This collection brings together the leading research in maternity care from the United States, Canada and Europe to discuss systems of care for pregnancy and childbirth. The essays focus on the practical side of "good" social science and "feminist-friendly" research. The text not only looks at maternity, but also the act of childbirth, with the goal of providing not just comparative perspectives of care, but also to integrate the differences in care within each essay for a truly international understanding of maternity care.

This book is a collection of original essays on the meaning of providing care. These essays address not only the work of caring for the elderly, but also the work of caring for children, the infirm and those with disabilities.
The essays approach the topic from an ethical standpoint and also from a more practical, feminist and sociological point of view. The main goal of this book is to re-conceive the notion of care work, beginning with steps as simple as replacing the phrase 'caregiver' with the phrase 'care worker'.

To be at the birth of a baby is special, yet there is an increasing secularisation and reliance on technology in contemporary maternity care, particularly in the western context. Through exploration of experiences at birth this book explores joy at birth, which is often ignored and overlooked beyond the activities that help to ensure survival. This book draws on a collection of stories of birth from mothers, birth partners, obstetricians and midwives, that demonstrate joy at birth across professional groups and in different types of births and locations with or without technological interventions. Each chapter introduces stories of joy that highlight embodied, spatial and relational meanings. Employing the Heideggerian notion of a human being, it sketches out an ontological focus that draws our gaze to the everyday taken-for-granted ways of being at birth. Based on phenomenological experiential data and rigorous interpretive analysis underpinned by seminal philosophical writings, this book calls for readers to attend to the wholeness of birth in all situations and at all births in ways not attempted before. It will be of great interest to midwives, and those working in and studying maternity, obstetrics and neonatology, as well as social and medical anthropology, sociology, cultural, organisational and clinical psychology and spirituality.

Based on major multi-centre research in the UK, Dying to Care identifies why work stress is a problem in health care generally, and in HIV health care in particular. The similarities and differences between work stress experienced in general health care settings and in HIV/AIDS are explored in a state-of-the-art review of research and experience in the field to date.
The book has a practical focus, and goes on to explore ways in which the unique stresses of patient advocacy in HIV/AIDS can be addressed, identifying the best approaches for management. Highlighting the practical importance of a clear distinction between the burnout and work stress for design of strategies for burnout prevention, the emergence of the concept of burnout is described and the general historical confusion between work stress and burnout examined. This will be a key handbook for managers, physicians, nurses, social workers, health advisors and counsellors working in or alongside healthcare.

Based on major multi-centre research in the UK, Dying to Care identifies why work stress is a problem in health care generally, and in HIV health care in particular. The similarities and differences between work stress experienced in general health care settings and in HIV/AIDS are explored in a state-of-the-art review of research and experience in the field to date.
The book has a practical focus, and goes on to explore ways in which the unique stresses of patient advocacy in HIV/AIDS can be addressed, identifying the best approaches for management. Highlighting the practical importance of a clear distinction between the burnout and work stress for design of strategies for burnout prevention, the emergence of the concept of burnout is described and the general historical confusion between work stress and burnout examined. This will be a key handbook for managers, physicians, nurses, social workers, health advisors and counsellors working in or alongside healthcare.

First published in 1999, this volume discusses how the nursing and health care fields are developing rapidly. This series of monographs offers up-to-date reports of recently completed research projects in the fields of nursing and health care. The aim of the series is to report studies that have relevance to contemporary nursing and health care practice. It includes reports of research into aspects of clinical nursing care, management and education. The series is of interest to all nurses and health care workers, researchers, managers and educators in the field.

This accessible introduction to phenomenology for nurses explains what has become one of the most widely used qualitative research methods within mental healthcare.

