RCM SMWG Student Midwives Conference 2011 Wendy Bascal

RCM SMWG
Student Midwives Conference 2011
Wendy Bascal


Throughout the world for generations women
have used a shawl or scarf to wrap around their
baby to carry him/her, without the need for a
pram!
In South America and in particular in Mexico this
scarf/shawl is known as a Rebozo.




Traditional Midwives
In pregnancy
In labour
Postnatally
Aim is normality

“Rebozo can be like an extension of your arms”
Michelle Schnaars, Doula

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1uM-4ZUiP8


A myriad of uses!!
I have used 2 techniques within my personal
practice following attendance on the study day
◦ relief of backache in OP labour
◦ opening up the pelvis in advanced labour (hip squeeze)
reference MIDIRS

Cochrane review (Hunter 2007) said insufficient
evidence to recommend this intervention but
women should be encouraged to find comfortable
positions

Anderson (1999) and other midwives like her
suggested that midwives should incorporate OFP
advice in the absence of evidence of harm to
mother or baby.

There is evidence that walking and upright
positions in the first stage of labour reduce the
length of labour and do not seem to be
associated with increased intervention or
negative effects on mothers' and babies'
wellbeing. Women should be encouraged to take
up whatever position they find most comfortable
in the first stage of labour

Epidural v non-epidural analgesia or no analgesia
in labour Cochrane Review (2005, awaiting
update from 2010 review)

“Further research on reducing the adverse
outcomes with epidurals would be helpful”.






RCM (2008) Persistent Lateral and Posterior Fetal
Position at the Onset of Labour
Lawrence et al. (2008) Maternal positions and
mobility during first stage labour
http://www.birthingnaturally.net/cn/tool/reboz
o.html
http://www.homebirth.net.au/2008/03/rebozotechnique.html
http://www.midwiferytoday.com/articles/transc
ript.asp
http://portlandmidwifery.com/2011/04/12/using
-a-rebozo-to-open-up-the-pelvis/




http://www.comfort-measures.com/laborprogress.html
http://vimeo.com/14190294
http://rebozoway.org/images/stories/pdfs/broch
ure.pdf
http://empoweredmommies.com/blogs/doula_m
omma/

Special acknowledgement to Angelina Martinez
Miranda, 3rd Generation Traditional Mexican
Midwife who regularly gives talks at international
conferences.

To Caroline Blamey, Midwife, for facilitating an
extraordinary workshop in Rebozo in May 2011.
To Liz Nightingale for organising the workshop.





To all the wonderful inspirational midwives
(working independently or within NHS)
To my dear friend Laura for always looking for
fresh ideas.
Finally thank you to my 4 gorgeous children for
teaching me the amazing power of birth!
And last but not least my eldest daughter Hannah
for her PowerPoint expertise 