The changes that are happening within midwifery are of concern to those within the health care system, the academic world and those whose lives are touched by midwifery care. Failure to Progress reflects on the current situation and questions whether it is the most appropriate way of providing care for the childbearing woman. The book discusses what is happening both within midwifery as well as to midwifery as a profession in the context of social change. Topics covered include:
* the evolution of the midwifes role
* women's issues
* the functioning of the midwife within the health care system
* the effects of organisational change
* the relationships of the midwife with the woman she cares for and with medical practitioners.

All of the contributors to Failure to Progress are actively involved with the provision of care to the childbearing woman, and most are practising midwives. Together they build up a comprehensive picture of midwifery today which will be relevant to all midwifery students, practitioners and policy makers and not least to the consumers of midwifery care.

What is the reality of being a midwife in the twenty-first century? What is it like to help and support women throughout pregnancy and childbirth and into motherhood? What roles can midwives play in society? This new edition of the popular text, Becoming a Midwife, explores what it is to be a midwife, looking at the factors that make midwifery such a special profession, as well as some of the challenges. The fully updated chapters cover a variety of settings and several different stages in a woman's pregnancy, including stories from midwives working in hospitals and in the community, as managers, supervisors and educators, and as men, women, mothers and birth activists. All chapters are narrated by contributors who introduce their own theme, recount a vignette that throws light on their understandings of midwifery and reasons for becoming (or not becoming) a midwife and any subsequent career moves. Backed up by commentaries and drawing together these insights, the editors show what it means to be a midwife today. Suitable for those contemplating a career in midwifery and providing an opportunity for reflection for more experienced midwives, this thought-provoking book is an invaluable contribution to midwifery.

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.

What is the reality of being a midwife in the twenty-first century? What is it like to help and support women throughout pregnancy and childbirth and into motherhood? What roles can midwives play in society? This new edition of the popular text, Becoming a Midwife, explores what it is to be a midwife, looking at the factors that make midwifery such a special profession, as well as some of the challenges. The fully updated chapters cover a variety of settings and several different stages in a woman's pregnancy, including stories from midwives working in hospitals and in the community, as managers, supervisors and educators, and as men, women, mothers and birth activists. All chapters are narrated by contributors who introduce their own theme, recount a vignette that throws light on their understandings of midwifery and reasons for becoming (or not becoming) a midwife and any subsequent career moves. Backed up by commentaries and drawing together these insights, the editors show what it means to be a midwife today. Suitable for those contemplating a career in midwifery and providing an opportunity for reflection for more experienced midwives, this thought-provoking book is an invaluable contribution to midwifery.

This new edition of a groundbreaking work reflects important developments in the general understanding of, and research into, loss and death. Providing a wealth of information for both experienced and inexperienced midwives, the book covers topics including:

• perinatal and neonatal loss
• miscarriage and termination for foetal abnormality
• death of a mother in third world and first world settings
• difficulties encountered during future childbearing.

Combining an authoritative research-based orientation with a critical yet human approach to this sensitive topic, the book aids midwives in providing effective care and support to those who experience loss. The author draws on relevant and largely research-based literature from a wide range of related disciplines to inform this area, which is only now receiving the attention it has long deserved.

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.

The evidence surrounding the skills and approaches to support good birth has grown exponentially over the last two decades, but so too have the obstacles facing women and midwives who strive to achieve good birth. This new book critically explores the complex issues surrounding contemporary childbirth practices in a climate which is ever more medicalised amidst greater insecurity at broad social and political levels. The authors offer a rigorous, and thought-provoking, analysis of current clinical, managerial and policy-making environments, and how they have prevented sustaining the kind of progress we need. The Politics of Maternity explores the most hopeful developments such as the abundant evidence for one-to-one care for women, and sets these accounts against the background of changes in health service organisation and provision that block these approaches from becoming an everyday occurrence for women giving birth. The book sets out the case for renewed attention to the politics of childbirth and what this politics must entail if we are to give birth back to women. Designed to help professionals cope with the transition from education to the reality of the system within which they learn and practise, this inspiring book will help to assist them to function and care effectively in a changing health care environment.

The evidence surrounding the skills and approaches to support good birth has grown exponentially over the last two decades, but so too have the obstacles facing women and midwives who strive to achieve good birth. This new book critically explores the complex issues surrounding contemporary childbirth practices in a climate which is ever more medicalised amidst greater insecurity at broad social and political levels. The authors offer a rigorous, and thought-provoking, analysis of current clinical, managerial and policy-making environments, and how they have prevented sustaining the kind of progress we need. The Politics of Maternity explores the most hopeful developments such as the abundant evidence for one-to-one care for women, and sets these accounts against the background of changes in health service organisation and provision that block these approaches from becoming an everyday occurrence for women giving birth. The book sets out the case for renewed attention to the politics of childbirth and what this politics must entail if we are to give birth back to women. Designed to help professionals cope with the transition from education to the reality of the system within which they learn and practise, this inspiring book will help to assist them to function and care effectively in a changing health care environment.

