Most of the daily work of a midwife is treating health problems. When a woman
you are caring for has a problem, like exhaustion, pain in the belly, or even
heavy bleeding, you will need to take these steps to solve it:
1. Find the immediate cause of the problem.
2. Choose the best treatment.
3. Look for the root (underlying) causes of the
problem — to fully address the problem or prevent
problems from happening again.
Finding the causes of health problems
In this section, we tell how Celeste, a midwife, solves a health problem. The details
of this story apply only to Celeste, but the way she thinks about the problem and
works to solve it can be used by any midwife for any health problem. We list
each step that Celeste uses so that you can use these steps too.
1. Start with a doubt. This means start by admitting what
you do not know.
2. Think of all the possible causes. Most ways of feeling
sick can be caused by many different problems.
3. Look for signs to find the likely cause. Health problems
have signs. You can see these signs in how someone
feels, how their body looks and acts, and by taking
medical tests.
4. Decide the most likely cause.
5. Make a plan for what to do. This could be a plan to change a person’s
habits, change something in their home or environment, or give a medicine.
6. Look for results. Find out if your treatment is working. If it is not, start these
steps again.
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