Midwife Culture

The socio- political and cultural factors at both a national and global level have a big impact on the Midwife woman partnership. The Oxford Dictionary (2012) defines culture as: the ideas, customs, and social behaviour of a particular people or society, and Midwifery as: a nurse (typically a woman) who is trained to assist women in childbirth. There are many factors that the midwife must take into consideration when implementing a partnership with an expectant mother from a different culture, than that of her own. The Cultural beliefs people hold shape their perception of health and illness and the way in which they utilise services in order to rectify health conditions. Some of these beliefs may mean knowing when and what ritual a family
This sensitivity may include being aware of modesty in the Muslim culture requiring a midwife that is of the same sex origin as themselves as they are uncomfortable exposing their bodies to the opposite sex. Another barrier that may coexist within the Midwife-Woman partnership may be age. When a Midwife is providing care for a woman who is a minor, when in the Midwifes eyes the young woman is too young to be this predicament. Another observation that may have to be observed in regard to cultural sensitivity includes the various rituals of a particular ethnicity; one might be that the woman needs to bathe postnataly. This should be permitted unless there is a clinical reason which prohibits it. (Health Care Providers Handbook, 2010) Giving birth is universal to all women; however the experience differs in many cultures as births are considered sacred events in many countries, as they celebrate the birth and welcome the arrival of the new member of the family with specific rituals. The Indigenous Australians welcome the arrival of the baby with a birth smoking ceremony. This is performed in order to keep the child healthy whilst keeping their traditional way of life and culture alive. In the Muslim culture the father recites a prayer shortly after the child is born into both ears of the newborn. The Muslim cultures also have a tradition of burying the placenta
(Anderson, 2007, p.12)

References
Anderson, I., & Baum, F., & Bentley, M. (2012) Beyond Bandaids. The Lowitja Institute. Retrieved from. http://www.Lowitja.org.au Bowden, J., & Manning, V. (2006) Healthy Promotion in Midwifery Principles & Practice. (2nd ed.,pp. 31 & 64) Hodder Arnold Inc.
Health Care Providers Handbook. (2010) Queensland Health. [fact sheet]. Retrieved from http://www.health.qld.gov.au/multicultural Infinite Wellness, (2009) Colonisation & Indigenous Australia. Retrieved from http://www.infinitewellness.com.au/node/40 Pairman, S., & Tracy, S., & Thorogood, C., & Pincombe, J. (2010) Midwifery – Preparation for Practice (2nd ed., pp. 163) NSW, Australia:Elsevier.
Oxford Dictionary. (2012) Retrieved from