible to achieve in almost any midwifery setting. It’s all based on truly knowing and supporting the physiological changes of pregnancy and birth, as a midwife will not panic and will be able to create a soothing homely environment, free of noise and loud talking and footsteps, if she internalises this. Dutch midwife Else Vooijs, volunteering at the Healthy Mom and Baby Clinic and also on the Certified Sensitive Midwife Course, puts a finger on it when she raises the issue of fear – midwifery fear. Else believes that inexperience and lack of in-depth knowledge combine to make a midwife anxious, and that ‘noise’ is often used to try to mask it. This leads to a directive model of care, which is seldom silent or calm. ‘By embracing silence, we show our clients that we don’t need to fear it,’ adds Juanita. In Colleen’s words, ‘If a woman feels observed, it a ff ects her ability to relax and become instinctual. A silent midwife enables this necessary privacy.’ In his 1981 book, The Secret Life Of The Unborn Child , medical doctor Thomas Verny wrote: ‘The unborn child is a feeling, remembering, aware being, and because he is, what happens to him – what happens to all of us – in the months between conception and birth, moulds and shapes personality, drive and ambition in very important ways.’ Course student and midwife Linette Louw explains that Verny’s words remind us that the baby, too, is subject to prevailing birth circumstances, and that how midwives conduct themselves may have lasting e ff ects on them. All the more reason to cultivate the attributes of the ‘silent midwife’ – respectful care, protection, calm – she feels. Continued on page 40 39 eSensitive Midwifery Magazine Issue 44