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.

Decision-making pervades all aspects of midwifery practice across the world. Midwifery is informed by a number of decision-making theories, but it is sometimes difficult to marry these theories with practice. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of decision-making for midwives irrespective of where in the world they practice or in which model of care. The first part critically reviews decision-making theories, including the Enhancing Decision-making Assessment in Midwifery (EDAM) tool, and their relevance to midwifery. It explores the links between midwifery governance, including professional regulation and the law, risk and safety and decision-making as well as how critical thinking and reflection are essential elements of decision-making. It then goes on to present a number of diverse case studies, demonstrating how they interrelate to and impact upon optimal midwifery decision-making. Each chapter presents examples that show how the theory translates into practice and includes activities to reinforce learning points. Bringing together a diverse range of contributors, this volume will be essential reading for midwifery students, practising midwives and midwifery academics.

A fascinating slice of social history - Jennifer Worth's tales of being a midwife in 1950s London, now a major BBC TV series. Jennifer Worth came from a sheltered background when she became a midwife in the Docklands in the 1950s. The conditions in which many women gave birth just half a century ago were horrifying, not only because of their grimly impoverished surroundings, but also because of what they were expected to endure. But while Jennifer witnessed brutality and tragedy, she also met with amazing kindness and understanding, tempered by a great deal of Cockney humour. She also earned the confidences of some whose lives were truly stranger, more poignant and more terrifying than could ever be recounted in fiction. Attached to an order of nuns who had been working in the slums since the 1870s, Jennifer tells the story not only of the women she treated, but also of the community of nuns (including one who was accused of stealing jewels from Hatton Garden) and the camaraderie of the midwives with whom she trained. Funny, disturbing and incredibly moving, Jennifer's stories bring to life the colourful world of the East End in the 1950s.

Critical Qualitative Health Research seeks to deepen understandings of the philosophies, politics and practices shaping contemporary qualitative health related research. This accessible, lively, controversial introduction draws on current empirical examples and critical discussion to show how qualitative research undertaken in neoliberal healthcare contexts emerges and the complex issues qualitative researchers confront. This book provides readers with a critical, interrogative discussion of the histories and the legacies of qualitative research, as well as of the more recent calls for renewed criticality in research to respond to global health concerns. Contributions further showcase a range of contemporary work engaging with these issues and the complex encounters with philosophies, politics and practices this involves; from seeking explicit engagements with posthuman ideas or detailed explorations of deeply engaged humanist approaches, to critical discussions of the politics and practices of emerging novel, digital and creative methods. This book offers postgraduate researchers, health researchers and students alike opportunities to engage more deeply with the emergent, complex and messy terrain of qualitative health related research.

Bodies that Birth puts birthing bodies at the centre of questions about contemporary birth politics, power, and agency. Arguing that the fleshy and embodied aspects of birth have been largely silenced in social science scholarship, Rachelle Chadwick uses an array of birth stories, from diverse race-class demographics, to explore the narrative entanglements between flesh, power, and sociomateriality in relation to birth. Adopting a unique theoretical framework incorporating new materialism, feminist theory, and a Foucauldian 'analytics of power', the book aims to trace and trouble taken-for-granted assumptions about birthing bodies. Through a diffractive and dialogical approach, the analysis highlights the interplay between corporeality, power, and ideologies in the making of birth narratives across a range of intersectional differences. The book shows that there is no singular birthing body apart from sociomaterial relations of power. Instead, birthing bodies are uncertain zones or unpredictable assortments of physiology, flesh, sociomateriality, discourse, and affective flows. At the same time, birthing bodies are located within intra-acting fields of power relations, including biomedicine, racialized patriarchy, socioeconomics, and geopolitics. Bodies that Birth brings the voices of women from different sociomaterial positions into conversation. Ultimately, the book explores how attending to birthing bodies can vitalize global birth politics by listening to what matters to women in relation to birth. This is fascinating reading for researchers, academics, and students from across the social sciences.

