Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jorge Saucedo | Lieutenant Commander Fancher discusses information with a patient at the Troop Medical...... read more read more
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Lt. Cmdr. Ronald Fancher is currently the officer-in-charge of the Troop Medical Clinic, Life Support Area. This active duty Navy veteran has a unique claim to fame. He is currently one of the only two male midwives in the U.S. Navy.
Midwifery is a health care profession that provides prenatal care to expecting mothers. They attend the birth of the infant, and provide postpartum care to the mother and her infant.
According to Fancher, there have only been three male midwives who have served in the U.S. Navy. Although Fancher has only been a male nurse midwife for a year and a half, he is credited with delivering 72 babies. He has delivered a total of 10 Navy births, but most of his patients were Mexican farm workers during his off duty volunteer work with the Health Department in Plant City, Fla.
Fancher is a family practitioner, who has had the experience of treating a patient before pregnancy, during pregnancy and then continuing on to treat not only mother and child, but the entire family.
"It is my job to facilitate the type of birth the mother want to have," said Fancher, who teaches relaxation techniques, breathing and focusing.
On some occasions, Fancher admits, he gets exhausted from breathing and pushing with the mother while couching her through labor. He earned his Post Masters Certification as a Nurse Midwife he said because, "I like working with women." He believes the pregnancy for a family is one of the happiest times in a family's life and he said loves being a part of that joyous occasion.
He can handle post partum bleeding and perform an episiotomy, but cesarean sections is a practice that goes beyond his scope, so he works closely with doctors to ensure the safety and health of his patients. In some cases where the birth was beyond his control, Fancher recalls, "I have had to call on back up."
Nurse Midwives are advanced practice nurses. They also provide primary care to well women, through annual exams, family planning and menopause care.
Midwives are autonomous practitioners who specialize in a low-risk pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum stage. They generally strive to help women have a healthy pregnancy and natural birth experience. Midwives recognize and deal with deviations from the norm and train to handle many situations considered abnormal, including breech births and posterior positions, using non-invasive techniques.
He is licensed in the state of Florida and practices at the Jacksonville Navy Hospital Air Station. He completed his studies in Midwifery on his off duty time during his career in the Navy. He has also practiced at the Naval Health Clinic in Charleston, S.C., where he counseled women about birth control.
"I educate them about their options." said Fancher. "Education is important."
His initial consultations with a patient typically run about hour. He advises patients about oral contraceptives and alternative methods, such as, the rhythm method and Inner Uterine Devices. It is vital to promoting healthy living and lifestyle for the mother and her child. Fanscher foresee his post Navy career, continuing on into the full scope of family practice.
| Date Taken: | 04.01.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 04.01.2009 05:23 |
| Story ID: | 31843 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 736 |
| Downloads: | 360 |
This work, Male Midwifery in the U.S. Navy, by PO2 Kim Harris, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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