Becoming a Midwife

What is the reality of being a midwife at the beginning of 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?

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 chapters cover a variety of settings and several different stages in a woman’s pregnancy. Each one is narrated by a midwife who introduces their own theme, recounts a vignette that throws light on their understanding of midwifery and reasons for becoming a midwife and any subsequent career moves. 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.

Rosemary Mander is Professorial Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, UK. She has an honorary appointment to practise as a midwife at a local maternity unit. Her previous publications include Caesarean and Loss and Bereavement in Childbearing.

Valerie Fleming is Professor of Midwifery at Glasgow Caledonian University, UK. She is one of five mentors worldwide for Young Midwifery Leaders’ Programme. Her previous publications include Failure to Progress.