Pricing:
- Members: Free
- Non-members: $10
Presenter:
Christine H. Morton, PhD
Research Sociologist, CMQCC | CPQCC
Stanford University School of
Medicine
Title:
“Does Respectful Maternity Save Lives?”
Wednesday, June 15, 2022
1300 to 1400 CT
Maternal quality initiatives to help childbirth facilities provide safe, high quality care, are increasingly including the importance and need for respectful care. Everyone involved in maternity care can convey a message of caring, belonging, and competency. Respectful maternity unit cultures provide opportunity for everyone to contribute to a culture of respect and dignity for all, and take pride in providing this approach. Post‐traumatic stress disorder is a common aftermath of childbirth all over the world. It can follow a frightening injury or incident during birth, or
physical or emotional mistreatment. People's perception of disrespectful care varies across the many different cultures but is experienced everywhere. A mother who received respectful care begins parenthood with greater confidence
and more rapid healing than one who was treated roughly or experienced complications. The latter may develop postpartum PTSD, which includes sleeplessness, nightmares, anxiety, inability to care for the baby, self, and
much more. Parents will likely remember their births their entire lives. One hopes the memory will be cherished as one of the peak experiences of their lives, perhaps very challenging but one in which they felt safe and received dignified, compassionate care. Respectful maternity care can make that happen!