Abstract
Abstract
Issue: There are no guidelines to assist midwifery academics or students in determining the optimal time to return to their educational programs following pregnancy. Rather, students need to navigate balancing new motherhood with the pressures of returning to their clinical midwifery placement and completing their statutory requirements to meet the Australian Midwife Accreditation Standards before the end of their program. Aim: To seek best practice information that provides guidance to academics supporting midwifery students returning to study after maternity leave. Research Question: What guidance is provided by contemporary Australian legislation, workforce guidelines, professional association statements, and university policies to assist midwifery academics in providing advice to midwifery students about the optimal time to return to their studies following birth? Method: This document analysis was performed 2021-2022 and followed Altheide’s 12 step process divided into five stages to examine Australian legislation, workforce guidelines, professional association statements and university policies to clarify best practice advice for midwifery academics to provide guidance to students returning to study after maternity leave. Findings: Policy documents that refer to pregnancy confirm women have legal rights, and there is clear guidance on maternity leave; however, advice for midwifery students on the optimum time to return to study and clinical placements after birth is missing from the result of this document analysis search. Conclusion: Transition to motherhood during the postnatal period is an important time. Clear national guidelines are needed to provide support and recommendations regarding safe and optimal time to return to study and placement.