This book is for any woman considering a vaginal birth after one or more previous cesareans. What are the risks? What are the advantages? What is the best choice in your particular case? The author, Helene Vadeboncoeur, takes you through the research and also gives you a glimpse into other women's experiences through the use of first-hand accounts. It was, in fact, the author's experience of two very different births (one a cesarean, the next a VBAC) that inspired her to get a PhD. In her thesis she explored how women experience giving birth in hospital. Helene wanted to consider questions about birth because this is such an important event in women's lives. For over 10 years since then, she has divided her time between teaching and participating in research projects. (She is currently on the Board of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization.) She also regularly gives talks at conferences around the world. This means that you not only get the benefit of advice from a woman who's been through both a cesarean and a VBAC, you also get taken through the most up-to-date research. Serious information is presented in an upbeat, readable style. Comment from an obstetrician: "As a professional who is concerned about the risk in the cesarean rate I would like to suggest that all women who have anything to do with cesareans read this book. The author has collected research data and precious accounts, which will help women make an informed choice as to how to give birth to their babies." Feedback from a midwife: "Helene Vadeboncoeur offers women an important tool to support them if they choose to give birth vaginally after a previous cesarean." Comment from a VBAC mom: "This book can help you heal the inner scars that every cesarean leaves behind. It'll also help you prepare and inform yourself to make a different journey with your next birth."

A book to help midwives, obstetricians and other health care professionals think through the practicalities of optimizing pregnancies and births. After explaining precisely how 'optimal' is defined, eight reasons are presented to justify why this kind of birth is best. Finally, key practical issues are considered and reflective questions provided, so as to give caregivers a clear basis for clinical practice, wherever their place of work. This easy-read, accessible book is equally useful for students of midwifery (or obstetrics, or medicine generally), practicing midwives (including CNMs), family doctors, doulas, and maternity care assistants.

Environmental awareness and sustainability are vitally important concepts in the twenty first century and, as a low environmental impact healthcare profession, midwifery has the potential to stand as a model of excellence.

This innovative volume promotes a sustainable approach to midwifery practice, philosophy, business administration and resource management. Drawing on an interdisciplinary body of knowledge, this international collection of experts explores the challenges, inviting readers to critically reflect on the issues and consider how they could move to effect changes within their own working environments. Divided into three parts, the book discusses:

• The politics of midwifery and sustainability
• Midwifery as a sustainable healthcare practice
• Supporting an ecological approach to parenting.

Sustainability, Midwifery and Birth identifies existing models of sustainable midwifery practice, such as the continuity of care model, and highlights the potential for midwifery as a role model for ecologically sound health care provision. This unique book is a vital read for all midwives and midwifery students interested in sustainable practice. Contributors include: Sally Baddock, Carol Bartle, Ruth Deery, Nadine Pilley Edwards, Ina May Gaskin, Megan Gibbons, Carolyn Hastie, Mary Kensington, Mavis Kirkham, Nicky Leap, Ruth Martis, Zoe Meleo-Erwin, Jenny Meyer, Jo Murphy-Lawless, Mary Nolan, Sally Pairman and Sally Tracy.

Pelvic organ prolapse has been on medical record for over 4000 years yet remains hidden behind closed doors because of embarrassing symptoms like urinary and fecal incontinence, tissues bulging from the vagina, pain with intimacy, and chronic constipation. Vaginal childbirth and menopause are the leading causes of POP; millions of women worldwide suffer in silence with symptoms they don't understand. Pelvic Organ Prolapse: The Silent Epidemic dissects pelvic organ prolapse and explains causes, symptoms, and treatment options. It is written in an easy to understand format and includes insights from Sherrie Palm's personal journey.

For new students the language and concepts of midwifery care can at first be daunting. This book helps students to understand the expectations of midwifery training in relation to normal midwifery practice. It covers the basics of midwifery care including professional practice, frameworks informing midwifery care, key concepts and philosophies of care, communication and care skills, antenatal care, normal labour and birth, postnatal care, neonatal care and breastfeeding, as well as a brief introduction to medicines management in normal midwifery care. The book is designed to work alongside first taught modules in midwifery, and underpin training in subsequent years.

Is your man experiencing: Fatigue? Low or no sex drive? Less mental focus? Less tolerance to stress? Lack of interest for things that he used to love?Then, this book may be for you to read. He may be one of the 15 million men in the United States that are suffering from testosterone deficiency and not know it. Many men do not seek help and are sometimes in denial about this problem that can affect their relationships. Fortunately, you may arm yourself with important information before bringing up this sensitive issue in conversations with him. After reading this book you will know: How to spot symptoms of low testosterone in men What his best treatment option is more suitable, if he needs one How to identify and treat potential side effects before they become a problem What foods and medicines can lower his testosterone What compounding pharmacies are and how they can customized economical TRT options for him Upcoming testosterone options for women (yes, women may also need testosterone) And much more

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.

