Mechtild Gross (Hannover Medical University)
* Download hier de PowerPoint presentatie van Mechtild Gross
Mechthild trained in general nursing, became a midwife and obtained a masters degree in Psychology from the University of Constance. After her PhD in 2000 (Bremen University), she joined Hannover Medical School, Germany, as a consultant midwife.
She has been setting up a Midwifery Research Unit which covers areas in practice, research and education.
Mechthild still practises as a midwife in laborward and clinics. She has published widely in the area of midwifery, has organised annual research workshops for midwives since 1990, and has a long-standing interest in the academic training of midwives. Currently, the Midwifery Research Unit holds a grant of the German Research Council on care during the labour process (ProGeb-Study). In 2009, the first German Masters program for midwives will start at Hannover Medical School as part of the European Masters of Midwives.
‘Normal Birth’ as a research territory
Assessing and measuring progress of normal labour has gained new interest in research since the end of the 90’s. Only recently the underlying methodology has been addressed as well. Advanced statistical methods like survival analysis and event history analysis enable a more differentiated understanding of normal labor progression. This can have major clinical implications in reducing an unwanted birth outcome. In an observational study we analyzed intrapartum interventions and events in a time-related manner and how selected time-varying variables were related to each other. Birth processes of women with a singleton pregnancy in cephalic presentation were recorded prospectively and retrospectively over six months in hospitals and 12 months in an out-of-hospital setting. Preexisting factors were treated as variables that were constant over time. Results will be reflected with respect to a time-related insight into what might be meant with the woman’s view during normal labour and possible clinical implications.