مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Effect of Empathic Communication Skills of Midwives on Labor and Post Labor Period

Abstract :

Aim: The study aims to demonstrate the effect of empathic communication skills of midwives on labor and post labor period. Since empathy is an important component of communication and initiates communication; today it has become a focused skill importance of which is emphasized. Empathy is of unique importance in midwifery as in other professions. International Confederation of Midwives defines communication based on empathy as a basic criterion of professional midwifery skills. Literature states that women expects midwives to develop an optimum level of empathic communication skills during labor and these empathic skills of midwives cannot be replaced by any tools/interventions. A care based on empathic communication skills of midwives produces positive effects on labor and post labor period. Effects of empathic communication skills of midwives on labor are to reduce labor stress and fear, to help cope with labor pain, to help control labor, to enable pregnant women to participate in labor actively, to reduce medical interventions, to shorten labor-duration and to enhance maternal satisfaction, comport and positive labor anecdotes. Effects of empathic communication skills of midwives on post labor period are related to mothers, newborns and midwifery profession. Effects of empathic communication skills of midwives on mothers are to help mothers start an early breastfeeding, to accelerate adaptation to motherhood and transition period to motherhood roles and to reduce pospartum traumatic stress and depression. Effects of empathic communication skills of midwives on newborns are related to happy newborns with high Apgar scores, low stress, an early mother-baby interaction and commitment and an early hospital discharge. Empathic communication skills of midwives contributes to increase positive perceptions about midwives and labor with midwives in society.