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Developing & Crafting A Vision: A Strategic Plan for Midwifery. A Case Study

Abstract:

In the brief existence of only eight years the NZCOM has made huge strides in, firstly, developing its vision and, secondly, in identifying strategies through which to achieve this vision. It may be that some of our vision will strike a chord with you and help you understand that midwifery's determination to have control over its existence is totally to do with ensuring the continued existence of a woman centred, family focused primary health maternity service in this country. Everything we are doing as a profession contributes to this vision. We want every pregnant woman to think 'midwife' when she discovers she is pregnant. We want every woman to approach childbirth and motherhood with confidence and joy. We want families to understand that birth is a normal, healthy life event which occurs within the community and over which the woman and her family have control. We want obstetric care to be easily available for those who need it, but not applied to those who don't. We want midwives to understand what it means to be 'with women', for each midwife to have a personal relationship with the woman's ability to give birth and become a mother. We believe that when the majority of midwives in New Zealand practise independently and in partnership with women, the maternity system will undergo massive change in its power structures, women and their babies will have significantly better experiences and better outcomes, and society as a whole will recognise and uphold childbirth as a normal, healthy life event. This is our vision.

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birth as a normal life event, midwifery profession, partnership, professional autonomy, woman-centred care