A book to help midwives and other health care professionals think through the practicalities of optimising pregnancies and births. After explaining precisely how 'optimal' is defined, nine reasons are presented to justify why this kind of birth is best. Finally, key practical issues are considered and reflective questions provided, so as to give caregivers a clear basis for clinical practice, wherever their place of work. This easy-read, accessible book, which is fully referenced, is equally useful for students of midwifery (or obstetrics, or medicine generally), practising midwives, doulas, and maternity care assistants. This third edition includes changes based on feedback and some additional material.

The author and her husband got pregnant easily and after that everything was hard. In elegant, spare prose, Ariel Balter unflinchingly and courageously chronicles the couple's five-year-long quest to have a child on the frontlines of the fertility industry. And though the journey ends successfully, this is not a simplistic or feel-good story. Instead, The Maternity Labyrinth raises difficult questions not only about the costs-emotional, financial, moral- of assisted reproduction but also the very human desire to become a parent. Balter has written a moving, graceful and deeply honest book.
Alexandra Enders, author of Bride Island
The Maternity Labyrinth offers a window into the very personal experience of one woman as she navigates the often bewildering, frustrating, dehumanizing and heart-wrenching experience of family building for the infertile. Ariel Balter gives voice to this experience and to the feelings that accompany it - a voice that will be welcome to many who feel alone in their struggle through the labyrinth.
Shana (Susan) G. Millstein, Ph.D., Professor of Pediatrics,
University of California, San Francisco
The Maternity Labyrinth is a must read for anyone who has gone through fertility treatments, assisted reproductive technology procedures or experienced the terrible tensions between hope and fear integral to the process. Professionals working in the fields of Infertility, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Maternity and Maternal Mental Health need this book as do family members and anyone who wants to understand the emotional nooks and crannies of playing against the odds to have a baby of one's own. The Maternity Labyrinth is a treasured gift to all of us-making sense of the twenty-first century new world of Fertility through the words of a mother who has lived it from the inside.
Diane Ehrensaft, Author of Mommies, Daddies, Donors,
Surrogates: Answering Tough Questions and Building Strong Families

A book for midwives who would like to explore how best to help women cope with pain and fear. This book contains information about the physiological and psychological functions of pain; cultural influences on the experience of labour pain; elective caesareans, which are supposedly a simpler alternative; advantages and drawbacks of using pharmacological pain relief; information and ideas on how to transform labour pain into an experience of strength and power. While the book provides information on a very wide range of pain relief options and the emphasis is on maternal choice, it also presents many convincing arguments for normal physiological birth. It can therefore make a contribution to helping reduce the rate of unnecessary caesareans and help midwives improve rates of maternal satisfaction. Forewords by Dr Trudy Stevens and Dr Helene Vadeboncoeur.

This long-awaited revision of the widely used classic text, first published as "Midwifery" by the late Pauline McCall Sellers, is a comprehensive textbook that covers every conceivable aspect of midwifery. It is relevant for use in southern African and other developing regions, updated and in line with the International Council of Midwives and International Council of Nursing guidelines and standards, and is fully updated and revised to deal with HIV/Aids in pregnancy, childbirth and post-partum care. Basic aspects that have guided this edition include: 'skilled attendance' making the book accessible for any health professional as described by WHO (nurses, midwives and doctors); the Saving Mothers and Babies reports in South Africa; international developments within the ICN and ICM, and the newly developed World Health Organisation: Partnership for Africa for maternal, new-born and child care (2008) attention to obstetric emergency care aspects, and focus on nutrition and pharmacology in obstetrics by nutritionists and pharmacologists.

"Psychology for Midwives"" is an excellent aid in grasping the key concepts of psychology in a focused way, clearly demonstrating how the key concepts can be used within modern day midwifery practice settings. This is an easy to use, informative guide, with up to date sources of evidence."
Kimberley Skinner, Student Midwife, Anglia Ruskin University, UK

"Communication isn't just about giving information. It is about creating relationships. This book is studded with academic references, but can also help midwives understand and interact with their clients in a satisfying way."
Sheila Kitzinger, Honorary Professor at the University of West London, UK (formally Thames Valley University)

"A well set out book comprising a comprehensive list of relevant contents ... Of particular note is the use of case vinaigrettes, stories, reflective activities and summaries of key points ... The content of the book reflect a range of contemporary theoretical approaches and subject areas."
Maria Barrell, University of Northumbria, UK"

