The role of the community midwife differs dramatically from that of a hospital based practitioner but many midwifes entering this area of practice may not feel well equipped for this diverse experience. Community Midwifery Practice is the first text specifically tailored to meet the needs of community midwives, providing a practical, skills-based guide to improving and underpinning their day-to-day practice with an emphasis on ‘normal’ birth and the importance of developing relationships with the women they are charged with helping. This accessible text includes information on the broad range of skills required by midwives working in community settings, providing practical guidance on issues such as supporting women with HIV/AIDS, issues surrounding domestic abuse, perinatal mental health, and pelvic girdle pain. Community Midwifery Practice will provide all midwives who work in community placements with a comprehensive, accessible tool designed to assist them in all aspects of their practice.

The book looks at a broad perspective of decision making and each chapter focuses on a specific aspect related to making crucial decisions. Following an initial introduction the book explores the concept of autonomy and the many factors that influence autonomous practise. The role of knowledge in decision making, using evidence to inform decisions, as well as different approaches to decision making are also examined - including the traditional or rational approach, decision analysis and the development of professional judgement. Dilemmas arise when decisions are made and therefore ethical decision making is an important component of this book. Management decisions may be different from those related to giving specific care to women, hence one chapter focuses on making management decisions. Emphasis is also placed on the role of the midwife in helping women make their own decisions, the role of reflection in enhancing the decisions midwives make and the support midwives can receive from their Supervisor of Midwives. Flowcharts explain and facilitate the decision-making process. A very practical approach to decision-making in midwifery, with contributions from midwives who have considerable experience in this area Provides guidelines on how to achieve successful autonomous midwifery practice, enabling theory to be effectively applied to practice Includes coverage of management roles and decision-making as well as clinical scenarios, offering frameworks and flowcharts to guide the inexperienced Suggests different approaches to making difficult decisions

This latest volume in the immensely popular Midwifery Practice Series deals with a further set of important issues, this time drawn from all three stages of care during pregnancy. The chapter structure adopted in the first three books is retained, and, as before, presentation of a broad-ranging survey and analysis of key research literature placed in the context of clinical practice is the guiding philosophy behind the whole book.

First Edition an AJN Book of the Year Award Winner! This second edition of a groundbreaking book is substantially revised to deliver the foundation for an evidence-based model for best practices in midwifery, a model critical to raising the United States' current standing as the bottom-ranking country for maternity mortality among developed nations.With a focus on updated scientific evidence as the framework for midwifery practice, the book includes 21 completely new chapters that address bothcontinuing and new areas of practice, the impact of institutional and national policies, and the effects of diversity and globalization. Incorporating themidwifery model of care, the book provides strategies for change and guidance for implementing evidence-based best practices. The book examines midwifery efforts to improve the health of women and children in the U.S., for example, Strong Start, US MERA, Centering Pregnancy, a focus on physiologic birth, and successful global endeavors. It encompasses a diverse nationwide authorship that includes leaders in midwifery,academicians, midwives representing diversity, hospital- and community-based practitioners, and policymakers. This coalition of authors from diversebackgrounds facilitates an engaging and robust discussion around best practices. Chapters open with a contemporary review of the literature, a comparisonof current (often scientifically unsubstantiated and ineffective) practices, evidence-based recommendations, and best practices for midwifery. Key Features: Focuses on scientific evidence as the framework for midwifery practice Addresses continuing and new, controversial areas of practice with strategies and guidelines for change Includes 20 out of 27 completely new chapters Authored by a diverse group of 44 prominent midwifery leaders Examines practices that are in conflict with scientific evidence

Introducing the Social Sciences for Midwifery Practice makes clear the links between social, anthropological and psychological concepts, midwifery practice and women’s experience of birth. Demonstrating how empathising with women and understanding the context in which they live can affect childbirth outcomes and experiences, this evidence-based text emphasises the importance of compassionate and humane care in midwifery practice. Exploring midwifery as an art, as well as a science, the authors collected here make the case for midwives as professionals working ‘with women’ rather than as birth technicians, taking a purely competency-based approach to practice. The book incorporates a range of pedagogical features to enhance student learning, including overall chapter aims and learning outcomes, ‘recommendations for practice’, ‘learning triggers’ to encourage the reader to delve deeper and reflect on practice, ‘application to practice’ case studies which ensure that the theory is related to contemporary practice, and a glossary of terms. The chapters cover perspectives on birth from sociology; psychology; anthropology; law; social policy and politics. Other chapters address important issues such as disability, politics and sexuality. Outlining relevant theory from the social sciences and clearly applying it to practice, this text is an essential read for all student midwives, registered midwives and doulas.

