Humanity, argues Michel Odent, stands at a crossroads in the history of childbirth - and the direction we choose to take will have critical consequences. Until recently a woman could not have had a baby without releasing a complex cocktail of 'love hormones'. In many societies today, most women give birth without relying on the release of such a flow of hormones. Some give birth via caesarean section, while others use drugs that not only block the release of these natural substances, but do not have their beneficial behavioural effects. 'This unprecedented situation must be considered in terms of civilization', says Odent, and gives us urgent new reasons to rediscover the basic needs of women in labour. At a time when pleas for the 'humanization' of childbirth are fashionable, the author suggests, rather, that we should first accept our 'mammalian' condition and give priority to the woman's need for privacy and to feel secure. The activity of the intellect, the use of language, and many cultural beliefs and rituals - which are all special to humans - are handicaps in the period surrounding birth. Says Odent: 'To give birth to her baby, the mother needs privacy. She needs to feel unobserved. The newborn baby needs the skin of the mother, the smell of the mother, her breast. These are all needs that we hold in common with the other mammals, but which humans have learned to neglect, to ignore or even deny.' Expectant parents, midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, those involved in public health, and all those interested in the future of humanity, will find this a provocative and visionary book.

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.

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.

When we think about trauma and PTSD we tend to think about war and conflict. But around a third of women feel some part of their birth was traumatic. This experience can impact on their mental and physical health, their relationships and future plans. In Why Birth Trauma Matters, Dr Emma Svanberg, clinical psychologist and co-founder of Make Birth Better, explores what happens to those who go through a bad birth. She explains in detail how birth trauma occurs, examines the wide-ranging impact on all of those involved in birth, and looks at treatments and techniques to aid recovery. By drawing on her own research and the work of experts in the field, and sharing the first-hand experiences of women, she shows how it is possible to begin to move on.

This book is a comprehensive and detailed study of early modern midwives in seventeenth-century London. Until quite recently, midwives, as a group, have been dismissed by historians as being inadequately educated and trained for the task of child delivery. The Midwives of Seventeenth-Century London rejects these claims by exploring the midwives' training and their licensing in an unofficial apprenticeship by the Church. Dr Evenden also offers an accurate depiction of the midwives in their socioeconomic context by examining a wide range of seventeenth-century sources. This expansive study not only recovers the names of almost one thousand women who worked as midwives in the twelve London parishes, but also brings to light details about their spouses, their families and their associates.

When the midwife Jane Sharp wrote the Midwives Book in 1671, she became the first British woman to publish a midwifery manual. Drawing on works by her male contemporaries, and weaving together medical information and lively anecdotes, she produced a book that is instructive, accessible, witty, and constantly surprising.

Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician: Using the Evidence is the perfect tool for busy clinicians who need a quick, accurate, and current reference. It provides the essentials of breastfeeding management to support best outcomes for breastfeeding families. Now in an updated and modernized fifth edition, this unique resource features new information on the political and social landscape of breastfeeding, LGBTQI+ families, milk sharing, exclusive pumping, new breastfeeding products, breastfeeding in emergencies, additional feeding care plans, and access to downloadable Patient Care Plan Handouts to help both patients and clinicians navigate common breastfeeding challenges and questions. Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician: Using the Evidence, Fifth Edition includes literature reviews while covering incidence, etiology, risk factors, prevention, prognosis and implications, interventions, expected outcomes, care plans, and clinical algorithms. With a focus on the practical application of evidence-based knowledge and a problem-solving approach, this reference helps busy clinicians integrate the latest research into their everyday clinical practice.

The second edition of the popular Midwifery Essentials series continues to help readers understand and master a range of core issues safely and with confidence! Written by leading midwifery academics, each book in the series provides a user-friendly source of information which has been fully updated throughout to reflect the latest evidence-base for current practice. Now with an improved design to make learning as easy as possible, each paperback in the series focuses on the importance of communication and contemporary women-centred care and presents helpful 'scenarios' to encourage debate and reflection. The Midwifery Essentials series is ideal for all midwives - whether qualified or in training - and is also helpful to nurses and HCAs working in the maternity environment. 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'

