Better Births

Better Births: The Midwife 'with Woman’ provides readers with an in-depth understanding of the fundamental concepts at the heart of all midwifery practice. Written for student midwives and qualified practitioners alike, this evidence-based textbook examines what it means to be 'with woman' from a range of perspectives, in a variety of contexts, and in diverse areas of practice. Based on Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis—the theoretical approach to developing knowledge in nursing science—this authoritative resource systematically examines and analyses the most recent literature and evidence, presenting findings of high relevance to midwives and childbearing women with contributions from international experts. Introduces the concept of being 'with woman' and explains the evolutionary concept analysis approach Provides insights on the relationship between woman and midwife and on fulfilling the 'with woman' concept Reviews contemporary literature to identify new knowledge and generate questions about the concept Includes discussion of global and historical perspectives, high risk midwifery, mental health issues, supporting the bereaved woman, delivering nurturing care to the older childbearing woman, midwifery education, public health, the future of midwifery, and more Better Births is essential reading for undergraduate and graduate students in midwifery programmes, scholars and educators in the field, sociologists and researchers in related disciplines, and general readers interested in women’s position in society, birth and motherhood, and feminism.

Preface ix Foreword xiv 1 An Evolutionary Concept Analysis 1 Anna M. Brown, Kath Lawton, Lauren Brown; Victoria Walker, Lucy Jane, Paruit Cass (midwives); and Emily and Victoria (women) 2 Ethical Perspectives of Being ‘with Woman’ 23 Anna M. Brown; Donna Hunt (midwife); and Emily (woman) 3 ‘With Woman’ in ‘Normal Birth’ 46 Anna M. Brown; Laura Pagden, Rhiannon Brown, Donna Hunt (midwives); and Sarah, Helen, and Lissie (women) 4 ‘With Woman’ in Screening and Fetal Medicine 74 Angie Bowles (Independent Midwife); Anna M. Brown; and Hannah (woman) 5 ‘With the High-Risk Woman and Neonate’ 96 Anna M. Brown, Leontia Pillay, Kath Lawton, Ann Robinson; Kerry-Anne Horne, Rhiannon Brown, Victoria Walker, Julia Derrick, Amy Duncan, Olivia Boswell, Jo Willard (midwives); and Katrina (woman) and Angela* (woman) 6 ‘With Woman’ with Gestational Diabetes Mellitus 130 Anna M. Brown, Julia Derrick; Amy Duncan (midwives); and Joanne (woman) 7 ‘With Woman’ in Perineal Trauma 147 Angie Wilson (Specialist Midwife); and Ruth* and Emilia* (women) 8 ‘With Woman’ from a Mental Health Perspective 173 Nadine Page (Mental Health Specialist), Erin Pascoe (Specialist Midwife); Aisha-Sky Lindsay (midwife); and Helena* (woman) 9 ‘With Woman’ in Prison 189 Anna M. Brown; Clare Cochrane (Specialist Midwife); and Women 10 ‘With the Older Woman’ 203 Clare Edney (Midwife), Anna M. Brown; and Kate* and Lucy* (women) 11 ‘With the Bereaved Woman’ 221 Anna M. Brown, Zara Chamberlain (Specialist Midwife); Jennie (Student Midwife); and Kitty* (woman) 12 Global Midwifery Perspective of the ‘with Woman’ Concept 245 Julia Boon, Miriam Shibli and colleagues; Dina Ryan Davidson and colleagues; Elisabetta Colciago, Thorhild Borlaug, Natalie Papagiorcopulo, Alex Bell, Priscilla (midwives); and Annabel, Dina and Erin (women) Conclusion: Reflections on Midwifery Practice: Does Professional Regulation Promote a ‘With Woman’ Philosophy? 269 Melvyn John Dunstall Further Reading 282 Index 283