THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

DURING PREGNANCY AND LABOUR

INTRODUCTION• Pregnancy and birth are physiologic processes,

unique for each woman, that usually proceed normally.

• Women and their families hold different views about childbearing.

• Optimal maternal health outcomes can best be achieved in an atmosphere of effective communication, shared decision-making, teamwork, and data-driven quality improvement initiative.

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION ?

DEFINITION OF COMMUNICATION

It can be defined as the process of conveying information from a sender to a receiver with the use of a medium in which the information is understood in the same way by both sender and receiver.

DEFINITION OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

It can be defined as the face to face process of interacting that focus on advancing the physical and emotional well-being of a patient for collecting information to determine illness, assessing and modifying behaviour and providing health education.

DO WE NEED THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION IN OBSTETRIC CARE?

NEEDS AND IMPORTANCES

1) Crucial to ensuring safety.2) For situational awareness and mutual

support.3) Can create a climate of confidence.4) Patient center .5) Strongly affect the mother and her delivery.6) Allow patient for self expression.

EXPERIENCES OF SOME THE MOTHERS DURING THEIR LABOUR

-“She just came quarrelling me and that instilled fear in me. And even when I was delivering, I delivered with a lot of fear”.

-“Some nurses are good, they console. Others are quite irksome. They are so discouraging, even slapping pregnant women.”

(Community member, Tanzania)

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

1. Verbal communication.

2. Non verbal communication. Vocal cues. Action cues Object cues. Space. Touch.

TECHNIQUES OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION

i. Listening.

ii. Broad opening.

iii. Restating.

iv. Clarification.

v. Reflection.

vi. Focusing.

(contd)vii. Showing perception.

viii. Theme identification.

ix. Silence.

x. Humour.

xi. Informing.

xii. Suggestion.

BARRIER OF COMMUNICATION

APPLICATION OF THERAPEUTIC COMMUNICATION IN THE WARD

Establishing a therapeutic relationship.

Making the family feel welcome.

Be non- judgemental.

Determining family expectation about birth.

Conveying confidence.

Active participation.

(contd)

Assigning primary nurse.

Touch.

Respecting cultural values.

Shared decision making.

Caring behaviour.

Skill and poise.

SUMMARYSUMMARY

RECAPTULATION

CONCLUSION• Care of the woman and her family during

pregnancy, labour and birth is a rewarding yet demanding specialty within nursing.

• The therapeutic relation and communication between the health team and the women help in achieving goal.

• Appropriate response to situation , incorporation, effective treatment depends on effective communication.

Thank you