Evidence-based care is a well established principle in contemporary healthcare and a worldwide health care movement. However, despite the emphasis on promoting evidence-based or effective care without the unnecessary use of technologies and drugs, intervention rates in childbirth continue to rise rapidly. This new edition emphasises the importance of translating evidence into skilful practice. It updates the evidence around what works best for normal birth, aspects of which still remain hidden and ignored by some maternity care professionals. Beginning with the decision about where to have a baby, through all the phases of labour to the immediate post-birth period, it systematically details research and other evidence sources that endorse a low intervention approach. The second edition: has been expanded with new chapters on Preparation for Childbirth and Waterbirth highlights where the evidence is compelling discusses its application where women question its relevance to them and where the practitioner's expertise leads them to challenge it gives background and context before discussing the research to date includes questions for reflection, skills sections and practice recommendations generated from the evidence. Using evidence drawn from a variety of sources, Evidence and Skills for Normal Labour and Birth critiques institutionalised, scientifically managed birth and endorses a more humane midwifery-led model. Packed with up-to-date and relevant information, this text will help all students, practising midwives and doulas keep abreast of the evidence surrounding normal birth and ensure their practice takes full advantage of it.

The new edition of this popular paperback continues to offer student midwives with a wealth of information about the key medical conditions seen during pregnancy and childbirth. Each disorder - which has been selected because of its commonality or potential seriousness to health - is accompanied by a clear description of the associated anatomy and physiology thereby affording the reader with a clear understanding of the presenting complaint. Containing almost 60 carefully reproduced line diagrams and an abundance of tables and 'pull out' boxes, this friendly, accessible volume explores the epidemiology of each disease, and its impact on maternal and child health. Relevant physiological changes in pregnancy are also provided, together with a clear discussion of associated pathophysiology. Throughout the book, prenatal, intra-partum and postnatal management advice is given, with particular emphasis given to the care of the acutely ill patient and medical emergencies. The Midwives' Guide to Key Medical Conditions is designed to help practitioners manage pregnancy and childbirth in women with systemic disease, recognize the early onset of disease-related pregnancy complications, and determine when it may be necessary to refer patients to another member of the healthcare team. The volume will ideal for all midwives, whether qualified or in training. Written by well-known authorities in the field to ensure that the information is perfectly tailored to the midwifery student Accessible writing style and clear artwork program helps make learning easy Recaps on the underlying anatomy and physiology for the relevant body system Explains the normal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy Summarises the relative risk of the specific disorder in the context of overall maternal mortality Explains the pathophysiology of a given condition, with emphasis on its impact on pregnancy Explores the relevant management the neonate and the likely impact of the medical disorder on future pregnancies Places particular emphasis on the management of critical illness and medical emergencies Risk management and the use of pathways of care Management of obesity Sepsis and infectious diseases Additional pre-existing chronic disorders

Provide competent and sensitive maternal and newborn nursing care with Clinical Companion for Maternity & Newborn Nursing, 2nd Edition! Ideal for quick reference in the clinical setting, this book offers the information you need on topics such as pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and care of the newborn, including potential complications for each. Expert authors Dr. Shannon E. Perry, Kitty Cashion, Dr. Deitra Leonard Lowdermilk, and Kathryn R. Alden stress the importance of safe nursing practice as outlined in the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) initiative. Teaching for Self-Management boxes offer a guide to communicating follow-up care to patients and their families. Signs of Potential Complications boxes help you recognize the signs and symptoms of complications and provide immediate interventions. Procedure boxes offer easy-to-use, step-by-step instructions for maternity skills and procedures. Emergency boxes may be used for quick reference in critical situations. Nursing Alerts highlight critical information that must be considered when providing care. Medication Guides in an appendix provide a key reference for common drugs and their interactions. Updated content provides the most current practice guidelines, including expanded information on obesity, the late preterm infant, and fetal heart rate pattern identification. Safety Alerts highlight developing competencies related to safe nursing practice in conjunction with the QSEN initiative on quality and safety in nursing care.

A new addition to the popular Midwifery Essentials series which continues to help readers understand and master a range of core issues safely and with confidence! Written by leading midwifery academics, each book in the series provides a user-friendly source of information which has been fully updated throughout to reflect the latest evidence-base for current practice. Now with an improved design to make learning as easy as possible, each paperback in the series focuses on the importance of communication and contemporary women-centred care and presents helpful 'scenarios' to encourage debate and reflection. The Midwifery Essentials series is ideal for all midwives - whether qualified or in training - and is also helpful to nurses and HCAs working in the maternity environment. Provides 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

