Better Births - by Anna M Brown (Paperback)

About the Book

"I have been a midwife for 35 years. Throughout this time, I have witnessed the impact and implications of childbirth. However, more recent events have encouraged me to examine childbirth experiences which have involved close family members. Heartfelt comments have ranged from desperate pleas such as 'nobody tells you the reality of becoming a mother ... I feel overwhelmed' to 'I feel abandoned'. Such observations have urged me to explore the concept of what it means to women and midwives to be 'with woman'. In addition, new standards for the profession were published in November 2019, one of which requires midwives to be able to provide and promote continuity of care and carer. This is not a new phenomenon but seen through the concept of being 'with woman' would provide a safer and more effective delivery of maternity care. 'With woman' is an old term in the English language from which the word 'midwife' is derived. The meaning and concept of being 'with woman' may be interpreted as providing care and support in a physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual sense. Hunter (2002, p. 650), explored this concept to focus on the 'presence and support by a caregiver as desired by the labouring woman'. Early on, nurse-midwife core competencies in America emphasised the importance of human presence with the childbearing woman as a therapeutic and professional philosophy (ACNM 1979). More recently, Bradfield et al.'s (2018a) integrative review of the literature explored the 'with woman' phenomena to present an understanding and perspective of this concept. The authors suggest that being 'with woman' is an evolutionary construct, which is dynamic and continues to develop, and is fundamental to midwifery practices and professional philosophy"--

Book Synopsis

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.

From the Back Cover

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.

About the Author

About the Editor

Anna M. Brown is a Midwifery Teaching Fellow in the School of Health Sciences, University of Surrey, UK, where she facilitates teaching on all levels of midwifery programmes.