The New Midwifery: Science and Sensitivity in Practice

Being a midwife today requires not only good clinical skills but also a broad understanding of the social and emotional adaptation to birth, which a woman must go through. A midwife must be clinically skilled and able to bring "woman-centred" practice to life. This book explores all the issues, which a midwife may experience in applying her practical knowledge with sensitivity towards every individual woman's care, before, during and after birth. Building on the changes, which have occurred in midwifery in the past decade, "The New Midwifery" describes approaches to practice,which have now been drawn from experience, underpinned by theory and biological sciences. It will help midwives to build sensitive and supportive relationships, develop openness to individual needs, and be able to use science as a basis to practice.

Develops midwives practice through a deeper balance of sensitivity and science

Detailed exploration of the impact of parenthood and the role a midwife can play in parents successful transitions

Usesexamples from actual practice

Provides discussions of important theoretical areas such as genetics and attachment

Clear and practical pointers for practice are provided at the end of each chapter

Lesley Ann Page, BA, MSc, RM, RN, RNT, RMT, The Queen Charlotte's Professor of Midwifery Practice, Head of the Centre for Midwifery Practice, Thames Valley University and Queen Charlotte's and Hammersmith Hospital, London, UK; Associate Editor: Patricia Percival, BappSc(Nsg) BappSc (Mid) MAppSc, PhD, RN, RM, CHN, FRCNA, Formerly Post Graduate Coordinator, School of Nursing, Edith Cowan University, Perth Western Australia; Foreword by : Sheila Kitzinger, MLitt, MBE, Honorary Professor, Thames Valley University; Writer and Social Anthropologist, Oxford, UK