6/7: For our BRISE series, we spoke with family midwife Sabine Ballenberger about grandmothers, play areas and everyday situations – and about how important picture books can be for babies.
We are meeting with Sabine Ballenberger, a family midwife with "ProKind." The "ProKind" home visit program, run by the German Red Cross (DRK) Bremen branch, supports families in challenging circumstances. For several years, they have collaborated with the BRISE research initiative. The family midwives from "ProKind" also support families participating in BRISE.
Sabine Ballenberger has accompanied and supported five BRISE families so far, helping them create the best possible environment for themselves and their children's development. We have already heard from BRISE families about how positively participation can affect them and how significant the influence of parents can be on their child's development.
The BRISE families we interviewed were particularly enthusiastic about the support provided by the family midwife. That's why we decided to follow up with you.
How long have you been a family midwife?
"I have been a midwife for almost 30 years. For most of that time, I worked freelance as a midwife. Five years ago, I sought a new professional challenge and have since been working as a family midwife as well."
How did you get into your profession?
"Actually, I came to my profession as a midwife through my grandmothers. As a child, I lived with my family in a rural area, and my grandmothers would 'step in' at births when no midwife was available. That apparently made a lasting impression on me."
Can you give us a few examples or typical situations where parents, with your support, wanted to do something differently or better in their everyday family life?
"Several situations come to mind, and I'll give you four good examples:
1) Playing on the floor
A classic example: When visiting family, I always like to get down to the children's eye level. I'm all the more pleased when mothers themselves seek (eye and floor) contact with their children – something that might not have been common before, this "being with the child".
2) Set up a play area
Then I experience situations where mothers, for example, set up a special play area for their child in the living room. When I visit, it's lovely to see that the child has appropriate stimuli available and that importance is placed on a useful, child-friendly environment.
3) Learn about and try baby massage
Another example is baby massage. Mothers often tell me they regularly massage their babies after we've tried it together. The physical contact through baby massage clearly has positive effects on mental and motor development – it's wonderful when parents embrace this.
4) Look at picture books and read them aloud
And who's surprised when I give the example of "looking at and reading picture books aloud"? It's often noticeable that mothers start reading to their children regularly. Parents adopt the view that reading aloud not only contributes to their children's larger vocabulary, but also fosters the development of their social and emotional skills. When the child sits on the mother's lap during the reading, the close physical contact is an additional benefit for a strong bond and relationship
In what ways does your support strengthen families?
"I think building a close, trusting relationship contributes to strengthening the parent. Knowing that there is someone you can turn to for questions and problems reinforces the parental role.".
Having a contact person in everyday life can be so reassuring. Not only in crisis situations, but also in everyday matters, such as support in dealing with authorities and bureaucracy. As family midwives, we are very well networked and therefore often offer a very useful guiding function
What do you like most about your job?
"What I appreciate most as a family midwife is the time I have for the families. That wasn't possible for me as a freelance midwife.".
I can focus much more on the needs of the families; it's a completely different way of working. Because I can initiate changes that make the family situation easier. And over the long period of supporting the families, I get to witness how the children develop in their first two years – that's wonderful!
Sabine Ballenberger is a family midwife at Pro Kind, a home visit program of the German Red Cross Bremen District Association. She has been working as a midwife for 30 years and has been supporting BRISE families on their journey for five years.
