Mary and Elmer’s fifth child, Melvin, was born 6 weeks prematurely and is 1-month old. Sarah, age 13, Martin, age 12, and Wayne, age 8, attend the Amish elementary school located 1 mile from their home. Lucille, age 4, is staying with Mary’s sister and her family for a week because baby Melvin has been having respiratory problems, and their physician told the family he will need to be hospitalized if he does not get better within 2 days.
Choose two or three areas of prenatal care that you would want to discuss with Mary, and then write brief notes about what you know and/or need to learn about Amish values to discuss perinatal care in a way that is culturally congruent.
Discuss three Amish values, beliefs, or practices to consider when preparing to do prenatal education classes with Amish patients.
Children are considered gifts from God. The average number of live births per family is seven. Birth control is viewed as interfering with God’s will and thus should be avoided. Nevertheless, some Amish women do use intrauterine devices, but this practice is uncommon. Approaching the subject of birth control obliquely may make it possible for an Amish woman or man to sense the health-care provider’s respect for Amish values and thus encourage discussion. “When you want to learn more about birth control, I would be glad to talk to you” is a suggested approach.
Women participate in prenatal classes, often with their husbands. Women are interested in learning about all aspects of perinatal care, but they may choose not to participate in sessions when videos are used. Prenatal class instructors should inform them ahead of time when videos or films will be used so they can decide whether to attend.
Most women prefer home births and choose to use Amish or non-Amish lay midwives. The Amish have no major taboos or requirements for birthing. Men may be present, and most husbands choose to be involved; however, they are likely not to be demonstrative in showing affection verbally or physically.
The laboring woman cooperates quietly, seldom audibly expressing discomfort. Women sometimes use herbal remedies to promote labor. Knowledge about and respect for Amish health-care practices alert physicians and nurses to the possibility of simultaneous treatments that may or may not be harmful.
The postpartum mother resumes her family role managing, if not doing, all the housework, cooking, and child care within a few days after childbirth. Grandmothers or other female relatives often come to stay with the new family for several days to help with care of the infant and give support to the new mother. Older siblings are expected to help care for the younger children and to learn how to care for the newborn.
When hospitalized, the family may want the patient to spend the least allowable time in the hospital. Include an extended nuclear family in care of the newborn. Ask the father how extensively he wants to be involved with labor and delivery.
Submission Instructions:
Your initial post should be at least 500 words, formatted and cited in current APA style with support from at least 2 academic sources published within the last 5 years.
Module 2: Lecture Materials