Fundamentals of Midwifery: A Textbook for Students
Edited by Louise Lewis
Cases
Chapter 3 Sociology applied to maternity care
These cases are an amalgamation of different workers experiences and therefore no similarities to real families should be noted.
Case 1: Belinda's family
Belinda is a 14-year-old who lives with mother (Maggie) and two other younger siblings. Maggie separated from Belinda's father and they have no contact with him. Maggie is very reliant on her own mother (Sylvia) for support often resulting in the children going to their grandmother's in the middle of the night when Maggie feels she cannot cope with the children.
Maggie has become very reliant on Sylvia since the end of her marriage, but it is apparent that Sylvia has been very influential in the reasons why Belinda's father is absent. Sylvia has become both the support to Maggie but also the mother figure to Belinda and the other children. Sylvia was always at all the appointments with Belinda and took control of all the meetings that were held to offer additional support to the family.
This was a traditional family were the grandmother had been a young mother herself and was now taking control of all the family, including acting as the father figure by undertaking tasks within the family home like painting and decorating and fixing appliances in the home.
Sylvia did not believe in education for girls and women, and therefore supported Maggie in not encouraging her to attend school just as she had not as a child. Belinda was strongly influenced by Sylvia and this had led to Belinda not attending school despite measures to provide alternative education.
When Belinda went into labour, Sylvia was the birthing partner and stayed supporting Belinda during her stay in hospital taking over the care of the baby (Alfie). Sylvia is to continue to bring up Alfie, over ruling both Belinda herself as the mother and also Maggie and the same pattern of parenting will continue within this family; to them this is the norm.
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a) What could be the issues which affect this family?
Questions
Case 2: Chrystal's family
Chrystal was a 16-year-old living at home with mother (Wendy) and stepfather (Bob) and younger sibling (Elliott). Chrystal and her boyfriend Colin who is also 16, both have a learning disability. It was very difficult to know what information they actually understood. They were referred to a parenting programme which they agreed to that would offer support both during the pregnancy and for 2 years after the birth of the baby.
There were several agencies working with the family, including the Father's Worker with Colin. Wendy invited Colin to live at the family home as Chrystal was wanting to move out and live with him independently.
Once the baby (Esther) was born there were issues in the relationship as to how well Chrystal and Colin would cope as parents. A parenting assessment was undertaken and Esther was allowed home with Chrystal to live at the family home. The family remain on the parenting programme and did engage well.
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a) What could be the issues which affect this family?
Questions
Case 3: Terry's family
Terry was a 19-year-old father to be who lived with his mother (Sandra) and stepfather (Clive) in a volatile and argumentative environment. Terry was finding it difficult to form a relationship with Sally his girlfriend who was pregnant, as she was concerned about his temper.
Terry was referred to the Father's Worker through the maternity services when he attended the initial booking appointment with Sally. Initially The Father's Worker spent quite a substantial amount of time with Terry, building a positive relationship and trust, which concluded in Terry feeling comfortable to work openly and honestly with the Father's Worker. He disclosed the difficult relationship that he has with his mother and stepfather. The thought of being an absent father had led him to indulge in alcohol which he described as an escape mechanism.
After working intensely with the Father's Worker, Terry realised that as he was to become a father he had responsibilities other than himself and realised the importance of becoming a positive role model within his daughter's life. Terry took the decision to accept support from the Father's Worker and other relevant agencies.
The Father's Worker addressed Terry's housing needs; referrals were made to a local housing support agency as Terry required housing which would enable him to have overnight access to his daughter and also eradicate tensions between himself and his stepfather. Terry was successful in securing appropriate accommodation and after mediation with Sally he was able to have overnight access with his daughter. He has secured regular employment and still maintains a property where his daughter resides up to three times per week.
Terry now regularly attends the Young Fathers' Group and has become a substantial figure within the group, sharing his experiences. Terry is a respected figure within the group and is keen to drive the group forward and share his own experience; he continues to be a positive role model within the group and for other young fathers.
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a) What could be the issues which affect this family?
Questions