A midwife is responsible for recording the progress of labour on a partograph or partogram. The partograph helps caregivers detect whether labour is progressing normally or not, indicates when augmentation of labour is appropriate and assists in recognising potential problems before they occur. Each title covers one important topic, and has been written by a specialist in that field. The series follows a consistent format and covers issues such as key ethical and legal considerations, relevant legislation, case studies, and practical applications. These concise, accessible texts will be suitable for accreditation when continuing professional development becomes a requirement

The concept of a "good death" has been hotly debated in medical circles for decades. This volume delves into the possibility and desirability of a "good death" by presenting the psychosocial measures of care as a crucial component, such as religion, existentialism, hope and meaning-making. The volume also focuses on oncologic psychiatry and the influence of technology as a means to alleviate pain and suffering, and potentially provide relief to those at the end of life. Such initiatives are aimed at diminishing pain and are socially bolstering and emotionally comforting to ensure a peaceful closure with life as opposed to a battle waged. Utilizing the most recent information from medical journals and books to present the latest on healthcare and dying today, this volume crosses the boundaries of thanatology, psychology, religion, spirituality, medical ethics and public health.

Midwives and other health care professionals need to have a deep understanding of the various lives childbearing women live in order to support them insightfully and practise in a nuanced manner. The Social Context of Birth has been revised, updated and enlarged to provide an essential understanding of the different lives women live and in which they birth their children. For the first time, it also contains original primary research on the perspectives of student midwives as they progress through their three year training. This comprehensive guide provides countless valuable insights into the many different lives, experiences and expectations of women in their childbearing years in the twenty-first century, especially vulnerable women. Written by a team of highly experienced health professionals, it also covers contentious areas of maternity care, such as new reproductive technologies and fetal surveillance. A true essential for all healthcare professionals who work with women giving birth, such as midwives, nurses, health visitors and obstetricians, and wish to deepen their knowledge of women's lives.

Over the last hundred years, pregnancy and childbirth has become increasingly safe - yet it is still a site of risk, and a contested ground on which health professionals and pregnant women both face high costs of error. In this context, all those involved in managing pregnancy and birth are expected to identify and mitigate risk: pregnant women are subject to increasing surveillance to ensure the safety of the unborn foetus, and every aspect of childbearing is increasingly medicalised. This publication brings together fascinating social science research to explore the ways in which risk is both created and managed in pregnancy and childbirth. The introductory chapters reflect on the changing social context of childbirth, in particular the medicalisation of both pregnancy and childbirth with development of specialist practitioners, such as obstetricians and midwives who claim to have the knowledge, technology and skills to identify and manage the risks involved. The next three chapters that examine the ways in which women's behaviour during pregnancy is constructed as potentially risky -- for example smoking, drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and how these risks are monitored and mitigated. The final two parts of the book address the construction of and responses to both medicalisation and risk in childbirth. Altogether, it represents a valuable insight into the complex world of pregnancy, childbirth and risk. This book brings together editorials and articles originally published in special and open issues of Health, Risk and Society.

Emergency Birth in the Community is the essential resource for all healthcare professionals who come into contact with emergency deliveries in the community setting, including midwives and GPs. The book has been specifically adapted from the official JRCALC Guidelines, which covers the established standard for prehospital care.

The midwife's role is examined in the community and family-health context in this handbook on effective maternal and newborn care for midwives and other healthcare providers. The skills, competencies, and knowledge required to make informed decisions about neo- and postnatal care are covered, including anatomy and the physiology of reproduction, high-risk pregnancies, and labor and birth. Theoretical and practical issues illuminate a midwife's role in the prevention of illness in mothers and babies, with attention to the unique challenges of midwifery in developing nations. Insights from current research studies and critical questions about midwife practice will help those new to health care understand the unique challenges of this form of health-service delivery.

