TeamBirth program Empowers Mothers Through Collaborative Care
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A new approach to childbirth, called TeamBirth, is helping mothers feel more in control and supported during labor and delivery through enhanced dialog and shared decision-making.
Shannon Manchesi.
Photo Credit: Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital
For Crystal, delivering her third child at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance was a notably different experience. She was the first patient to benefit from the hospital’s new TeamBirth program, designed to improve communication and collaboration between the care team and the mother.
Crystal immediately felt at ease with the new approach.The TeamBirth model uses a planning board and regular team “huddles” that include the mother, her support person, and the entire care team. These discussions ensured Crystal felt heard and understood, particularly given her previous anxieties related to postpartum hemorrhage and postpartum depression.
“I felt like we were all on the same page. They did a good job at explaining what was happening throughout the entire process,” Crystal said. “My transition to the mother-baby unit once Gunner arrived was also smooth.”
Enhanced Communication Reduces anxiety
the TeamBirth program focuses on empowering women to actively participate in decisions about their labor and delivery. According to Shannon Manchesi, the labor and delivery nurse who cared for crystal, detailed communication at every step helped alleviate Crystal’s anxiety.
“Talking with detail and communicating every step helped decrease her anxiety,”
“We wont every woman giving birth to feel empowered to participate in decisions made during labor and delivery,” said Shannon Manchesi. Crystal felt supported and in control, transforming a perhaps stressful event into a comfortable and trusting experience.
Understanding Collaborative Birthing models
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the TeamBirth program?
- TeamBirth is a collaborative approach to childbirth that focuses on improving communication and shared decision-making between the care team and the mother.
- How does TeamBirth benefit mothers?
- TeamBirth empowers mothers by ensuring they feel heard, understood, and actively involved in decisions about their labor and delivery, leading to reduced anxiety and increased satisfaction.
- What are the key components of the TeamBirth model?
- The TeamBirth model includes a planning board, regular team “huddles,” and a focus on clear and consistent communication between the care team, the mother, and her support person.
Sources
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality: TeamBirth Project
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Health Statistics
- National Institutes of Health: PubMed Central
