Week Four

Question 0

CCE Definition

Answer 0

Continuity of Care Experience (CCE) means the ongoing midwifery relationship between the student and the woman from the initial contact in pregnancy through to the weeks immediately after the woman has given birth, across the interface between community and hospital settings. The intention of the CCE is to enable students to experience continuity with individual women through pregnancy, labour and birth and the postnatal period, regardless of the availability of midwifery continuity of care models.

Question 1

What is a Continuity of Care Experience

Answer 1

• An experience of relational continuity with the woman
• Ongoing professional Midwifery relationship
• An education of the boundaries of professional relationships

Question 2

CCE Objectives

Answer 2

• Explore interpersonal relationship between the woman, family and midwife
• Gain an understanding of the entire childbearing journey and the notion of continuity of care
• Describe physiological, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual, economic and sexual impacts of the childbearing experience
• Discuss the women’s choices, expectations and outcomes of the pregnancy through the parenting journey
• Give an account of the transition to parenthood
• Discuss the essences of partnership and woman-centred care

Question 3

Why do CCE?

Answer 3

• Midwifery education worldwide is moving toward a model that recognises the international definition and philosophy of practice in midwifery that is with woman
• Central to this philosophy is the quality of relationship between the woman and her midwife
• The roots of midwifery lie in a one to one relationship with the woman and midwife, in connection with her family
• There is a concerted effort to keep birth ‘normal’
• Students are expected to follow Page’s 5 steps to evidence based midwifery along with the partnership model for practice

Question 4

CCE Partnership

Answer 4

• Embodies the concept of informed choice
• Women are valued, encouraged to take control and responsibility for their own health
• Based on trust, respect, shared meaning through mutual understanding

Question 5

Significance of Birth

Answer 5

• The birth of a baby is the birth of a mother

- Being aware of the significance of pregnancy and birth; the start of human life as well as the start of a family

Question 6

Evidence Based Midwifery Care

Answer 6

• Care grounded in latest research
• Care that involves the woman in the decision-making process
• Care that uses current evidence based information to assist in the making of the decisions

Question 7

Evidence-Based Midwifery

Answer 7

• Incorporates woman-centred principles into an evidence-based approach to midwifery practice
• Being a midwife means working alongside a woman to ensure the care you provide meets her individual needs as we’ll as those of her family
• It’s a relationship of knowing, of mutual trust, of working in the best interests of the woman
• Recognising the physical, emotional and spiritual aspects of pregnancy and birth
• Focus on the individual, unique needs of the woman, her aspirations and expectations as opposed to the needs of the institution or the HCP
• Midwifery care recognises the woman’s right to self-determination in terms of choice, control and continuity of care from known caregivers
• Encompasses the needs of the unborn baby, the woman’s family, her significant others and community, as identified by the woman