As research in neuroscience increasingly points to the unparalleled influence of the first 1000 days of life from conception to two years of age in determining the baby's life trajectory, the need for high-quality early parenting education delivered by knowledgeable and dedicated professionals becomes ever more apparent. This book describes the global aims of early parenting education. It identifies the key areas that research suggests are important: building a relationship with the unborn and newborn baby; preparing for labour and birth; supporting parents' mental health; protecting the couple relationship across the transition to parenthood; and education for special groups such as same-sex couples, women with fear of birth, prisoners, military wives and parents from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. All practitioners providing early parenting programmes - midwives, health visitors, family link workers, children's centre staff and voluntary sector teachers - will gain new ideas for their practice in this book. Students taking midwifery and early childhood courses will find much to support their studies. Ultimately, the book provides inspiration for all those who are committed to the role of parenting education in reducing social inequalities.

Despite research which highlights parents' increased anxiety and risk of attachment issues with the pregnancy that follows a perinatal loss, there is often little understanding that bereaved families may need different care in their subsequent pregnancies. This book explores the lived experience of pregnancy and parenting after a perinatal loss. Meeting the Needs of Parents Pregnant and Parenting After Perinatal Loss develops a helpful framework, which integrates continuing bonds and attachment theories, to support prenatal parenting at each stage of pregnancy. Giving insight into how a parent's world view of a pregnancy may have changed following a loss, readers are provided with tools to assist parents on their journey. The book discusses each stage of a pregnancy, as well as labor and the postpartum period, before examining subjects such as multi-fetal pregnancies, reluctant terminations, use of support groups, and the experiences of fathers and other children in the family. The chapters include up-to-date research findings, vignettes from parents reflecting on their own experiences and recommendations for practice. Written for researchers, students and professionals from a range of health, social welfare and early years education backgrounds, this text outlines what we know about supporting bereaved families encountering the challenges of a subsequent pregnancy.

Featured on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 5 Live Selected as one of the Independent's 10 best pregnancy books for expectant parents Birth is a feminist issue. It's the feminist issue nobody's talking about. FEATURING A BRAND NEW CHAPTER 'A powerful read, whether you're pregnant or not' Independent Finally blasting the feminist spotlight into the labour ward, Milli Hill encourages women everywhere to stand and deliver, insisting that birth is no longer left off the list in discussions about female power, control and agency. From the importance of birth plans to your human rights in childbirth, and including birth stories from women across the world, this call-to-arms will help you find your voice, take an active role in your choices, and change the way you think about childbirth. Praise for Give Birth Like a Feminist 'I feel so lucky to have read Milli's book while pregnant, she completely changed my way of looking at giving birth' Ella Mills, author of Deliciously Ella

Selected as a Doody's Core Title for 2022! Essential for ob/gyn physicians, primary care physicians, and any health care provider working with pregnant or postpartum women, Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk, 12th Edition, puts must-know information at your fingertips in seconds. An easy A-to-Z format lists more than 1,400 of the most commonly prescribed drugs taken during pregnancy and lactation, with detailed monographs designed to provide the most essential information on possible effects on the mother, embryo, fetus, and nursing infant. Each templated monograph includes: Generic US name (trade names in index) Risk factors Pharmacologic class Pregnancy and breastfeeding recommendations Pregnancy, fetal risk, and breastfeeding summaries Updated references NEW in the 12th Edition: 100 new drugs, with thorough updates of all existing drugs Subheadings with each review for faster reference List of cross-referenced combination drugs List of drugs contraindicated in breastfeeding women List of drugs contraindicated in pregnancy List of drugs that affect human development Quarterly updates, available online, to keep you at the forefront of the field Greatly improved eBook searchability Enrich Your eBook Reading Experience Read directly on your preferred device(s), such as computer, tablet, or smartphone. Easily convert to audiobook, powering your content with natural language text-to-speech.

The Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) was developed for all undergraduate nursing programmes, with the aim of emphasising the need for nursing students to be competent in clinical skills, to assess clinical reasoning skills and as a means of standardizing the assessment process. This practical, easy to read and interactive study guide helps nursing and midwifery students at all levels to maximise their chances of success with OSCEs. It features case studies, quick quizzes, recap and recall summaries and an OSCE preparation plan; all of which help to prepare the student for the examination. Hints and tips on what to expect during the examination and pointers on what the examiner will be looking for, together with a comprehensive chapter on personal learning will help to guide the student through the process and maximise their chances of success! "Very readable with useful tips and information for students" Cath Hill, Keele University "I found the book extremely relevant from the students' perspective, reader friendly and well structured. Quizzes and activities excellent." - Liz Day, Senior Lecturer, Nursing and Health Care Practice, University of Derby "A useful and easily digested text on this important assessment strategy", Ms. Karen Lumsden, Faculty of Nursing and Applied Clinical Studies, Canterbury Christchurch University "Useful for students as they prepare... Easy to read and understand." Kirsty Wedgbury, Faculty of Health and Community Care, Birmingham City University

Legal and ethical competence is a cornerstone of professional midwifery practice and an essential part of midwifery training. Law and Ethics for Midwifery is a unique and practical resource for student midwives. Written by an experienced midwifery lecturer, this text draws on a wide variety of real life case studies and focuses particularly on the core areas of accountability, autonomy and advocacy. Opening with two chapters providing overviews respectively of ethical theories and legislation, the book is then arranged thematically. These chapters have a common structure which includes case studies, relevant legislation, reflective activities and a summary, and they run across areas of concern from negligence through safeguarding to record-keeping. Grounded in midwifery practice, the text enables student midwives to consider and prepare for ethical and legal dilemmas they may face as midwives in clinical practice.

Care for Children Born Small for Gestational Age is a comprehensive handbook that serves to synthesize the extensive recent literature in the area to provide a practical resource aimed at a wide range of healthcare professionals, including obstetricians, midwives, neonatologists, and primary care physicians. This comprehensive handbook includes an in-depth survey of the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and long-term monitoring of children born small for gestational age, as well as related conditions such as intrauterine growth restriction, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the short and long-term psychiatric and social consequences of this condition are addressed.

Essential Midwifery Practice: Postnatal Care summarises the important developments in postnatal care in relation to recent policy and guidance and relates the recommendations to midwifery practice in a clear and easily understood manner. With contributions from experts in the field, this practical text provides a resource for postnatal service provision in both hospital and community, offering a framework to assist midwives understand the background to care. With a focus on a woman and family centred philosophy, and community engagement models of care, this text explores issues including clinical care within the postnatal period, transition into parenthood, empowering parents, morbidity and postnatal care, the healthy newborn, and engaging vulnerable women and families. Essential Midwifery Practice: Postnatal Care forms part of a series of books that succinctly address the needs of practising midwives on a number of contemporary issues. Includes up to date information on recent policy, including NICE guidelines Written by respected experts in the field Focused on women and family centered care For both hospital and community midwives

"I would recommend this book to my peers and I would use it in my day-to-day work. It is most helpful to have a comprehensive guide that can be used in a variety of care settings and by many different healthcare providers."--Doody's Medical Reviews

Evidence-based research underscores the importance of breastfeeding for the healthy development of late preterm infants, yet significant challenges can impede its success. This is a groundbreaking, problem-solving guide to the most effective techniques for breastfeeding this vulnerable population. Written for lactation consultants, NICU nurses, obstetrical nurses, and nurse-midwives, the book offers clear, simple, evidence-based solutions to the distinct breastfeeding difficulties affecting late preterm infants.

The guide describes the characteristics of late preterm infants and the physiological challenges-often invisible and overlooked by health care providers-caused by disturbances of respiratory, metabolic, neurologic, and immunologic functions. These problems are often exacerbated by poor breastfeeding and result in 13% of hospital readmissions by late preterm infants. The book examines maternal conditions that affect breastfeeding success and provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for the most effective breastfeeding techniques. It describes specific strategies health care professionals can take to overcome breastfeeding difficulties, including proper positioning and latch technique, the use of breast pumps and other helpful equipment, supplemental feedings, and more. Pictures that illustrate correct procedures clarify specific techniques, and user-friendly patient teaching guides further encourage successful breastfeeding. The book also supports the goals of many hospitals seeking to achieve Baby-Friendly Status, as well as the goals of the Multidisciplinary Guidelines for Care of Late Preterm Infants recently issued by the National Perinatal Association. Key Features:

