Elements and Performance Criteria
- Support women during childbirth
- Identify local birthing practices and cultural beliefs and discuss with women in planning and advocating for appropriate childbirth
- Discuss roles, relationships and responsibilities to support safe birthing, including the role of the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Worker as an advocate for women and families
- Discuss and identify signs of onset of labour and support women to attend a birthing facility as required
- Provide physical and emotional support to women as appropriate during hospitalisation
- Prepare for unplanned childbirth in the community setting
- Maintain emergency delivery bundles and instructions in isolated community settings
- Identify signs and symptoms of imminent unplanned childbirth
- Seek urgent professional assistance and advice with birthing
- Prepare to manage unplanned delivery in a community setting using the best available resources
- Identify helpers and allocate tasks as appropriate based on experience and knowledge
- Prepare appropriate equipment and medication for delivery
- Basic management of second and third stages of labour is instituted if needed
- Undertake initial management of post-partum haemorrhage according to emergency care guidelines and organisational protocols
- Arrange safe evacuation in consultation with medical staff