The use of warm water immersion throughout the birthing process is renowned for its physical and psychological benefits, yet waterbirth is still vastly underrepresented as a birthing method across the globe. Now going into its second edition, Dianne Garland's popular and authoritative text guides the reader through the clinical, practical and organisational considerations for delivery in water. Drawing on the author's own extensive experience, the book explores: - The history and evolution of hydrotherapeutic theory. - The specific skills and specialist care required for attending births in this setting. - Key research and debates surrounding the many aspects of waterbirth. - Practical guidance on engaging with parents when promoting waterbirth as an option. From an internationally renowned and respected midwife, this new edition retains the personal and engaging style that made the first edition so popular. The book is enhanced with photos taken from the author's own travels around the world, and features a wealth of interactive material – including an expansion of the Birth Story feature, whereby first-hand accounts of waterbirth from both mothers and practitioners worldwide provide an often moving conclusion to each chapter. With a strong focus on developing practitioners' knowledge and skills in this area, enabling them to confidently offer waterbirth as a safe and viable option, this classic text is an invaluable one-stop resource for anyone with academic, professional or personal interests in waterbirth.

Drawing on years of midwifery experience of waterbirth, this collection of stories, based on real-life events, illuminates a rewarding way of birth and emphasises the theoretical knowledge, skills, understanding, and resilience needed to practice well. Waterbirth Stories includes chapters on the criteria for use of water in labour and birth, on the different stages of labour, and on some more serious or unusual situations such as shoulder dystocia, postpartum haemorrhage, breech presentation, and other unexpected maternal and neonatal events. Each chapter includes several stories from a midwife’s perspective, told in the context of evidence-based guidelines available for this topic. The stories end with learning points to help readers reflect on their own practice. Ideal for student and practising midwives with an interest in waterbirth, this research-informed book is enjoyable, challenging, and informative.

An international collaboration of lecturers, practitioners and researchers. Each chapter considers a topic relevant to normalising maternity care. Topics include: routine interventions - epidurals - physiological third and fourth stages - longer labours and approaches to monitoring / intervention - most effective models of care - birth centres - home birth - mental health - doulas - reasons for intervention - links between research and practice - harmonising models of birth - caseload midwifery - including 'normality' on medical training courses - the symbolic value of birth - developments in China, the UAE, Brazil and other countries where dramatic changes are taking place (e.g. in sub-Saharan Africa) - the 'natural' caesarean - individual agents for change - intrapartum best practice - ways of supporting women labouring without pharmacological pain relief - water birth - VBAC - the role of regulatory bodies - ways of publicising your work - communication for best results - review of progress and pointers for future research. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, GPs, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, GPs, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement

New edition of a title in the popular Midwifery Essentials series originally published in conjunction with The Practising Midwife journal. The series covers core topics in midwifery education in an engaging and friendly format using a helpful 'jigsaw' approach which encourages readers to explore topics from a variety of perspectives e.g. effective communication, team working and health promotion. Helpful 'scenarios' throughout each volume encourage debate and reflection, core elements of midwifery education. - Fully updated to provide a useful, friendly source of information - Strong focus on contemporary women-centred care - Designed to stimulate debate and reflection upon current practice, local policies and procedures - Scenarios enable practitioners to understand the context of maternity care and explore their role in safe and effective service provision - Helpful 'jigsaw' approach enables readers to explore specific topics from a variety of perspectives e.g. consent, safety and health promotion - Explains the professional and legal issues surrounding clinical procedures - Chapters designed to be read as a 'standalone' or in succession - Emphasises the crucial role of effective communication - Makes reference to the latest national and international guidelines - Contains new scenarios to reflect recent changes in practice - Improved layout aids retention and learning - Fully updated throughout with the latest evidence base for clinical skills and procedures - Embraces the principles of 'Better Births'

