NURS 3060 - Perspectives of Perinatal Nursing in Canada Exam Notes
Historical Perspective:
Obstetrics - ANS-✔✔•During the 1930s and 40s a branch of medicine developed that was more
medically focused.
•Obstetricians educated as specialists (specifically trained in labor and birth)
•Attempted to decrease maternal & perinatal mortality & morbidity.
•Concerned with the phenomena and management of pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium
under normal and abnormal circumstances
•Consumers trusted physicians and hospitals implicitly and assumed a passive patient role
•Professionals allowed to make all decisions
There was very little empowerment on patients and families when going through the birthing process -
ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
Obstetrics - practices - ANS-✔✔•Care moved to hospitals
•Use of anesthetics and drugs (huge increase in use during labor - very heavy drugs)
•Partners absent
,•Babies separated from birthing parent in "sterile" nurseries
•Siblings not permitted to visit, etc.
Used to use forceps and pull the baby out --> didn't push
Little to no supportive care --> birth givers dropped off and then call when the baby is born
Very specific visiting hours (very tightly regulated)
The length of stay could've been over a week for a vaginal birth
Mothers and babies were separated (there was a nurse where the babies were cared for --> mother and
babies were cared for by different nurses) --> only recently did Canada move to caring for mothers and
babies by the same nurse
Births took place in the OR so that the births were "sterile" --> they moved many rooms throughout
various stages of the birthing process
Once the baby was born and in the nursery you couldn't hold it unless you had a gown and mask on
We are not a "sterile" environment now like it was back then - ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
Consumer Movement - ANS-✔✔•By the 1950s-60s, consumers were disillusioned with the health care
system
, •Self-care movements were springing up
•Consumers became more knowledgeable due to greater dissemination of information through the
media
------------------------
- Patients wanted to be more involved in their care
- 60s lots of self care and feminist movements taking place at the time and they seen a lot of that
translated into obstetrical care
- Women wanted choices around their birthing experiences
Historical Perspective:
Consumer Movement Cont... - ANS-✔✔•Feminist Movement emphasized women's rights to health
care choices and control over their own bodies and experiences
•Natural Childbirth Movement gained popularity (looked at different ways to manage labor without
heavy medications, to be awake during birth, and having support persons)
•Began to reject the use of drugs in labour and childbirth, and isolation from their families.
•Demanded the birth process become more humanized
Childbearing people wanted a more natural birthing experience - ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
Historical Perspective:
Obstetrics - ANS-✔✔•During the 1930s and 40s a branch of medicine developed that was more
medically focused.
•Obstetricians educated as specialists (specifically trained in labor and birth)
•Attempted to decrease maternal & perinatal mortality & morbidity.
•Concerned with the phenomena and management of pregnancy, parturition, and the puerperium
under normal and abnormal circumstances
•Consumers trusted physicians and hospitals implicitly and assumed a passive patient role
•Professionals allowed to make all decisions
There was very little empowerment on patients and families when going through the birthing process -
ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
Obstetrics - practices - ANS-✔✔•Care moved to hospitals
•Use of anesthetics and drugs (huge increase in use during labor - very heavy drugs)
•Partners absent
,•Babies separated from birthing parent in "sterile" nurseries
•Siblings not permitted to visit, etc.
Used to use forceps and pull the baby out --> didn't push
Little to no supportive care --> birth givers dropped off and then call when the baby is born
Very specific visiting hours (very tightly regulated)
The length of stay could've been over a week for a vaginal birth
Mothers and babies were separated (there was a nurse where the babies were cared for --> mother and
babies were cared for by different nurses) --> only recently did Canada move to caring for mothers and
babies by the same nurse
Births took place in the OR so that the births were "sterile" --> they moved many rooms throughout
various stages of the birthing process
Once the baby was born and in the nursery you couldn't hold it unless you had a gown and mask on
We are not a "sterile" environment now like it was back then - ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
Consumer Movement - ANS-✔✔•By the 1950s-60s, consumers were disillusioned with the health care
system
, •Self-care movements were springing up
•Consumers became more knowledgeable due to greater dissemination of information through the
media
------------------------
- Patients wanted to be more involved in their care
- 60s lots of self care and feminist movements taking place at the time and they seen a lot of that
translated into obstetrical care
- Women wanted choices around their birthing experiences
Historical Perspective:
Consumer Movement Cont... - ANS-✔✔•Feminist Movement emphasized women's rights to health
care choices and control over their own bodies and experiences
•Natural Childbirth Movement gained popularity (looked at different ways to manage labor without
heavy medications, to be awake during birth, and having support persons)
•Began to reject the use of drugs in labour and childbirth, and isolation from their families.
•Demanded the birth process become more humanized
Childbearing people wanted a more natural birthing experience - ANS-✔✔
Historical Perspective:
