Supporting Women for Labour and Birth: A Thoughtful Guide

by Nicky Leap, Billie Hunter

Overview

This new edition provides an up-to-date and thoughtful guide to supporting women in labour, looking at a range of techniques and approaches that promote a safe and positive experience of birth for women and their families. Across the world, support in labour has been shown to reduce obstetric interventions and improve outcomes for women and babies. Written by two highly experienced midwifery authors, this text draws on a wide range of cutting-edge research on this topic, identifying how the evidence can be applied to everyday practice. Narratives from women and practitioners, including midwives, doulas, childbirth educators and students, are used to illustrate a range of situations where the quality of support is central to the quality of the experience and outcome. Supporting Women for Labour and Birth encourages readers to reflect on their experiences and examine the evidence provided by both research and experiences of women and practitioners in order to explore how this could be incorporated into their practice. The only book to deal directly with the practical and emotional issues associated with labour support, this is an ideal text for student midwives and an important reference for practising midwives, doulas and other childbirth practitioners.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000440867
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/12/2022
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	308
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Nicky Leap is an Adjunct Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney, and at the Molly Wardaguga Research Centre, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs. Nicky divides her time between living in Bristol (UK) and the Blue Mountains (Australia).

Billie Hunter is Professor of Midwifery at Cardiff University, UK and is an Adjunct Professor of Midwifery at the University of Technology Sydney, Australia. Billie is also the Director of a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Midwifery Development at Cardiff University, which contributes to global efforts to strengthen midwifery and midwifery education.

Table of Contents

Introduction. 1.What do we mean by ‘support’ in labour? 2.Approaches to pain in labour 3.Addressing fear and anxiety about labour and birth 4.Supporting women preparing for labour and birth 5.Communication and thoughtful encouragement 6.Supporting women for normal birth 7.Supporting women in labour: practicalities 8.Supporting women with complex needs in labour 9.Emotions and labour support

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Jane Houston, DNP, CNM (University of Central Florida)
Description: The world of birth and midwifery has truly changed since the book's original publication in 2016 and during the pandemic, so this second edition is much needed. The numerous boxed items for reflective activities are very helpful. The section on caring for the midwife is needed now more than ever as record levels of burnout and those leaving the profession increase daily.
Purpose: This book goes back to the very roots of birth and the profession of midwifery, honoring the normality of kindness, support, and trust with the woman and family centered in the care. This book is certainly needed at this time of strife as many seek to leave the profession and many patients have encountered catastrophic care due to poor education and lack of engaged staff.
Audience: This book is written for all providers of birth care, particularly student midwives. The book could find an essential place in most providers' libraries to share during centering groups and educational times during pregnancy and birth. The authors are two legendary experts in their field and have a diverse, inclusive attitude that promotes equity.
Features: This updated second edition is clear and easy to read. It covers myriad aspects of kind support for women during labor and birth. It is very well organized into compact chapters, with thoughtful exercises to complete. It is truly a manual on the art and science of normal human birth care with kindness. This book would benefit from colorization and better-quality paper as it will become a well-used tome. Some figures (e.g., page 194) are blurry upon reproduction and could be crisper. The section on racism could be expanded and updated, perhaps by an expert on systemic racism in maternity care.
Assessment: I was a little hesitant to endorse "another" labor manual; however, I believe this book could be indispensable everywhere for women and families who are birthing. One might compare The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Partners, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions, 5th Edition (Harvard Common Press, 2018), written more informally but with excellent illustrations in color. This book should be available in other languages as it contains much-needed updates for a pandemic world.

Doody's Review Service

"The book is unique in that it covers practical and emotional aspects of caring for childbearing women, and is perfect for midwives, doulas and anyone providing maternity care, or supporting a woman having her baby…Throughout the book, stories, drawings, evidence boxes, postscripts, tips and ideas appear like hidden gems in a richly crafted text – they provide insights into the thoughts and experiences of others…There are strategies and tips for supporting a woman wanting a normal, physiological birth to those planning a caesarean birth. The text includes useful resources to help women who are traumatised from or fearful of birth, or who are experiencing or expecting complications. Crucially, the book covers the need for sensitive compassionate support for those women suffering from the loss of their baby. Reflective activities that facilitate the practice of ‘walking in the shoes of others’, help practitioners to consider the perspectives and emotions of co-workers, as well as the mothers and families they serve…Yes, this ‘dip-in-and-out’ book is key, and should be cherished by every student midwife, midwife and doula. It is a treasure chest of inspiration, tenderness, evidence, and wise words." – Sheena Byrom OBE, Midwifery consultant, member of the RCM's Better Births initiative, Chair of Iolanthe Midwifery Trust

"This is not a ‘sit back and be filled up with information’ sort of book, it is one that will challenge you and make you think and grow as a midwife. Helping women to work with pain and fear sits at the heart of the book. Sometimes it takes only a word or a dispassionate look to take birth in a totally new direction. ‘Who’ we are and ‘how’ we are with women is of more importance than ‘where’ we are and ‘what’ we are doing as midwives. The emotional aspects of labour support are key to midwives being able to work with women and be truly present for them and this is dealt with beautifully in the book." – Professor Hannah Dahlen, University of Western Sydney, Australia

"I am so inspired – it has been a long time since a midwifery text has grabbed my attention in such a way…Your book will provide inspiration, guidance and also reflective activities for the students over their three years and onwards." – Grace Thomas, Cardiff University, UK

"What a read!" – Ali Teate, midwifery lecturer at University of Canberra and Researcher at Western Sydney University, Australia

"It is so lovely to have a new approach to labour and birth in a textbook and this is truly the first book that has excited me like this for a long time." – Lorna Davies, midwifery lecturer, Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, New Zealand

"A really rich book on a subject very close to my heart – it will be make a great contribution!" – Mary Ross-Davie, midwifery researcher, Scotland

"I just wanted to say a huge congratulations on your book - how wonderful it is! I am in the process of getting some copies for my unit - so many wonderful things to do and reflect on and perfect for re-validation too. Such a treat to read. Thank you for creating something so thought provoking." – Ruth Sanders, Clinical Midwife and Researcher

From the Publisher