Arguing that contemporary maternity services provide a toxic environment both in which to practise and to give birth, this book looks at how we can change this. Its aim is promoting the best possible experiences of childbearing, and confident, strengthening and loving contexts for new parenthood. Designed to create awareness about the professional and political realities which enmesh maternity care, this inspiring volume features an in-depth and research-oriented analysis of the challenges faced by contemporary maternity services. Recognising the frequently hostile environment in which midwives practise, the contributors go on to explore its impact on women and families, as well as on midwives themselves. They then look at woman-centred and community-based ways of contributing to a much better birthing experience for all. Important and relevant for all those with an interest in improving maternity care, this book is particularly suited to midwives - practising and student, doulas, birth educators and activists, policymakers and health service managers.

Arguing that contemporary maternity services provide a toxic environment both in which to practise and to give birth, this book looks at how we can change this. Its aim is promoting the best possible experiences of childbearing, and confident, strengthening and loving contexts for new parenthood. Designed to create awareness about the professional and political realities which enmesh maternity care, this inspiring volume features an in-depth and research-oriented analysis of the challenges faced by contemporary maternity services. Recognising the frequently hostile environment in which midwives practise, the contributors go on to explore its impact on women and families, as well as on midwives themselves. They then look at woman-centred and community-based ways of contributing to a much better birthing experience for all. Important and relevant for all those with an interest in improving maternity care, this book is particularly suited to midwives - practising and student, doulas, birth educators and activists, policymakers and health service managers.

Bereavement is a difficult issue for midwives to manage and families suffer when the care they receive is inadequate or inappropriate. Written by an experienced midwife and researcher, Loss and Bereavement in Childbearing examines ways in which midwives can assist families to embark on a healthy grieving process. developments in the general understanding of and research into loss and death. Providing a wealth of information for both experienced and inexperienced midwives, the book covers topics including abnormality -death of a mother in third world and first world settings -difficulties encountered during future childbearing. human approach to this sensitive topic, the book aids midwives in providing effective care and support to those who experience loss. The author draws on relevant and largely research-based literature fro a wide range of related disciplines to inform this area, which is only now receiving the attention it has long deserved.

This book critically analyzes the place of caesarean in childbearing at the beginning of the twenty first century. It questions the changes that are taking place in childbirth and, in particular, the effects and implications of an increase in caesarean births.

This controversial work by a practising midwife and researcher, includes discussion of:

• the context of the operation and description of it
• health systems around the world and their caesarean incidence rates
• decision-making and cultural/medical constraints
• the short and long term implications of caesarean for baby and mother.

Using up-to-date research, Rosemary Mander bases her argument on a firm evidence-base and argues that the rapidly rising caesarean section rate may not be for the benefit of either the woman giving birth or her baby. Rather, the beneficiaries may actually be those professionals whose investment is in extending the range of theirinfluence and thus increasing the medicalization of normal life.

Since the development of modern medicine, men have become increasingly involved in childbearing as obstetricians and, more recently, as fathers. Childbearing has been revolutionized due, in no small part, to the involvement of men. "Men and Maternity" argues that the beneficial contribution of men has been taken for granted. Certain changes to childbearing practice have resulted, which, together with men's involvement, have been encouraged without any reference to evidence and without adequate opportunity for reflection.
Considering the findings of recent research and wider literature, and using qualitative research with mothers "Men and Maternity" traces the beginning of men's involvement in childbearing to practicing interventionist medicine. The author discusses the medicalization of childbirth due to the increased involvement of medical practitioners and highlights the risks to mother and child of unnecessary interventions. Additionally, the book examines the difficulties men experience with childbirth, giving particular attention to challenging situations such as fathers' grief. Analyzing the taken-for-granted assumptions about the beneficial contribution men make to childbearing, both as practitioners and as fathers, "Men and Maternity "asks whether there may also be disadvantages to men's involvement.

This book critically analyzes the place of caesarean in childbearing at the beginning of the twenty first century. It questions the changes that are taking place in childbirth and, in particular, the effects and implications of an increase in caesarean births.

This controversial work by a practising midwife and researcher, includes discussion of:

• the context of the operation and description of it
• health systems around the world and their caesarean incidence rates
• decision-making and cultural/medical constraints
• the short and long term implications of caesarean for baby and mother.

Using up-to-date research, Rosemary Mander bases her argument on a firm evidence-base and argues that the rapidly rising caesarean section rate may not be for the benefit of either the woman giving birth or her baby. Rather, the beneficiaries may actually be those professionals whose investment is in extending the range of theirinfluence and thus increasing the medicalization of normal life.

Since the development of modern medicine, men have become increasingly involved in childbearing as obstetricians and, more recently, as fathers. Childbearing has been revolutionized due, in no small part, to the involvement of men. "Men and Maternity" argues that the beneficial contribution of men has been taken for granted. Certain changes to childbearing practice have resulted, which, together with men's involvement, have been encouraged without any reference to evidence and without adequate opportunity for reflection.
Considering the findings of recent research and wider literature, and using qualitative research with mothers "Men and Maternity" traces the beginning of men's involvement in childbearing to practicing interventionist medicine. The author discusses the medicalization of childbirth due to the increased involvement of medical practitioners and highlights the risks to mother and child of unnecessary interventions. Additionally, the book examines the difficulties men experience with childbirth, giving particular attention to challenging situations such as fathers' grief. Analyzing the taken-for-granted assumptions about the beneficial contribution men make to childbearing, both as practitioners and as fathers, "Men and Maternity "asks whether there may also be disadvantages to men's involvement.