INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the labour and birth support module.  This self-paced module has been designed specifically for you, the disability support worker who may find yourself supporting mothers, and their support partners, at their labour and birth.  It might be their first experience of birth, or perhaps their second or third, and they might be expecting more than one baby; no matter the circumstances, mothers will need close and continuous support.  You can be a source of great reassurance and comfort to them during this challenging, yet rewarding time. 

As a disability support worker in the birth unit, it is important that you show empathy and compassion towards the mothers as they manage their labour and birth and listen to their questions and concerns (Birch & Williams, 2022).  You should have a basic understanding of the anatomy and physiology of labour and birth so that you can translate complicated ‘medical speak’ and communicate it to the mother in a more ‘user-friendly’ way.

As you work your way through this module keep your eyes peeled for the many ‘support tips’ which are designed to give you practical suggestions so you can better support mothers and their support partners.

Be sure to click on each link, resource and video to fully complete the module.  At the end of the module you will be directed back to any areas missed.

Within the module you will find ‘Learning check-ins’ which are designed to consolidate your learning and identify gaps in your knowledge. 

The glossary, which includes commonly used terms, is a useful resource and will assist you with decoding any jargon you may come across in the world of labour and birth.  You might choose to print this out so you have it at hand.

Don’t forget to complete the post-module questionnaire – this helps us to evaluate and improve our learning tools in order to better support disability support workers, like you, in the future. 

Note that some areas of learning will be only briefly touched on this is module as they will be covered in greater depth in later learning modules.

This module is simply a guide and learning tool for you; this might be your first experience in the birth unit, you may have supported someone else during their labour and birth, or you may have had a baby yourself.  Either way,we hope you find the information in this module helpful in assisting and advocating for mothers on what is bound to be one of the most significant and memorable days of their lives.