From the moment you share the news that you are pregnant or have a new baby it feels like everyone becomes an expert. Did you see that headline? Did you hear that story on TV? Have you heard the latest about what they say is best? In a world overflowing with information telling you what is best for you and your baby, making decisions can feel overwhelming. Who do you trust? Who is telling the truth? And how do you know if what they are saying is right for you? How? By becoming your own expert in sorting the media spin and politics from the actual facts and data. This isn't a book that is going to tell you which decisions to make, or that there is ever one right answer. It is not going to tell you that the same thing is always best for everyone. Instead this is a guide to help you evaluate information and evidence to decide what is right for you, your body and your baby. In three main parts it will firstly open your eyes to how information is shared in the media and how this can affect our thinking and decision making. Next it will help you spot who is funding, leading and promoting research and how this can affect the content of what is shared. Finally it will talk you through reading, understanding and evaluating evidence for yourself across topics in pregnancy, birth and caring for babies. You'll learn how to spot weaknesses in methods used, how to determine the real risk for you and your baby, and how wider context and other factors can influence what research means for you. Information is power. Making your own decisions that are right for you is empowering. #informedisbest

This is Volume 5 in the Midwifery: Best Practice series. Each of the volumes in this Series is built around the familiar core of four main topic areas relevant to midwifery: pregnancy, labour / birth, postnatal and stories / reflection - and also includes a number of 'focus on.' sections. These are different in each volume and reflect a wide range of key and topical issues within midwifery. Each volume builds upon the others to provide a comprehensive library of articles that shows the development of thought in key midwifery areas. Volume 5 offers a range of wholly new topic areas within the 'focus on.' sections covering: 'the birthing environment', 'women, midwives and risk', 'holistic health' and 'working/international stories'. A practical reference source containing a wide range of articles, research and original material in an easily accessible format Volume 5 offers a more interactive learning experience by inviting midwives to create their own questions before reading the articles, and then returning to these afterwards for reflective thought Diverse opinions on selected topics provide a comprehensive resource for debate and discussion Unique approach includes ideas on how to turn reading into professional development activities Includes 60 articles from The Practising Midwife (2004-5);4 research articles from Midwifery (2004-5); 3 articles from The Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health (2003-5); and 5 original articles commissioned for this book. . 60 articles from The Practising Midwife (2004-05). . 4 research articles from Midwifery (2004-05). . 3 articles from The Journal of Midwifery and Women's Health 2003-05 . 5 original articles commissioned for this book.

Concentrating specifically on research into midwifery and related disciplines, Appraising Research into Childbirth is designed to equip midwives and midwifery students with the necessary tools to navigate the maze of evidence-informed practice and the very different kinds of research that are published in midwifery, medical and related journals. The book appraises eight previously published research articles that present both qualitative and quantitative research studies. Each of the various elements is analysed - from the methodology through to the interpretation of the results. Each article is annotated with notes and questions, thereby enabling the reader to actively participate in the appraisal. Tips, tools and checklists aid orientation and quick recall of salient advice and a guide to statistics helps to demystify what is generally considered to be a daunting element of most research. Each chapter is pulled together by the ongoing discussion about how we can "find out" and "know" by doing research and the advantages, disadvantages, potential for philosophical and methodological bias and political ramifications of such work. Presents a range of quantitative and qualitative research articles relevant to midwifery practice in a unique workbook format Enables readers to gain hands-on, practical experience of critiquing research Supplementary tools, checklists, mnemonics and tables enable deeper understanding of the process of appraising research Commentary and expert critique provided by lecturers in midwifery research Contains a user-friendly guide to statistics