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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Elements define the essential outcomes.
2. Plan and support culturally safe birthing for women and their families
   • Identify local birthing practices and cultural beliefs and discuss with women in planning and advocating for culturally appropriate and safe birthing options
   • Discuss roles, relationships and responsibilities to support culturally 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 the planned place of birth as required
   • Provide physical and emotional support to women as appropriate during childbirth and the immediate post-partum period
   • Support women and their families to take a self-care approach in line with individual needs to organisation and community requirements
   • Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facilities and female community Elders regarding culturally safe birthing options and services
3. Prepare and deliver safe birthing
   • Maintain emergency delivery bundles and instructions in isolated community settings
   • Identify signs and symptoms of imminent unexpected childbirth
   • Seek urgent professional assistance and advice with birthing as necessary
   • Prepare to manage untimely birth in a community or home setting using the best available resources
   • Identify helpers and allocate tasks as appropriate based on experience and knowledge
   • Prepare appropriate equipment and medication
   • Institute basic management of second and third stages of labour, if needed
   • Undertake initial management of post-partum haemorrhage according to emergency care guidelines and organisational protocols, as well as other common birthing emergencies
   • Arrange safe evacuation in consultation with medical or midwifery staff if required and as per organisation procedures
4. Monitor and evaluate care
   • Monitor care of individual women after birth according to organisation procedures
   • Regularly update client files with birthing and postnatal details according to organisation procedures and policies
   • Review progress and outcomes in consultation with pregnant woman
   • Maintain registers of women undergoing postnatal care according to organisation policies and procedures
   • Keep schedules of participation in antenatal care and use to organise continuing care according to woman’s needs
   • Organise transport and other assistance as required to women post-birth
   • Supervise other staff participating in provision of birthing practices
   • Maintain referral and communication networks with medical staff, specialist obstetricians, midwives, allied health staff, birthing facility staff and female community Elders
   • Keep statistics for birthing outcomes and use to evaluate maternal health programs

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role.

There must be evidence that the candidate has:

prepared for and supported at least five women during the pregnancy and birthing process, including:

communicating effectively with each client and family if available to obtain information and ensure understanding of information provided

providing treatment, medicine and other health care services appropriate to interpartum health in a safe and effective manner and within guidelines

liaising between service providers, individuals, families and community groups

holistically evaluating the impact of treatment on client’s physical, mental and emotional condition and behaviour

performing all required assessments to determine health of the client and baby

interpreting assessment outcomes to determine course of action for health care, including issues requiring immediate action

utilising referral services as necessary

recognising situations requiring immediate or urgent action and taking appropriate action as required within current job role, legislative requirements and organisation procedures

supporting the client to attend appointments for monitoring of own and baby’s health.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role.

This includes knowledge of:

birthing practices suitable for culturally safe and positive birth outcomes

organisation policies and procedures relating to client confidentiality

anatomy/physiology, pharmacology, pathology and basic microbiology relevant to pregnancy, maternal and/or infant health

knowledge of microbiology relevant to maternal and/or infant health and prevention of infection or cross infection

health conditions, obstetric problems and associated issues related to pregnancy, maternal and infant health

medical problems occurring in pregnancy requiring referral and follow-up

relevant assessment methods and use of associated equipment and testing procedures

relevant treatments, medicines and associated care services available

risks and contraindications associated with relevant treatments and medication

realistic expectation of client condition during monitoring of progress

obstetric problems, including:

antepartum haemorrhage

vaginal discharges

fluid loss from the vagina

ruptured membranes (including onset of labour, prolapsed cord, infection)

abdominal pain in pregnancy (including braxton hicks contractions and labour contractions)

pre-term labour

breech presentation

post-partum or intrapartum haemorrhage

shoulder dystocia

retained placenta

obstructed labour

eclampsia

vital signs during childbirth or delivery, including:

TPR

blood pressure

auscultation of foetal heart rate

blood glucose level

foetal palpation

fundal height measurements

urinalysis

weight

monitoring progress of labour

bloods

rate of contractions

baseline observations including, but not limited to:

temperature, pulse, respiration

blood pressure

blood loss per vaginum

condition of fundus

rate of contractions

progress of labour

documentation of findings from a physical assessment and follow-up as per policy and procedures manual

pain assessment

blood sugar levels

pulse oximetry

recognition of significant abnormalities in cardiotocograph (CTG) reading

immediate care required for newborns, including:

use of humidicribs

intravenous infusions

blood sugar levels

skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first hour after birth

weight, length and head circumference measurements

temperature

respiratory rate

APGAR scoring and assessment

resuscitation

oxygen administration.

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