Motor Neurone Disease is one of the most difficult conditions to manage medically and socially. A disease which leads to the loss of control of most muscle systems of the body, it has no known cause and no cure. For this reason, clinicians have traditionally been reluctant to reveal the diagnosis to sufferers or their families and the condition has become known as one of the best kept secrets of medical practice. However in recent years a number of organizations have set up to support sufferers and their families and consequently, the public profile of the condition has changed dramatically.
Motor Neurone Disease provides an extremely helpful guide to the medical facts relating to the condition and considers the psycho-social effects on sufferers and those who care for them. It will be essential reading for doctors, nurses, social workers, physio-, speech and occupational therapists as well as all those suffering from Motor Neurone Disease, their families and carers.

Midwives, Society and Childbirth is the first book to examine midwives' lives and work in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries on a national and international scale. Focusing on six countries from Europe, the approach is interdisciplinary with the studies written by a diverse team of social, medical and midwifery historians, sociologists, and those with experience in delivering childbirth services.
Questioning for the first time many conventional historical assumptions, this book is fundamental to a better understanding of the effect on midwives of the unprecedented progress of science in general and obstetric science in particular from the late nineteenth century. The contributors challenge the traditional bleak picture of midwives' decline in the face of institutional obstetrics, medical technology, and the growing power of the medical profession, while stressing the importance of regional influences and locality.


Related link: The Society for the Social History of Medicine
eBook available with sample pages: 0203435893

Examining debates concerning children and young people, this text discusses the politics of childhood, focusing on topics such as: the family; education and schooling; mental health; crime and justice; and sexuality.

This is a concise introduction to homoeopathy for the midwife (and nurse-midwife). It starts with a brief introduction to the principles of homoeopathy and the use of remedies. It then presents a series of full page tables to aid the midwife in rapid and clear assessment of the client's needs and the remedy most likely to be appropriate for pregnancy, labour, the puerperium, breastfeeding problems and the newborn. The final section looks at the complete picture of symptoms most closely matched to each of aselected number of remedies. This section acts as a back-up reference for the midwife wishing to check or decide on a particular choice. The text aims to give a quick and clear set of options for treatment by homoeopathy.Interest among midwives in complementary methods of pain control and other symptoms/problems of pregnancy and labour is growing The author is a homoeopath and the editorial advisers are midwives A ready reference for midwives on selection of appropriate and effective homoeopathy treatments Covers pregnancy, labour and post-natal care Uses tables to make selection of remedy as clear as possible

Examining current political and policy debates concerning children and young people, this text provides a discussion of the politics of childhood, focusing on topics such as: the family; education and schooling; mental health; crime and justice; and sexuality.

Originally published 1995 The Making of Man-Midwifery looks at how the eighteenth century witnessed a revolution in childbirth practices. By the last quarter of the century increasing numbers of babies were being delivered by men - a dramatic shift from the women-only ritual that had been standard throughout Western history. This authoritative and challenging work explains this transformation in medical practice and remarkable shift in gender relations. By tracing the actual development and transmission of the new midwifery skills through the period, the book addresses both technological and feminist arguments of the period. The study is distinctive in treating childbirth as both a bodily and a social event and in explaining how the two were intimately connected. Practical obstetrics is shown to have been shaped by the social relations surrounding deliveries, and specific techniques were associated with distinctive places and political allegiances. The books studies how increasing numbers emergent male-midwives had overtaken women in the skill of delivering children and how as such expectant mothers chose to use these male-midwives, thus heralding the growth of male-midwives in the period.

Caring for the well newborn is an essential element of everyday midwifery practice. Providing a comprehensive guide to the problems associated with newborn babies, Care of the Newborn by Ten Teachers is a key textbook for trainee midwives. The ten teachers involved in writing this book are drawn from all over the UK and bring together a wealth of experience in midwifery and neonatal nursing teaching and practice. The emphasis is on caring for the normal neonate, with deviations from the normal threaded throughout. Taking a holistic approach, each chapter links theory and practice, with explicit reference to professional standards and guidelines. As well as infant feeding, skin care and thernal care practice, this book covers signs and causes of common problems such as jaundice, infections, respiratory problems, and birth injury, providing care and treatment strategies for the neonate and family. This easy-to-follow full colour design, with superb diagrams and photographs and helpful features such as key points, case histories and chapters overviews, makes this essential reading for all student midwives, as well as those on post-qualifying courses in neonatal care. It is also a useful reference for practising midwives and neonatal nurses.