Praise for the previous edition: “…An outstanding handbook. It will be a familiar volume on most midwifery bookshelves, providing an excellent guide to midwifery focused care of both woman and child in the birthing setting.” - Nursing Times Online Providing a practical and comprehensive guide to midwifery care, The Midwife’s Labour and Birth Handbook continues to promote best practice and a safe, satisfying birthing experience with a focus on women-centred care. Covering all aspects of care during labour and birth, from obstetric emergencies to the practicalities of perineal repair (including left-hand suturing), the fourth edition has been fully revised and updated to include: Full colour photographs of kneeling extended breech and footling breech births New water birth and breech water birth photographs Female genital mutilation Sepsis Group B streptococcus Care of the woman with diabetes /Neonatal hypoglycaemia Mental health Seeding/microbirthing It also addresses important issues such as: Why are the numbers of UK women giving birth in stirrups RISING rather than falling? Why are so few preterm babies given bedside resuscitation with the cord intact? Would the creation of midwife breech practitioners/specialists enable more women to choose vaginal breech birth and is breech water birth safe? What is the legal position for women who choose to free birth – and their birth partners? Why are midwives challenging the OASI care bundle? Incorporating research, evidence and anecdotal observations, The Midwife’s Labour and Birth Handbook remains an essential resource for both student midwives and experienced practising midwives.

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

Safe Water in Healthcare: A Practical and Clinical Guide enables users from different disciplines to understand all types of waterborne hazards that can pose a risk to those who might be exposed, the events which cause them to be present, what may precipitate an increase in their levels that may cause harm, and how they can be avoided or managed to reduce risk. The handbook highlights microorganisms that can cause infections, modes of transmission, the infections they cause, and risks. The book's authors draw from their extensive practical experience assisting with day-to-day problems that range from minor issues to outbreaks. The book includes case studies on the growth of biofilms and where they cause problems in water systems as well as providing practical answers to a majority of issues that arise in healthcare water and drainage systems. This is an accessible handbook that fills the gaps for those without technical knowledge for a complex but important area of infection control. It provides practical guidance for professionals who are required to design, manage and maintain water systems and help them manage associated infection outbreaks. - Discusses waterborne pathogens, their detection, identification and surveillance and describes the extent and range of recognized and emerging waterborne microorganisms as well as the diseases that occur and consequences to patients and staff - Covers hazards that can cause harm within water systems and associated equipment, the circumstances or factors that increase the risks, and the multiple modes of transmission of waterborne pathogens - Explains the importance of good design, including the type of design, management, hardware and software that can help manage and control the presence of waterborne pathogens. - Highlights who needs to be involved at each stage to ensure that patients are kept safe from waterborne pathogens, taking into account current legislation and best practices guidance

Supporting a Physiologic Approach to Pregnancy and Birth: A Practical Guide provides an overview of current evidence and a range of practical suggestions to promote physiologic birth within the United States healthcare system. Presenting the latest evidence available on practical approaches and minimal interventions, this book looks into clinic exam rooms and hospital labor units to investigate the possibilities for improving the pregnancy and labor experience. Contributors discuss recent research and other published information and present a range of ideas, tools, and solutions for maternity care clinicians, including midwives, nurses, physicians, and other members of the perinatal team. An invaluable resource, Supporting a Physiologic Approach to Pregnancy and Birth is a must-have practical guide for those involved in all aspects of pregnancy and birth.

An introduction to pathophysiology specifically tailored to the needs of midwives Professional standards of proficiency require that midwives develop a robust understanding of pathophysiology, the study of disordered physical processes including disease and injury. This dedicated text equips both aspiring and registered midwives with the foundational understanding of pathophysiology required to deliver the best patient care. An understanding of pathophysiology is paramount for the delivery of safe and effective care during the various stages of pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum recovery. This understanding provides midwives with the insight to recognise and respond promptly to complications, fostering optimal outcomes for the mother and the newborn. Early recognition is pivotal, allowing for timely interventions that can significantly influence maternal and fetal well-being. A holistic approach to care is the cornerstone of midwifery and an understanding of pathophysiology allows midwives to consider the physical, emotional and social aspects of a woman’s health. This holistic perspective contributes to a more comprehensive and person-centred model of care. This user-friendly introduction is not only a foundational text but also a practical resource for practicing midwives. Informed by the latest research and reflective of current best practices, this book stands as an indispensable tool for this indispensable profession. Tailored for both undergraduate and graduate midwifery students, as well as registered midwives returning to practice, this resource is an invaluable asset in advancing pathophysiological knowledge within midwifery practice.

A concise, pocket-sized, rapid reference handbook on all key areas of midwifery, aimed at students and newly qualified staff. Covers a broad range of midwifery topics which are mapped against the 6Cs essential to compassionate midwifery care Each section is structured around the key criteria used in midwifery examinations Bite-sized information supported by the latest evidence-base, making it the perfect revision tool for OSCEs and written examinations Every chapter includes key points, essentials of midwifery care, professional accountability, and links to further resources