The second edition of the popular Midwifery Essentials series continues to help readers understand and master a range of core issues safely and with confidence! Written by leading midwifery academics, each book in the series provides a user-friendly source of information which has been fully updated throughout to reflect the latest evidence-base for current practice. Now with an improved design to make learning as easy as possible, each paperback in the series focuses on the importance of communication and contemporary women-centred care and presents helpful 'scenarios' to encourage debate and reflection. The Midwifery Essentials series is ideal for all midwives - whether qualified or in training - and is also helpful to nurses and HCAs working in the maternity environment. 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'

The second edition of the popular Midwifery Essentials series continues to help readers understand and master a range of core issues safely and with confidence! Written by leading midwifery academics, each book in the series provides a user-friendly source of information which has been fully updated throughout to reflect the latest evidence-base for current practice. Now with an improved design to make learning as easy as possible, each paperback in the series focuses on the importance of communication and contemporary women-centred care and presents helpful 'scenarios' to encourage debate and reflection. The Midwifery Essentials series is ideal for all midwives - whether qualified or in training - and is also helpful to nurses and HCAs working in the maternity environment. 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'

Now in its third edition the Oxford Handbook of Midwifery continues to be the essential one-stop guide to the key principles of the care and management of pregnancy, birth and beyond. Concise yet comprehensive, with its recognisable and easy-to-use Oxford Handbook format, midwives will find this a treasure trove of clear, practical guidance. Whether you are a student needing a helping hand through the subject, or an experienced practitioner needing to refresh your knowledge in an emergency, you can be sure that this handbook will be there for you. Written by experienced midwives, and following the latest guidelines and key care protocols, this handbook is up-to-date and authoritative, with sections on sexual health, contraception, neonatal care and infant feeding. Each chapter includes assessment, diagnosis and management of care with treatment interventions. Now including new information on initiation of breast feeding with biological nurturing as well as a highlighted section on how to manage obstetric emergencies. Important psychosocial care issues are also addressed. This edition provides concise, practical and accessible information in a logical sequence, as the layout follows the woman's journey through pregnancy, birth and early motherhood.

A Pocket Guide to Clinical Midwifery: The Efficient Midwife, Second Edition is a must-have resource for midwives, women's health nurse practitioners, and all levels of health care providers working in the women's health field. Organized alphabetically for easy reference, it features important concepts, diagnostic tools, algorithms, and management options, including conventional, lifestyle, and complementary therapies, all in one place. Completely updated and revised, the new edition offers current evidence-based references, the latest medication recommendations, and midwifery practice pearls. Also provided are recent changes to practice, such as FHR monitoring, hypertensive guidelines, contraception updates, prenatal care, LGBTQIA+ support, precepting, sexual health, and evidence-based practice.

This evidence-based guide for professionals covers essential information to help support parents breastfeeding past the first six months, including starting solids alongside breastfeeding, nursing manners, and common problems and challenges. The recommendation of breastfeeding beyond six months is well-established, but many birth professionals don't feel confident enough to support parents. This book, packed with case studies of real-life parents and practical tips, helps to educate healthcare professionals - as well as parents themselves - to feel better informed. Each chapter combines professional, research-led evidence with a parent-focused resource section for a fully integrative approach. Centring families and their personal journeys, Supporting Breastfeeding Past the First Six Months and Beyond is an invaluable guide for all lactation consultants, birthing professionals, healthcare workers and parents.

The Top 10 Bestseller.For fans of Call The Midwife!A fresh start... Midwife Ella Mehenick left the small Cornish town of Port Agnes for London and never looked back. But when her seemingly perfect life crashes down around her, there's only one place she can heal her battered heart - the place she once called home. A new arrival... Ella is quickly welcomed into the small community midwife team and loves her new job caring for mums and their precious babies - it's what she does best! But being back also means facing ex-flame Dan Ferguson...the first man to break her heart. A second chance at love? Dan is still as gorgeous as ever, but he's never forgiven Ella for leaving. And now she's back it's clear that there is unfinished business between them. As Ella settles into her new/old life, she can't stop the memories of how she once loved Dan so completely - and maybe never stopped. Maybe coming home to Cornwall is Ella's chance to love again... Meet The Cornish Midwives of Port Agnes- where community, friendship and love are always delivered. An uplifting and escapist read, perfect for fans of Christie Barlow, Jessica Redland and Holly Martin! What readers are saying about The Cornish Midwife...'I love second chance stories. I love returning home stories. So a book combining both is an absolute winner for me. The Cornish Midwife is simply gorgeous. Stunning setting, wonderful characters, and oozing with warmth. A triumph from Jo Bartlett and a cracking start to what promises to be a fabulous series' Jessica Redland 'Perfectly written and set in the beating heart of a community, this story is a wonderful slice of Cornish escapism.' Helen J Rolfe This book was previously published as Return to Port Agnes.

