Midwife´s role in edukation of women with gestacional diabetes mellitus

Gestational diabetes mellitus is a disorder of saccharide tolerance which is diagnosed for the first time during pregnancy and usually disappears after the delivery. As non-diagnosed gestational diabetes mellitus can affect the fetus and influence subsequent delivery and post-delivery complications resulting from diabetic fetopathy of the newbom, a proactive screening of gestational diabetes is necessary during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes treatment using a special diet or low doses of insulin is not successful unless the woman is properly and systematically educated. The Bachelor Thesis called "Midwifes Role in Education of Women with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus" was aimed at examining the ways in which midwives participate in education of women with gestational diabetes. The research was made using qualitative method and it was carried out through non-standardized interviews with midwives working with women suffering from gestational diabetes, and with a group of women with gestational diabetes. Four research objectives and five research questions were determined. The interviews were conducted during February and March 2010 in selected hospitals in the Czech Republic. lnterviews with women with gestational diabetes revealed differences in midwife s participation in the educational process. Women who were hospitalized during their pregnancy were only provided minimum information by the midwives. ln those cases, education was completely assumed by diabetes centres. Women who were at least once hospitalized during their pregnancy perceived the midwives as educators whom they could contact for assistance. Out of all educational materials, midwives only used text materials. None of them recommended websites. The midwives educational methods inc1uded explaining, instructing and discussion. They draw up dietary plans for women with gestational diabetes based on their own experience or educational materials provided by diabetologists. Research results showed that midwives rely very much on educating the women in diabetes centres. Based on information obtained from interviews with midwives in the other hospitals, I have drawn up an educational leaflet for women with gestational diabetes. This leaflet can be used as educational material in the antenatal-care unit of a hospital. In this way, midwives can provide women with important first information after telling them the diagnose to help them get over the period prior to visiting the diabetes centre