We foster coordination between Primary Care and Hospital Care to improve women's sexual and reproductive health
Over 50 midwives gathered at Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu to mark International Day of the Midwife, celebrated every year on 5 May.
The event highlighted the importance of knowing the work dynamics of the two levels of healthcare, common difficulties and being able to seek solutions together.
The SJD Sant Boi Hospital is a pioneer in perinatal bereavement care, offering a comprehensive programme to support those who have experienced loss.
The need to promote joint work by Primary Care and Hospital teams in the area of women's sexual and reproductive health was one of the main conclusions of the meeting hosted this morning by Parc Sanitari SJD. Both levels of care have recognised the importance of promoting future cross-cutting projects that facilitate cohesion and teamwork.
Organised jointly with ASSIR Gavà-Litoral and ASSIR Baix Llobregat, the event was attended by representatives of Parc Sanitari SJD and the Catalan Health Institute. They all emphasised the role of the midwife as a fundamental, close and human pillar, supporting women at different moments in their lives, and highlighted the figure of the midwife within the health system and the community.
One of the points raised in the meeting was the need to improve communication between the two levels of care, and there were proposals for regular meetings, rotations and mutual consultation. There were also proposals to unify protocols to improve equity and improve the dissemination of what midwives can contribute to the community and existing resources. Those attending the conference agreed unanimously that "we must build the future together!".
Perinatal bereavement
Perinatal bereavement was one of the topics discussed during the conference. Rebeca González, a specialised midwife at the SJD Sant Boi Hospital, explained how the Hospital, which has a multidisciplinary perinatal bereavement care programme, addresses the issue and supports couples coming to terms with the loss of a child, offering families tools for saying goodbye and creating memories, thus facilitating their transition through the grieving process. The discussion emphasised the importance of support for professionals facing complicated situations. “Very often, we too are overcome by the loss. If you have to deal with more than one in a short space of time, it's very painful," one of the midwives explained.
The role of midwives beyond pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum
On 5 May each year, International Day of the Midwife is celebrated, with the aim of valuing the work of these professionals and raising awareness of their role in a woman's sexual and reproductive health throughout her life.
The roles of this profession go far beyond care during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum: they are women's great allies thanks to their active listening, all-round support and the empowerment they offer them. They are also a key element in maternal mental health, supporting women at such complex times as postpartum or the loss of a child.
