Abstract
Students who return to midwifery studies after being pregnant: A mixed methods study
Background
There are no statutory parameters associated with returning to study after maternity leave. Midwifery students who take maternity leave during their studies to birth autonomously decide when they return to university, and clinical placements with some choosing to return to theoretical studies within a matter of days/weeks after birth.
Midwifery academics face a discourse of professional, ethical, and moral values and beliefs caused by the opposing philosophies of respecting the student’s autonomy and advising on the midwifery philosophical values espousing motherhood as a time for bonding, nurturing and protecting of the mother-infant dyad.
Objectives
The purpose of this research was to explore factors influencing midwifery students’ decision to recommence their midwifery studies following the birth of their baby, and record their experiences of the barriers and enablers that affected their studies.
Methods
A mixed methods approach using an explanatory, parallel (convergent or concurrent) design using survey and interviews to collect diverse data and combine the information to form a comprehensive explanation of the phenomena under study
Results
The findings provided valuable insight into the challenges experienced by midwifery students at home and university related to theory and clinical placements when trying to balance the home/study scales to become a registered midwife.
Implications
As a global issue, we recommend international collaboration and further research to support midwifery regulation in guiding universities and particularly midwifery academics on how to protect the mother-baby dyad and midwifery students to minimise educational challenges and support students to complete their study
Ethics and conflicts of interest
Flinders University provided overarching ethical approval with reciprocal ethical approval from each researchers university. There were no conflicts of interest.