Normalizing Challenging Or Complex Childbirth

Complexity in childbirth is growing significantly due to several factors that include increasing maternal age, rising levels of obesity and related diabetes. Women labelled as moderate or high risk are often excluded from useful strategies that low risk women enjoy, such as using water immersion for labour, aromatherapy or mobilisation. They then can immediately follow a pathway of increased surveillance and interventions that may or may not be clinically indicated. This text offers expert guidance and specialist knowledge on the evidence for normalizing and humanizing complicated or challenging pregnancies, labours and birth. It covers a range of practice issues from multiple births to breech presentations, gestational diabetes to VBAC. Comprehensively written for midwifery students and those already in practice, it's also useful for obstetricians and medical students who wish to provide more holistic maternity care and promote optimum childbirth. With case studies and helpful summaries of points for practice, this is the go-to text for those looking for up-to-date guidance on maximizing normal physiology and also normalizing or humanizing challenging or complex childbirth in midwifery practice. An essential read for today's midwife. Includes a Foreword by Professor Soo Downe, University of Central Lancashire, UK. "Normalizing Challenging or Complex Childbirth, edited by Karen Jackson and Helen Wightman, provides an insightful and informative perspective on an array of midwifery issues pertinent to today's society, including: obesity, VBAC and diabetes. Karen Jackson's first chapter 'The concept of normality in the context of challenging or complex childbirth' sets the standard for additional eminent contributing authors; and they follow with an engaging exploration and explanation of the issues which is seamless in terms of application to practice and is supported by real life case studies and key practice points. This is a must read resource for midwives, students and educators." Janet Israel, Midwifery Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK "Normalizing Challenging or Complex Childbirth provides midwives and students with a refreshingly practical and sensitive approach to caring for women when pregnancy and birth bring additional physiological challenges. New and emerging evidence on important clinical scenarios is presented with great compassion in the context of contemporary midwifery care. This book will be an important resource to midwives wishing to provide individualised sensitive care to women facing the challenge of an unexpected, or complex, pregnancy path." Julia Sanders, PhD Consultant Midwife and Reader in Midwifery, Cardiff University, UK

Complexity in childbirth is growing significantly due to several factors that include increasing maternal age, rising levels of obesity and related diabetes. Women labelled as moderate or high risk are often excluded from useful strategies that low risk women enjoy, such as using water immersion for labour, aromatherapy or mobilisation. They then can immediately follow a pathway of increased surveillance and interventions that may or may not be clinically indicated. This text offers expert guidance and specialist knowledge on the evidence for normalizing and humanizing complicated or challenging pregnancies, labours and birth. It covers a range of practice issues from multiple births to breech presentations, gestational diabetes to VBAC. Comprehensively written for midwifery students and those already in practice, it’s also useful for obstetricians and medical students who wish to provide more holistic maternity care and promote optimum childbirth. With case studies and helpful summaries of points for practice, this is the go-to text for those looking for up-to-date guidance on maximizing normal physiology and also normalizing or humanizing challenging or complex childbirth in midwifery practice. An essential read for today’s midwife. Includes a Foreword by Professor Soo Downe, University of Central Lancashire, UK. "Normalizing Challenging or Complex Childbirth, edited by Karen Jackson and Helen Wightman, provides an insightful and informative perspective on an array of midwifery issues pertinent to today’s society, including: obesity, VBAC and diabetes. Karen Jackson’s first chapter 'The concept of normality in the context of challenging or complex childbirth' sets the standard for additional eminent contributing authors; and they follow with an engaging exploration and explanation of the issues which is seamless in terms of application to practice and is supported by real life case studies and key practice points. This is a must read resource for midwives, students and educators." Janet Israel, Midwifery Lecturer, Cardiff University, UK "Normalizing Challenging or Complex Childbirth provides midwives and students with a refreshingly practical and sensitive approach to caring for women when pregnancy and birth bring additional physiological challenges. New and emerging evidence on important clinical scenarios is presented with great compassion in the context of contemporary midwifery care. This book will be an important resource to midwives wishing to provide individualised sensitive care to women facing the challenge of an unexpected, or complex, pregnancy path.” Julia Sanders, PhD Consultant Midwife and Reader in Midwifery, Cardiff University, UK

Birthing Autonomy brings some balance to the difficult arguments that arise from debates about home births, and focuses on women’s views and their experiences of planning home births. It provides an in-depth exploration of how women make decisions about home births and what aspects matter most to them. Comparing how differently the pros and cons of home births are constructed and contemplated by mothers and by the medical profession, the book looks at how current obstetric thinking and practices can disempower and harm women emotionally and spiritually as well as physically. Written in an accessible style, this book is enlightening for student and practicing midwives and obstetricians, as well as researchers and students of nursing, medical sociology, health studies, gender studies, feminist practitioners and theorists. It will also be invaluable to expectant mothers who want to be more informed about the choices they are facing and the wider context within which their birth options are considered.