""This is an excellent book which focuses on the underlying psychological factors that influence and guide women through pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium. There are clear descriptions of relevant theories and current research, supported by case studies which offer real life insight into issues such as how women feel during and after pregnancy ... The book covers areas that will affect everyone such as the development of relationships and emotions, covering not only the women but their support networks including family and birth partners."
Jane Mills, Student Midwife, Keele University, UK"

This accessible, evidence-based book explores how important it is for midwives to understand the psychological aspects of care, in order to create positive experiences for mothers and families. The book provides simple explanations for why psychological care matters in midwifery practice and uses different theoretical perspectives of psychology to illustrate how it fundamentally contributes to good midwifery practice.

The book addresses many core concepts and principles of psychology, including: Mother-midwife relationship Emotions during the childbearing continuum Perinatal mental illness Communications in midwifery practice The birth environment Stress and anxiety Providing support to families Attachment and bonding Reflective questions, activities, illustrations, tables, summary boxes and a glossary help readers navigate the book.

One of the first books of its kind, "Psychology for Midwives" is essential reading for all midwives, students and allied health care professionals interested in the psychological dimensions of childbearing.

Professional Ethics For Midwives: Conscious Practice Is An Applied Ethics Book Designed For Both Students And Practicing Midwives To Build Ethical Thinking In The Context Of Daily Practice. This Unique Text Uses An Accessible Writing Style And Includes Chapters On Diversity And Justice, Informed Consent, Multiple Relationships, Confidentiality And Privacy, Scope Of Practice, And Others. Realistic Case Examples Throughout The Text Encourage Critical Thinking In Applied Ethics. The Authors Present A Unique Model For Midwives' Ethical Thinking And Appendices Include Widely Used Codes Of Ethics In The Field.

Within maternity care midwives and consultant obstetricians are frequently required to collaborate together in an attempt to provide optimal care for women and their babies. In this way they are engaging in interprofessional collaboration, a much debated and increasingly popular policy agenda within health care. However, despite the growing support for interprofessional collaboration there is a limited understanding of how patient experiences are influenced by interprofessional working. This book will shed light on this issue using insights gained from midwifery clients. The stories of the women suggest that interprofessional consultation is complex with instances of subjugation and resistance occurring simultaneously as differing professional ideologies collide. The experience of midwifery clients during interprofessional consultation will be relevant for all those involved in maternity care, and for academics and professionals who are considering ways in which policy and practice can strengthen interprofessional working.

Recipient of the 2006 Norman L. and Roselea J. Goldberg Prize for the best project in the area of medicine.

The author, a second-generation Greek American, returned to Greece with her young daughter to do fieldwork over the course of a decade. Focusing on Rhodes, an island that blends continuity with the past and rapid social change in often unexpected ways, she interviewed over a hundred women, doctors, and midwives about issues of reproduction.

The result is a detailed portrait of how a longstanding system of "local" gynecological and obstetrical knowledge under the control of women was rapidly displaced in the the period following World War II, and how the technologically-intensive biomedical model that took its place in turn assumed its own distinctive signature.

"Bodies of Knowledge" is a vivid ethnographic study of how a presumably globalizing and homogenizing process like medicalization can be reshaped as women and medical experts alike selectively accept or reject new practices and technologies. Georges found, for example, that women in Rhodes have enthusiastically embraced some new technologies, like fetal imaging during pregnancy, but rejected others, like medical contraception. They are also avid consumers of popular childbirth manuals.

"This book is the recipient of the 2006 Norman L. and Roselea J. Goldberg Prize for the best project in the area of medicine."

Recipient of the 2006 Norman L. and Roselea J. Goldberg Prize for the best project in the area of medicine.

The author, a second-generation Greek American, returned to Greece with her young daughter to do fieldwork over the course of a decade. Focusing on Rhodes, an island that blends continuity with the past and rapid social change in often unexpected ways, she interviewed over a hundred women, doctors, and midwives about issues of reproduction.

The result is a detailed portrait of how a longstanding system of "local" gynecological and obstetrical knowledge under the control of women was rapidly displaced in the the period following World War II, and how the technologically-intensive biomedical model that took its place in turn assumed its own distinctive signature.

"Bodies of Knowledge" is a vivid ethnographic study of how a presumably globalizing and homogenizing process like medicalization can be reshaped as women and medical experts alike selectively accept or reject new practices and technologies. Georges found, for example, that women in Rhodes have enthusiastically embraced some new technologies, like fetal imaging during pregnancy, but rejected others, like medical contraception. They are also avid consumers of popular childbirth manuals.

