The Lived Experience of Being a Core Midwife in a New Zealand Maternity Unit: An Interpretive Study

Abstract

In 1990 the Labour Government of New Zealand responded to women and midwives by amending the Nurses' Act 1977. This legislative change returned autonomy to midwifery and enabled women to have midwifery care throughout the childbearing experience. Midwives were also given the choice of being self employed and working independently, or being employed as core midwives in maternity units. Core midwives are 55% of New Zealand's midwifery workforce and provide care in the primary, secondary and tertiary maternity units. Legally and professionally all midwives are required to demonstrate that care is in partnership with women. This requirement has come from an understanding of what it is that women want from their maternity care providers. This interpretive study explores the meaning of what it is to be a core midwife and how these midwives relate to the women they are assigned to care for. Four core midwives were interviewed and from their narratives of day-to-day practices, two themes of 'choosing to be a core midwife and 'developing partnerships with women and their lead maternity carer midwives' have been revealed. The findings are that the evolution of core midwifery has been difficult and that the participants have had to deal with accusations that they may not be 'real midwives'. As women have either required, or have chosen to have care in the maternity units and lead maternity carer midwives cannot logistically be present continuously, core midwifery has developed an essential role. The participants have revealed that their aim is to develop a 'partnership' relationship with women and their attending LMC midwives. This partnership is based on being respectful, honest, kind and being highly sensitive, supportive and respectful of the existing relationships between women and their LMC midwives.