Midwives' views and knowledge on nutrition and hydration during labour

Abstract

This study's main aim was to explore the midwives views and knowledge on nutrition and hydration during labour. The objectives of this study were to assess the midwives' knowledge on the nutritional and hydration needs of women during labour, to explore the midwives views with regards to withholding of food and drink in labouring women and to explore the midwives current practice with regards to food and drink during labour. Ethical approval was granted by the Midwifery Studies Dissertation Panel; the Research Ethics Committee of the Institute of health Care, University of Malta, the head of department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the manager of Midwifery services and the delivery suite Midwifery Officer. To carry out the study a self-constructed questionnaire was distributed to thirty seven midwives who· work at the delivery suite. A 70% (n=26) response rate was obtained. Quantitative analysis was carried out; due to the small sample, analysis was done manually in simple percentage. The results of this study showed that most of the midwives working at the delivery suite who participated in the study, possess good knowledge in regards to the physiological needs the mother requires in labour in regards to nutrition and hydration and the consequences and complications that may arise if these needs are not met. However even though this knowledge is present in most of the midwives who participated, midwives still do not practice according to their knowledge on allowing the mother the freedom to choose whether to eat or drink during labour. This could be either due to not having a written ward protocol in the ward which would act as a backup for midwives if obstetricians will object or because most midwives have fear to change what they normally practice. The results were discussed and compared to the literature present in the literature review in order to concentrate on the objectives of this study. Recommendations of this study include xiii that a written ward protocol will be written and the midwives will be encouraged to apply this written protocol in practice, the mother in labour will be given the freedom of choice in regards to nutrition and hydration in labour and more education regarding nutrition and hydration in labour will be available to midwives for practice, research and education together with strength and limitations of the study.