Best Practices in Midwifery: Using the Evidence to Implement Change

First Edition an AJN Book of the Year Award Winner!

This second edition of a groundbreaking book is substantially revised to deliver the foundation for an evidence-based model for best practices in midwifery, a model critical to raising the United States' current standing as the bottom-ranking country for maternity mortality among developed nations.With a focus on updated scientific evidence as the framework for midwifery practice, the book includes 21 completely new chapters that address bothcontinuing and new areas of practice, the impact of institutional and national policies, and the effects of diversity and globalization. Incorporating themidwifery model of care, the book provides strategies for change and guidance for implementing evidence-based best practices.

The book examines midwifery efforts to improve the health of women and children in the U.S., for example, Strong Start, US MERA, Centering Pregnancy, a focus on physiologic birth, and successful global endeavors. It encompasses a diverse nationwide authorship that includes leaders in midwifery,academicians, midwives representing diversity, hospital- and community-based practitioners, and policymakers. This coalition of authors from diversebackgrounds facilitates an engaging and robust discussion around best practices. Chapters open with a contemporary review of the literature, a comparisonof current (often scientifically unsubstantiated and ineffective) practices, evidence-based recommendations, and best practices for midwifery.

Key Features:

• Focuses on scientific evidence as the framework for midwifery practice
• Addresses continuing and new, controversial areas of practice with strategies and guidelines for change
• Includes 20 out of 27 completely new chapters
Authored by a diverse group of 44 prominent midwifery leaders
• Examines practices that are in conflict with scientific evidence

Barbara A. Anderson, DrPH, CNM, FACNM, FAAN, has had a long career in nursing and public health, field-based teaching, mentorship, program planning, curriculum development, and academic administration.

Judith P. Rooks, MPH, MS, CNM, FACNM, is past president of the American College of Nurse-Midwives. As a nurse-midwife and epidemiologist, she has had many years of service with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although retired, she continues to work on behalf of mothers, babies, and midwives.

Rebeca Barroso, DNP, MSN, CNM, FACNM, is an assistant professor of midwifery at Frontier Nursing University and practices full-scope midwifery at HealthEast Care, Saint Paul, Minnesota, serving low-income national and international clientele at Seton Catholic Charities Clinic.