Salutogenesis, consent and the autonomic nervous system by Alex Smith

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 12:55:36 UTC

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 12:57:48 UTC

When women want to better be able to 'stand their ground' when discussing or affirming their decisions: aligning the breathe - with an appropriate affirmation (e.g. "I have all the time I need to listen to my body." "I stand tall and strong in this moment" "I am the queen in this situation and I do the allowing.") - and with a yoga position (e.g. mountain pose) - and/or - a finger mudra for strength and resilience.

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 12:59:21 UTC

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:03:35 UTC

Applying Salutogenesis in Midwifery Practice

Salutogenesis: how philosophy shapes practice

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:05:32 UTC

This starts with a metaphorical story

Salutogenesis - Putting the health back into healthcare

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:08:24 UTC

How we have confused the word 'health' with the word 'medicine'.

Consent - the key facts

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:12:10 UTC

Many people do not realise that any test, examination, procedure or treatment requires non-pressured, non-coerced, willing consent - options must be available, including the option to say no, and full support for your decision must be assured.

Informed consent 1: legal basis and implications for practice

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:15:39 UTC

A mother can take these bits of information about the legal basis for consent to the Head of Midwifery or a consultant midwife and ask her help in arranging care that will respect her rights.

Physiological birth: how it works

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:20:21 UTC

"Childbirth is a physiological process that can be accomplished without complications for the majority of women and babies"

The World Health Organization 2018

What’s so Great about Hormonal Physiology?

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:23:40 UTC

The autonomic nervous system informs balance of hormones being produced on the basis of whether it feels safe to be giving birth or not. Anything by Sarah Buckley is good to read.

Out of the Laboratory: Back to the Darkened Room

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:27:28 UTC

This is a wonderful analogy written by the late midwife, Tricia Anderson

Self Efficacy: What is it? Why is it important? And what can we do about it?

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:34:28 UTC

Decision-making theory: Does Muriel have free will?

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:40:01 UTC

Do we ever really consent to the maternity care we receive?

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 13:41:47 UTC

The Sleeping Lady of Malta

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-15 17:48:12 UTC

Salutogenesis: the things that cause wellness.

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-16 15:58:26 UTC

The contents of the first aid kit are sensible to have within reach, but they do not, in themselves, improve well being.

Buoyant Birth

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-16 16:04:19 UTC

Taking women from the top left quadrant and routinely placing them in the bottom right, is very unlikely to support the healthiest outcomes.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS)

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-16 16:09:45 UTC

The seesaw represents the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the ANS. A third branch governs the seesaw. Messages from the enteric nervous system (found in the gut) advise the seesaw as to whether it is safe to relax or if it would be wise to be on high alert. This happens even before the person has made a conscious appraisal of the situation. It is literally their gut instinct.

To Vaccinate Or Not to Vaccinate? My Research on The Question.

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-17 11:32:08 UTC

The PDF of Alex's Talk

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-17 11:54:39 UTC

Contact Alex: alex.smith@aims.org.uk

Maternity care: Do as I say and no one gets hurt

alexsmith43 — 2025-05-19 08:03:39 UTC

Maternity care as a hostage situation with close parallels to Stockholm Syndrome.