The harmful consequences of alcoholism for the unborn child are still largely unknown. This book presents a detailed description of fetal alcohol syndrome as well as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders with respect to their clinical presentation, diagnosis, epidemiology, and pathogenesis. It also includes detailed considerations of underlying psychopathology, prevention, and therapy as well as the social consequences and impacts to patients.

There is much concern expressed in nursing and other health care professions about the theory/practice gap. This volume is written for those dealing with the learning disabled in a professional capacity, and is structured to enable practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to apply theoretical concepts with real understanding of the issues involved. Themes, such as consumerism, empowerment, paternalism and informed choice, incorporate many complex concepts and contemporary issues. The authors introduce and explain the relevant concepts and show how they relate to practice through detailed case studies. They also identify the practical implications for care delivery and summarize the key points. The linking of practice to contemporary theories is designed to make "Learning Disabilities" particularly useful on introductory courses, but should also be an effective resource for the trained practitioner.

There is much concern expressed in nursing and other health care professions about the theory/practice gap. This volume is written for those dealing with the learning disabled in a professional capacity, and is structured to enable practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to apply theoretical concepts with real understanding of the issues involved. Themes, such as consumerism, empowerment, paternalism and informed choice, incorporate many complex concepts and contemporary issues. The authors introduce and explain the relevant concepts and show how they relate to practice through detailed case studies. They also identify the practical implications for care delivery and summarize the key points. The linking of practice to contemporary theories is designed to make "Learning Disabilities" particularly useful on introductory courses, but should also be an effective resource for the trained practitioner.

The first book to present the history, ideas, life and works of Chinese midwives and birth attendants, this volume seeks to encapsulate and explain the changing ideas about the practice of midwifery in China. Using participant observations and interviews, it examines each phase of the development of midwifery in depth. Providing a systematic study of the existing literature and contemporary national health policies, it analyses the factors contributing to the current demise of midwifery in China, such as the absence of national regulation, high standards of education and national midwives' associations. Furthermore, it argues that China's national statistics in the past six decades demonstrate clear evidence that minimising maternal mortality rates will only happen through wider availability of services, rather than through obstetric technology or facility based care. Ultimately, therefore this book supports the view that humanity and midwifery will survive to overcome domination by both technology and market forces and that economic growth and medical technology alone will not be sufficient in providing effective healthcare. This book is an indispensable resource for the study of Chinese midwifery, both in theory and in practice. As such it will be useful to students and scholars of Midwifery, Women's Health, Sociology and culture and society in China.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective forms of neurostimulation for severe mental illness. Sound scientific research underpins contemporary practice challenging the complex history and stigma that surround this treatment. The Electroconvulsive Therapy Workbook integrates the history of ECT with major advances in practice, including ultrabrief ECT, in a hands-on workbook format. Novel forms of neurostimulation are reviewed, highlighting the future directions of practice in this exciting area. The book is also richly illustrated with historical and technical images and includes 'clinical wisdom' sections that provide the reader with clinical insights into ECT practice. Online eResources are also available, featuring a wide range of questions and answers related to each chapter to help test and consolidate readers' understanding of ECT, as well as regionally specific legislation governing ECT practice in Australia and New Zealand. This comprehensive introduction to ECT is a must-read for doctors in training, psychiatrists who require credentialing in this procedure, anaesthetists, nursing staff who work in ECT and other professionals who have an interest in ECT as well as consumer and carer networks.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) remains one of the most effective forms of neurostimulation for severe mental illness. Sound scientific research underpins contemporary practice challenging the complex history and stigma that surround this treatment. The Electroconvulsive Therapy Workbook integrates the history of ECT with major advances in practice, including ultrabrief ECT, in a hands-on workbook format. Novel forms of neurostimulation are reviewed, highlighting the future directions of practice in this exciting area. The book is also richly illustrated with historical and technical images and includes 'clinical wisdom' sections that provide the reader with clinical insights into ECT practice. Online eResources are also available, featuring a wide range of questions and answers related to each chapter to help test and consolidate readers' understanding of ECT, as well as regionally specific legislation governing ECT practice in Australia and New Zealand. This comprehensive introduction to ECT is a must-read for doctors in training, psychiatrists who require credentialing in this procedure, anaesthetists, nursing staff who work in ECT and other professionals who have an interest in ECT as well as consumer and carer networks.