Comprises the only comprehensive guide specific to the breastfeeding issues of late preterm infants Describes developmental challenges faced by late preterm infants Provides detailed, easy-to-follow instructions for breastfeeding and techniques for overcoming difficulties Offers clear, simple, evidence-based solutions that nurses, lactation consultants, and midwives can offer to mothers Supports the goals of hospitals seeking Baby-Friendly Status

Making good nutritional choices can mean women optimise the outcomes of their birthing experience and offer their babies the best possible start in life. To support this, all health professionals who work with women during pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period need to have an appropriate knowledge of nutrition, healthy eating and other food related issues. This evidence-based text provides an informative and accessible introduction to nutrition in pregnancy and childbirth. As well as allowing readers to recognise when nutritional deficiency may be creating challenges, it explores the psychosocial and cultural context of food and considers their relevance for women's eating behaviour. Finally, important emerging issues, such as eating during labour, food supplements and maternal obesity, are discussed. An important reference for health professionals working in midwifery or public health contexts especially, this book is also the ideal companion for a course on nutrition in pregnancy and childbirth.

Decision-making pervades all aspects of midwifery practice across the world. Midwifery is informed by a number of decision-making theories, but it is sometimes difficult to marry these theories with practice. This book provides a comprehensive exploration of decision-making for midwives irrespective of where in the world they practice or in which model of care. The first part critically reviews decision-making theories, including the Enhancing Decision-making Assessment in Midwifery (EDAM) tool, and their relevance to midwifery. It explores the links between midwifery governance, including professional regulation and the law, risk and safety and decision-making as well as how critical thinking and reflection are essential elements of decision-making. It then goes on to present a number of diverse case studies, demonstrating how they interrelate to and impact upon optimal midwifery decision-making. Each chapter presents examples that show how the theory translates into practice and includes activities to reinforce learning points. Bringing together a diverse range of contributors, this volume will be essential reading for midwifery students, practising midwives and midwifery academics.

Over the last ten years, pregnancy has not only become more complicated for many women, but the traditional provision of general intensive care units has been reduced. To bridge this gap, critical care units, usually staffed by midwives, have been set up in many maternity units. This textbook is an accessible and comprehensive introduction to this emerging area of practice. Critical Care Assessment by Midwives also notably sets out a template for assessment of women that will enable early identification of deteriorating health. Serious illness can arise subsequent to an emergency, a pre-existing illness or a complication of pregnancy but can also occur in the context of what appears to be a low risk pregnancy. For this reason, all midwives need to be skilled in assessment that facilitates timely, appropriate referrals and saves lives. It covers: ABCDE assessment tailored for midwives; assessment of cardiac conditions; aassessment of respiratory conditions; assessment of neurological conditions; pre-eclampsia; haemorrhage; shock, including hypovolaemia, sepsis and anaphylaxis; haemodynamic monitoring; fluid replacement and balance; ketoacidosis, hypoglycaemia and sickle cell crisis. Covering the context of care, relevant pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, specific assessment in detail, relevant drugs, assessment of the fetus, summaries of management, psychosocial support and the specific professional responsibilities of the midwife, this is an essential guide for all midwives and midwifery students.

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.

The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) is a questionnaire and was designed as a simple means of screening for postnatal depression in health care settings. The scale is now in use around the world and this book is a practical guide to using the scale in clinical practice, its origins and development background. This second edition has been revised and contains much advice based on years of experience. All chapters and references have been updated and the chapters on screening and counselling have been considerably revised, the evidence base on interventions for perinatal depression is provided, plus details of innovative methods such as internet-based therapy. The scale can also be used by researchers seeking information on factors which influence the emotional well-being of new mothers and their families and guidance is also given on use of the scale in research settings. The book will be useful for psychologists, psychiatrists, health visitors, midwives, family doctors, obstetricians and community psychiatric nurses, plus researchers in perinatal health.