Midwifery Program
Midwifery has been an integral part of MEETS educational efforts in Can Tho, Vietnam. Sarah Kheiraliah has Lead the Midwifery Exchange since 2015. Her teaching and consultation is always well received by our partners at Can Tho Medical College (CMC), Can Tho Central General Hospital (CTCGH), Can Tho University Medicine and Pharmacy (CTUMP), and the OB/GYN Hospital.
CMC is considered a very high level educational experience for Nurses and Midwives. The students and faculty have appreciated Sarah’s teaching and demonstrations to increase knowledge and their confidence in the practice settings. Sarah’s lectures in Partograph and Post Partum Hemorrhage were of particular interest in 2018 and led to important discussions regarding current nursing/midwife roles/responsibilities in Vietnam as compared to practice in UK, offering a useful exchange of ideas, and ways of moving forward.
Additionally, Sarah has spent time at CTCGH, CTUMP and OB/GYN Hospital providing consultation/observations during Labor Unit and post-operative visits. Involvement in the practice setting has allowed Sarah to ensure classroom knowledge is being applied and best practices followed. There were care areas where Sarah could directly inform where an increased role for nurses and midwives would be advantageous for the physicians and the patients in their care. Sarah toured environments that were very welcoming for expectant parents, and with some minor modifications could also assist with nurse/midwife efficiency and optimum Infection Control.
Post Partum Depression is an area of concern universally. Sarah is providing her assistance in a research project started in 2018, led by Dr. Tin Pham Trung, MD at CTUMP and Dr. Ian Bennett, PhD at University of WA.
Sarah plans to return to Can Tho in April, 2019, and has a very busy schedule that she looks forward to, as well as having the opportunity to visit friends and familiar colleagues in Can Tho.
Definition by WebMD 2016: A midwife is a trained health professional who helps healthy women during labor, delivery, and after the birth of their babies. Midwives may deliver babies at birthing centers or at home, but most can also deliver babies at a hospital.
Women who choose midwives usually want very little medical intervention and have had no complications during their pregnancy. Because giving birth to twins is more complicated than giving birth to a single baby, many doctors don't recommend using a midwife unless under the direct supervision of a doctor.