This book about the art, craft and science of expert midwifery care, while focusing on ‘alternative physiological births’ that are those ‘outside’ of guidelines, the contents can be applied to any birthing choices. Drawing upon the findings of a PhD that captured the experiences of midwives who proactively supported alternative physiological births while working in the National Health Service, their practice was conceptualised as ‘skilled heartfelt practice’. Skilled heartfelt practice denotes the interrelationship between midwives’ attitudes and beliefs in support of women’s choices, their values of cultivating meaningful relationships, and their expert practical clinical skills. It is these qualities combined that give rise to what is called ‘full-scope midwifery’ as defined by the Lancet Midwifery Series. This book illuminates why and how these midwives facilitated safe, relational care. Using a combination of emotional intelligence skills and clinical expertise while centring women’s bodily autonomy, they ensured safe care was provided within a holistic framework. Moreover, this book offers insights for midwives to move beyond ‘rule-based’ practice, where the benefits of expert practice are illuminated. Midwives facilitating ‘alternative’ physiological births epitomise evidence-based practice, which centres the woman or birthing person as the expert in their life, and the midwife meets them where they are with expert skills to support them. But what does this look like in clinical practice, particularly for those employed by institutions, those ‘working within the system’ who have constraints that private or self-employed midwives don’t have? How does a midwife cultivate those skills within a culture and climate that devalues both relationships, midwives and women’s autonomy? This book aims to provide a roadmap for those seeking to cultivate these skills. The core focus will be the midwife-mother relationship from the perspectives of the midwives, rather than the midwives wider working relationships or workplace contexts. This is purposeful so to offer a deep dive into the nuanced and varied ways of delivering this type of care. However, the realities of practice are also firmly embedded with the book, tensions will be explored, limitations acknowledged.

This new edition of a highly regarded classic midwifery text encourages critical thinking about the art and science of midwifery. Promoting the idea that thinking directly affects practice, it offers a clear explanation of the concepts, theories and models that shape effective evidence-informed care for women. This insightful book challenges the reader to reconsider the knowledge at the heart of your own midwifery practice. It is the essential text on midwifery's growing theoretical framework for students and practitioners alike. New to this Edition: - Extensively updated and reworked edited collection - New exercises: undergraduate and postgraduate specific activities highlight the significance of the theoretical framework to everyday practice

This textbook is the first authoritative, in-depth publication about global midwifery and the contribution of skilled professional midwives to the provision of high quality maternity care, reductions in maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. It demonstrates actions that are contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals through partnership with women and their families, enabling them to ‘survive, thrive and transform’. The textbook explores how the world is becoming more connected through globalisation, advances in technology and innovation and yet more inequitable as women and children are disproportionately affected by issues such as poverty, environmental vulnerability, hunger, conflict, violence, and discrimination. It considers how midwives contribute to maternal and newborn health, leading to greater equity and empowerment and, ultimately, strengthening health systems. The ‘three pillars’ of midwifery are discussed: regulation, education and professional midwives’ associations. The importance of evidence-based care is explored along with diff erent models of midwifery and the challenges of developing professional leadership. This textbook also considers women’s human rights to sexual and reproductive health and respectful maternity care, stressing the importance of cultural sensitivity and contextually appropriate approaches. Midwives and other professionals will benefi t from this reliable resource that indicates direction and provides information about the principles and practice of professional midwifery. This text also provides universities, organisations, and individuals with a highly relevant resource to better equip them for international midwifery practice. It finally offers policy makers a reliable source of evidence-based information for consideration in various evolving national and international situations.

Skills for Midwifery Practice is the go-to book for all midwifery students who need to learn what to do in a range of situations, how to perform a skill, and why they need to do it in a certain way. Written by midwifery educators Ruth Johnson and Wendy Taylor, the book makes learning easy with background information, learning outcomes, helpful diagrams and lists to represent the skill flow. It explains the underlying physiology associated with pregnancy and childbirth, and clearly defines the nature and extent of current practice. This version is fully updated and referenced throughout to provide a detailed evidence base to support learning and further study. It is ideal for midwives in training, qualified midwives returning to practice, as well as other members of the obstetric healthcare team. - Clear and logical – easy to follow and understand for training midwives - Accurate, up-to-date evidence base that is relevant to contemporary midwifery practice - Each skill contextualized with background, indications and contraindications to support both clinical practice and study - Learning objectives and end-of-chapter self-assessment exercises allow readers to monitor their progress New to this edition - Latest guidelines and standards - New information on resuscitation and other emergencies - Now in full color throughout - Expanded chapter on the use of standard precautions in light of the global pandemic - Developed discussion of alternative feeding methods

Burtch examines the transformation of the role of the midwife, particularly the international resurgence of the midwifery movement over the past twenty years. He also looks at contemporary midwifery practice in Canada and the role of the state in shaping and defining that practice. Burtch deals specifically with the qualifications of midwives and the care given by them both in and out of hospital and discusses their legal status, the legacy of competition between nurses and midwives, and the impact of legal actions concerning midwifery practice. He emphasizes the pivotal role of the state in supporting midwifery and discusses the difficulties created by increasing interest in midwifery among expectant women and the social forces that inhibit the establishment of a self-governing midwifery profession. Today health care policy analysts throughout the country are questioning whether midwifery can offer a more holistic, safe, and less costly manner of supervising child-birth in Canada. At present, midwifery has legal status in only two provinces: Ontario and Alberta. Government policymakers, health care professionals, and the women's community will find that this timely book provides critically needed information.