This groundbreaking book addresses the ominous trend of introducing and passing laws and court decisions regulating the actions of women and the control of their bodies. One of the few books published on the criminalization of women's bodies, this timely book takes a serious look at the effect these laws would have on women and the threat to their autonomy, privacy, and control; their bodily integrity; control over reproductive capacities; and their constitutional rights. From ancient literature to the literature and law of contemporary society, a woman's value has often rested on her fulfilling expected roles as wife and mother. The lack of respect for women inherent in this predominantly male-oriented line of thinking is reinforced in this new trend of legislation and court decisions attempting to regulate women's behavior and reproductive capacity. The Criminalization of a Woman's Body thoroughly discusses these special laws governing women's personal choices and the threats these laws and court decisions pose to women's autonomy and constitutional rights. Scholars from Israel, Italy, and the United States provide a multidimensional discussion of the problem facing women in many, if not all, countries. Contributors represent various disciplines including, law, philosophy, medicine, political science, sociology, women's studies, and criminal justice. Articles analyze sensitive issues surrounding abortion and its impending criminalization in several countries; controversial topics on contract motherhood; the power of administrative agencies to control and informally criminalize pregnant women and new mothers; policies meant to protect the fetus from pregnant women who deviate from medically, socially, and legally sanctioned behavior which may deter women from seeking any medical care; and the destruction of families due to the criminalization of pregnant women and new mothers and the consequent removal of their children and placement into foster care. Professors, students, librarians, agency workers dealing with women's issues, and women and men in the general public will find this important book a helpful tool in sorting through the complex issues on criminalizing women's bodies.

Your comprehensive and current introduction to the fascinating field of Pharmacology, applied to Nursing and Health! Now fully updated in line with changes in clinical practice, new drugs and research developments.This clear and readable text will guide you through how drugs act within the body coupled with their clinical application. Sections covering social, legal and professional issues are included alongside the scientific principles of pharmacology. Drug groups are considered according to their pharmacological effects, their action on physiological processes and the conditions they are used to treat.

This book is designed to support nursing staff who may be new to working in a community setting, and is an essential guide to practice. It reflects government health and social care policy reforms and the effect of these on the roles and responsibilities of community nurses.

Skilled care during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period is vital to the survival and health of mothers and newborns. In fact, the wellbeing of a society is represented by the health of mothers, newborns and children. To this end, the United Nations has determined that the number of births assisted by a skilled attendant is one of the indicators of progress in a country. Juta's clinical guide for Midwives is a user-friendly, illustrated clinical manual developed to provide all midwives with up-to-date knowledge and practical skills. For ease of use, the title has been split into three parts - the antenatal months, the second and third stages of labour, and the postnatal period. These parts are split into modules, each one covering a specific topic, which contain - step-by-step instructions for carrying out procedures, along with a rationale for each; clinical tips drawn from years of midwifery experience; clear illustrations to demonstrate difficult procedures or concepts. Juta's clinical guide for midwives has been created to assist students of midwifery and as a continuing education resource for practising midwives, tutors and medical students. The information within it is essential for the achievement of millennium development goals four and five the reduction of infant and maternal mortality and morbidity. It is an appropriate and timely guide for midwives in South Africa today.