Change occurs when outdated practices are scrutinized and replaced. As redundant birthing methods get examined, maternal healthcare is witnessing improvements, thanks to the midwifery model of care. Many midwives support humanized birthing practices very strongly. One of them is Ruth Joshila Philip, who works as a faculty member at the Government College of Nursing, Hyderabad.
Ruth completed her graduation in nursing and got the opportunity to work in the government sector before she pursued her master’s. By 2019, Ruth was teaching for 15 years when she heard that the first batch of Midwifery Educators from Fernandez Hospital were about to take up the National Midwifery Training Program. She instantly signed up for it!
Today, Ruth is a firm believer in the power of midwifery. She says, “Sometimes, you go beyond the call of duty. It is not just a job. It is a personal commitment to a mother.” She finds midwifery immensely fulfilling on a professional as well as personal front. Her recently submitted PhD thesis on birth preparedness programmes for maternal and feotal outcomes is based on the midwifery model of care.
She says, “While it is a common belief that only the poor opt for midwives in government hospitals, this notion is in for a sea of change. Today, government hospitals see plenty of educated and financially stable women opting for midwifery care. It proves the trust and confidence they have in midwives and in the government.”
Before she started walking on the midwifery path, Ruth came across mothers who were rushed to the hospital and were assessed inappropriately due to a shortage of staff. Only a midwife can ensure that no mother goes through such lack of attention. A midwife must be with the mother and give her all the emotional support and care that she needs.
A second-time mother was about to have a baby after a long gap since her first child. It made the mother very anxious. Ruth shared her own story of having a huge age gap between both her kids and assured her that it would be okay. She addressed the mother’s doubts and inhibitions. Thanks to Ruth, the mother had a natural birth and a positive birth experience. She went back home relaxed and confident.
Midwives bring in a lot of difference with the work they do. They are in a position where they can influence women and empower them. Conveying her message to obstetricians, she says, “We are here to ‘complement’ your services, not to ‘compete’ with your profession. Together, we can do wonders.”