This is a book for midwives and health professionals but it is one which starts from women's stories and their points of view. Pointers to best practice are presented alongside the narratives, making this a practical read for those concerned with making home birth a real option for women.

Evidence-based care is a well established principle in contemporary healthcare and a world wide health care movement. However, despite the emphasis on promoting evidence-based or effective care without the unnecessary use of technologies and drugs, intervention rates in childbirth are rising rapidly. Evidence-based Care for Normal Labour and Birth brings to light much of the evidence around what works best for normal birth which has, until now, remained largely hidden and ignored by maternity care professionals. Beginning with the decision about where to have a baby, through all the phases of labour to the immediate post-birth period, it systematically details research and other evidence sources that endorse a low intervention approach. The book: highlights where the evidence is compelling discusses its application where women question its relevance to them and where the practitioner's expertise leads them to challenge it gives background and context before discussing the research to date includes questions for reflection and practice recommendations generated from the evidence. Using research data, Evidence-based Care for Normal Labour and Birth critiques institutionalised, scientifically managed birth and endorses a more humane midwifery-led model. Packed with up-to-date and relevant information, this controversial book will help all students, practising midwives and doulas keep abreast of the evidence surrounding normal birth and ensure their practice takes full advantage of it.

Arguing that contemporary maternity services provide a toxic environment both in which to practise and to give birth, this book looks at how we can change this. Its aim is promoting the best possible experiences of childbearing, and confident, strengthening and loving contexts for new parenthood. Designed to create awareness about the professional and political realities which enmesh maternity care, this inspiring volume features an in-depth and research-oriented analysis of the challenges faced by contemporary maternity services. Recognising the frequently hostile environment in which midwives practise, the contributors go on to explore its impact on women and families, as well as on midwives themselves. They then look at woman-centred and community-based ways of contributing to a much better birthing experience for all. Important and relevant for all those with an interest in improving maternity care, this book is particularly suited to midwives – practising and student, doulas, birth educators and activists, policymakers and health service managers.

An international collaboration of lecturers, practitioners and researchers. Each chapter considers a topic relevant to normalizing maternity care. Topics include: routine interventions epidurals physiological third and fourth stages longer labors and approaches to monitoring / intervention most effective models of care birth centers home birth mental health doulas reasons for intervention links between research and practice harmonizing models of birth caseload midwifery including 'normality' on medical training courses the symbolic value of birth developments in China, the UAE, Brazil and other countries where dramatic changes are taking place (e.g. in sub-Saharan Africa) the 'natural' cesarean individual agents for change intrapartum best practice ways of supporting women laboring without pharmacological pain relief water birth VBAC the role of regulatory bodies ways of publicizing your work communication for best results review of progress and pointers for future research. Questions and extracts provide stimulating reflection and seminar material. For midwives, obstetricians, family doctors, doulas and other maternity caregivers. "I strongly recommend this book to midwives, obstetricians, doctors and hospital administrators. It carefully reviews the scientific data." Marsden Wagner-who was director of Women's and Children's Health at the World Health Organization for 15 years, before his retirement."

The second edition of this pathbreaking, widely taught book offers six new chapters, on breastfeeding and Black infant health; Black birthing during COVID; Black doulas rethinking birthing practices; the recent buildup of a US national movement; childbirth in Zanzibar; and expanding the global movement for sexual and reproductive well-being. Other chapters are updated throughout. Birthing Justice puts Black women’s voices at the center of the debate on what should be done to fix the broken maternal care system. It foregrounds Black women’s agency in the birth justice movement. First published in 2016, Birthing Justice is a seminal text for those interested in maternal healthcare, reproductive justice, health equity, and intersectional racial justice, especially in courses on gender studies, Black studies, public health, and training programs for midwives and OB/GYNs.