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Rhyme and reason - the use and value of poetry in midwifery practice and education

Abstract:

We frequently speak of midwifery as a ‘holistic’ occupation. The use of the word holistic implies a belief that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and assumes an interrelationship among those parts. In other words, we do not view the childbearing woman from a reductionist, biomedical perspective, as simply a physical entity. We understand her to be a complex being, influenced by the psychological, emotional, spiritual, social and cultural aspects of her life, all of which may impact on her physical health and well being, and vice versa. In order to help the woman to meet her unique needs in this period, we need to work with her with an open heart and an open mind (Anderson & Davies, 2004). We seem to understand that the clinical skills which have historically been given primacy, need to be further augmented with communication and interpersonal skills; emotional and spiritual literacy; team skills; problem-solving; lateral thinking; flexibility and adaptability. These are skills that we now recognise as being essential in developing the critically thinking, solution focused midwife, required to provide care for women in the 21st century (Davies, 2007). By encouraging the development of creative expression in midwifery education, we may begin to draw upon these alternative skills and the arts may provide a vehicle for this.

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holistic profession, poetry, reflection