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Navigating the Study Packet Table of Contents | Overview | Framework | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10 | Authors/Acknowledgements | Appendix A | Appendix B | Appendix C | Appendix D | Appendix E | Appendix F | Download PDF Version The Table of Contents has longer descriptions of these links.

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Lesson 8: People Involved in Childbirth

Objectives: At the end of the lesson the interpreter will be able to:

• Identify the health care professionals involved in childbirth,
• Identify the non-health care people that aid a mother in labor and delivery,
• Describe the role of each potential person in labor and delivery, and
• Consider how an interpreter may work with each individual as a team or ally.
  

Step 1: Identification of Health Care Professionals

Activity:

Pulling from your own knowledge and resource(s), create a list of health care professionals you might encounter in each setting in Lesson 6.

• What is the role and function of each health care professional?
• Are there health care professionals that you could use as a resource while on the assignment?
• What amount of contact does the health care professional have with the mother?

Setting	Health Care Professional	Function	How can this person be a resource?	Amount of contact with the mother
	Your Email:

Step 2: Identify Others Present During Labor and Delivery.

Activity: Pulling from your own knowledge and resource(s), create a list of non-health care professionals and non-professionals that may be present for each setting you listed in Lesson 6, Step 2. Please include the following individuals: partner, doula, family members, friends, other children, interpreter, police and fire department, coach.

Consider the following:

• Who are other individuals that could be present at a labor and delivery?
• What is their function?
• Which individuals could be used as a resource while on the assignment?
• What amount of contact does the individual have with the mother?

Setting	Other Professional/ Individual	Function	How can this person be a resource?	Amount of contact with the mother
	Your Email:

Step 3: First Language to Second Language

Using the list created in Lesson 7, Step 2 (pages 22-23), consider conceptually correct signs for each individual.

Activity:

Practice signing each individual and an explanation of their role.

Step 4: Internalizing the Information

Watch All in Due Time Disc 2 - Jimmy and Egina Beldon.

View Video

Activity:

As you watch Jimmy and Egina, take particular notice of settings and individuals that were a part of each labor and delivery. Develop an outline of their story. Consider the following:

• Who was present at each birth?
• Do they fingerspell or use signs for each setting or individual?
• What alternative sign could you use to show the same concept?

Activity:

Retell their story in your second language.

Activity:

Watch Jimmy and Egina a second time and voice their story. Videotape your interpretation.

Step 5: Internalizing your knowledge

Watch All in Due Time Disc 1, Heidi and Jeff Branch.

View Video

Jeff and Heidi had a midwife and an interpreter for their birth experience.

• How much do they say about the midwife?
• How much do they say about the interpreter?
• Describe the relationship they had with the interpreter.

There is an online form for these questions on the same page with the video that you can use.

Step 6: A Special Look at Midwives and Doulas

Midwives used to deliver almost all babies. Then modern medicine came into being and doctors took over the job. In more recent times, there has been a return to using midwives throughout a pregnancy, labor and delivery, involving a doctor if there are medical complications. Women have many options to choose from these days.

Activity: Learn about Doulas on Birth Companions.

View Video

Start by watching Persis Bristol-Dodson and Jerri Middlebrook-Vogel describe their work as Doulas. Use the table below to make a list for each of the services they provide for expectant mothers and their partners. Compare the lists.

• Do you see any differences?
• Mark any services that are different with an *.

You can either do this on a separate paper or on the online form on the page with the video. View Video.

Persis Bristol-Dodson

Jerri Middlebrook-Vogel

Activity: Learn about Nurse Midwives on Birth Companions.

View Video.

Now watch the segment “An Appointment with a Nurse Midwife” on Birth Companions. This is an appointment between Amy and Maria Wolff. (They are sisters-in-law.) List the services the midwife explains that she will provide for the expectant mother. (Online form available on page with video.)

Circle the services that a nurse midwife can provide that a doula may not.

Activity: Watch Appointment with Doulas on Birth Companions.

View Video.

Finally, watch the interviews that the two doulas have with potential clients. As you watch the couples on All in Due Time, think about which couples you think might have benefited from working with a doula.

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