The demands of postnatal care

A member wrote: I have recently become ward manager on a 32-bedded post/antenatal ward. The ward is very busy and is often running at capacity. On the day shift, there are three to four midwives, one to two MSWs and one to two healthcare assistants (HCAs). At night, there are two midwives, one MSW and one HCA. The ward consists of 13 single rooms and five bays with three to five beds. It has been 12 years since I last worked on the ward, and I have been struck by how demanding the women have become. The buzzers are constantly ringing, the women are totally dependent on the staff and take no responsibility for themselves or their babies – it is like they are in hospital so need to behave as if they are ill and require nursing. I appreciate that women who have had operative deliveries need to recover, and we do give them extra care, but encourage them to be self-caring, because they can go home after 24 hours. Are there any progressive postnatal wards that promote self-caring with the support of staff, rather than dependence? Any ideas?

23/10/2009