"This book is the recipient of the 2006 Norman L. and Roselea J. Goldberg Prize for the best project in the area of medicine."

Based on the accounts of midwives, their descendants, and the women they served, "In the Way of Our Grandmothers" tells of the midwife's trade--her principles, traditions, and skills--and of the competing medical profession's successful program to systematically destroy the practice.

The rural South was one of the last strongholds of the traditional "granny" midwife. Whether she came by her trade through individual choice or inherited a practice from an older relative, a woman who accepted the "call" of midwife launched a lifelong vocation of public service. While the profession was arduous, it had numerous rewards. Midwives assumed positions of leadership within their communities, were able to define themselves and their actions on their own terms, and derived a great sense of pride and satisfaction from performing a much-loved job.

Despite national statistics that placed midwives above all other attendants in low childbirth mortality, Florida's state health experts began in the early twentieth century to view the craft as a menace to public health. Efforts to regulate midwives through education and licensing were part of a long-term plan to replace them with modern medical and hospital services. Eager to demonstrate their good will and common interest, most midwives complied with the increasingly restrictive rules imposed by the state, unknowingly contributing to the demise of their own profession.

The recent interest of the youthful middle class in home birth methods has been accompanied by a rediscovery of the midwife's craft. Yet the new midwifery represents the state's successful attainment of a long-awaited goal: the replacement of the traditional lay midwife with the modern nurse-midwife. "In the Way of Our Grandmothers" provides a voice for the few women in the South who still remember the earlier trade--one that evolved organically from the needs of women and existed outside the realms of men.

A great deal of misinformation exists about women's use of substances during pregnancy and lactation. A health care provider's challenge is to know the true risks and bene ts, both to the mother and to her fetus or baby, of taking versus stopping the use of a medication or other substance. Yet the average provider is not well equipped to give the best advice to women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and exposed to psychotropics. - "Is it ever safe to drink alcohol when breastfeeding?" - "What are the risks to the baby if the mother uses cannabis while pregnant or breastfeeding?" - "Are the effects of smoking different during pregnancy versus during breastfeeding?" - "Can a woman safely breastfeed her baby when taking codeine?" Exposure to Psychotropic Medications and Other Substances during Pregnancy and Lactation: A Handbook for Health Care Providers is a convenient source of evidence-based information and recommendations on these and many other questions for primary care physicians, psychiatrists, pharmacists, obstetricians, midwives, public health nurses and nurse practitioners. The handbook: - details the properties and effects of many psychotropic medications and other substances, and provides recommendations for how to advise women using these substances - dispels common myths about drug exposure during pregnancy and lactation - discusses key principles for clinical approaches to working with pregnant or breastfeeding women who use psychotropic medications or other substances - covers screening best practices and provides screening tools - explores the critical therapeutic role that all health professionals can play in helping women move toward better health outcomes for themselves and their babies. The production of this handbook has been made possible through a nancial contribution from Health Canada.

"On Uganda's Terms" is the gripping tale of the author's experiences as an American nurse during the vicious and brutal reign of Idi Amin. Ms. Hale tells the story of the struggles she faced while striving to improve the Ugandan health care system in the 1960s - 70s. Recalling a saying from the Talmud-""If you can save one life, you can save a generation,"" she worked to improve health care in the midst of this African nation's most horrific time in history.

About the Author:
Mary M. Hale, RNC, MSN, SRN, SCM, has been a Nurse-Midwife for 35 years. Ten of those years she served under the Ministry of Health in Uganda, East Africa where she set up the first post-graduate pediatric nursing program. Hale has written about these experiences in her first book "On Uganda's Terms" telling the obstacles to saving lives under the worst of circumstances while working tirelessly against the odds of Idi Amin.
She retired after 27 years in Pediatrics and Obstetrics at Albert Einstein Medical Center, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2006. Her first year of retirement was spent writing her autobiography "On Uganda's Terms." In her second year she finished "Beyond Nurses Notes - A Journey to Choose Life."

On the verge of entering the 21st century, women today are living in a n age of restlessness and flux. This outstanding interdisciplinary com pilation links post-modern perspectives on women's development and pot ential with health, political contexts, relationships, culture, age, e ducation, social conditions, and economic status. A diverse group of w riters offer their insights and ideas for improving the condition of a ll human beings through the augmentation of women's potential. More t han a cursory view of women's experiences, this remarkable book examin es contemporary issues in the context of actual eventsmilestones that have affected or will affect every woman today, in the 21st century, a nd beyond.