A midwife's heartwarming and inspirational true story Catching Babies is a moving account of an extraordinary career. It reveals the unique experiences that filled midwife Sheena Byrom's days as she looked after mums and dads and helped to bring their precious babies into the world. From her very first day as a nervous student nurse in Blackburn to the dedicated completion of her midwifery qualifications in Burnley, Sheena has never once looked back, enjoying a thirty-five-year career with the NHS. At the forefront of evolving medical practices, she was the first midwife to oversee a home water birth in her area, but also found herself at the centre of a traumatic delivery that tested her to her limits. Yet, whatever has come Sheena's way, ultimately, there are the strong mothers who taught her so much and the little miracles who have made every single moment as a midwife truly magical.

"This book is easy to read and has relevant content for student midwives, with inclusion of reflective activities which are clear and appropriate. I particularly like the vignette's which are relevant and explore the challenges that midwives face. The script-like format of these adds a further layer to the narratives, and the inclusion of non-verbal communication as well is excellent. This will be an essential text for all student midwives." Mary Beadle, Midwifery Lecturer, Faculty of Health and Social Care, University of Hull, UK"Communication Skills for Midwives is a unique book that focuses not only on fundamental communication issues, but goes much further by including the many difficult and tricky issues experienced within contemporary midwifery practice. This much needed text provides detailed and comprehensive information which is reinforced by illustrations, vignettes and activities that engage the reader from the beginning. This is an excellent resource for students, practitioners and educators." Nicky Clark, Lead Midwife for Education, University of Hull, UK "This book covers many poignant examples of difficult and challenging communication that midwives face in everyday practice ... It covers both every day aspects of care such as facilitating choice and less common experiences like responding to domestic violence ... This book is unique and would be good bedtime reading for any midwife!" Tandy Deane-Grey, Senior Midwifery Lecturer, University of Hertfordshire, UK "This comprehensive and reader friendly text ... utilises a variety of strategies to aid understanding and application to practice. Each chapter has clear aims to address a challenging situation that readers will readily identify with and provides an excellent mix of vignettes, reflective activities, text and diagrams to support the development of knowledge and skills ..." Heather Passmore, Senior Lecturer, UCS, UKThis is the first book on communication skills to explore the more challenging contexts and circumstances that midwives encounter in practice. As these occur infrequently and often unexpectedly in the daily practice of many midwives, they may find it difficult to communicate effectively to alleviate the situation. Knowing what to say and how to say it is part of this dilemma.The book uses case vignettes, reflective questions, illustrations, tools and techniques to provide the evidence base needed to cope effectively in a range of situations by offering support to enhance your communication skills.Communication Skills for Midwives explores challenges relating to: Negotiating with others within inter-professional and inter-agency teams Working with minority groupsBreaking significant news when labour threatens the life of a baby Telling parents that their baby has an abnormalityCoping with loss and bereavement Addressing issues of domestic abuse Importantly the book provides information on how thoughts and feelings may be expressed both through body language and in words. Taking a practical and problem solving approach, the book will help you to enhance your learning and improve interaction with your colleagues, the women you care for and their families.

No sleep for twenty hours. No food for ten. And a ward full of soon-to-be mothers… Welcome to the life of a midwife.

Life on the NHS front line, working within a system at breaking point, is more extreme than you could ever imagine. From the bloody to the beautiful, from moments of utter vulnerability to remarkable displays of strength, from camaraderie to raw desperation, from heart-wrenching grief to the pure, perfect joy of a new-born baby, midwife Leah Hazard has seen it all.

Through her eyes, we meet Eleanor, whose wife is a walking miracle of modern medicine, their baby a feat of reproductive science; Crystal, pregnant at just fifteen, the precarious, flickering life within her threatening to come far too soon; Star, birthing in a room heady with essential oils and love until an enemy intrudes and Pei Hsuan, who has carried her tale of exploitation and endurance thousands of miles to somehow find herself at the open door of Leah’s ward.

Moving, compassionate and intensely candid, Hard Pushed is a love letter to new mothers and to Leah’s fellow midwives – there for us at some of the most challenging, empowering and defining moments of our lives.