Maternal Critical Care


Book Description

Addresses the challenges of managing critically ill obstetric patients, with chapters authored by intensivists/anesthesiologists and obstetricians/maternal-fetal medicine specialists.




Ethics in Midwifery


Book Description

This book examines the principles and realities of ethics in midwifery practice today. It explains basic ethical theory, looking at how dilemmas occur and the ethical bases on which conflicts can be resolved. Through a series of case studies, options and issues for consideration are reviewed, particularly in areas of increasing concern and debate such as confidentiality, autonomy, screening, abortion, assisted conception and withholding treatment. This book is valuable to all students and practicing midwives who need to understand the principles and practice of ethics, especially how to apply ethical thought and action in their own day-to-day work.




A History of Midwifery in the United States


Book Description

Written by two of the professionís most prominent midwifery leaders, this authoritative history of midwifery in the United States, from the 1600s to the present, is distinguished by its vast breadth and depth. The book spans the historical evolution of midwives as respected, autonomous health care workers and midwifery as a profession, and considers the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities for this discipline as enduring motifs throughout the text. It surveys the roots of midwifery, the beginnings of professional practice, the founding of educational institutions and professional organizations, and entry pathways into the profession. Woven throughout the text are such themes as the close link between midwives and the communities in which they live, their view of pregnancy and birth as normal life events, their efforts to promote health and prevent illness, and their dedication to being with women wherever they may be and in whatever health condition and circumstances they may be in. The text examines the threats to midwifery past and present, such as the increasing medicalization of childbearing care, midwiferyís lack of a common identity based on education and practice standards, the mix of legal recognition, and reimbursement issues for midwifery practice. Illustrations and historical photos depict the many facets of midwifery, and engaging stories provide cultural and spiritual content. This is a ìmust-haveî for all midwives, historians, professional and educational institutions, and all those who share a passion for the history of midwifery and women. Key Features: Encompasses the most authoritative and comprehensive information available about the history of midwifery in the United States Considers the strengths, weaknesses, threats, and opportunities for midwifery Illustrated with historical photos and drawings Includes engaging stories filled with cultural and spiritual content, introductory quotes to each chapter, and plentiful chapter notes Written by two preeminent leaders in the field of midwifery




Selected Topics in Midwifery Care


Book Description

Midwifery across the globe faces different issues. In some countries the autonomy of the profession is a tradition, while in some societies midwives struggle to practice autonomously the basic competencies. In one part of the world the medicalisation of childbirth is the main issue, preventing the natural processes of pregnancy and childbirth to flow at their own pace, while in other parts of the world midwives struggle with lack of resources to provide safe midwifery care. The authors of this book practice midwifery in different cultures and within different social contexts. They have to deal with different obstacles and seek solutions to diverse problems. With their contributions, they offer an insight into their thinking, their dilemmas, and the problems of midwifery practices in their countries. However, despite different backgrounds, they all have in common a uniform goal - a wish to offer women optimal midwifery care and to improve midwifery services.




Birth Settings in America


Book Description

The delivery of high quality and equitable care for both mothers and newborns is complex and requires efforts across many sectors. The United States spends more on childbirth than any other country in the world, yet outcomes are worse than other high-resource countries, and even worse for Black and Native American women. There are a variety of factors that influence childbirth, including social determinants such as income, educational levels, access to care, financing, transportation, structural racism and geographic variability in birth settings. It is important to reevaluate the United States' approach to maternal and newborn care through the lens of these factors across multiple disciplines. Birth Settings in America: Outcomes, Quality, Access, and Choice reviews and evaluates maternal and newborn care in the United States, the epidemiology of social and clinical risks in pregnancy and childbirth, birth settings research, and access to and choice of birth settings.




Professional Issues in Midwifery


Book Description

This book focuses on the unique characteristics of the profession of midwifery in the United States, discussing both current issues and future directions. The framework for the book is based upon the Institute of Medicine's competencies for health professions education -- patient-centered care, interdisciplinary teams, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and informatics -- which are identified as essential aspects of patient safety and quality care.




Law and Professional Issues in Midwifery


Book Description

Midwives are accountable to the public, patients, their employers and the profession. It is essential that student midwives have a clear understanding of the legal and professional dilemmas they face in the course of their career and how to address those dilemmas in order to practise effectively. This book is an essential resource for student midwives developing their knowledge and understanding of the requirements for safe practice. It provides a clear introduction to the subject, with activities and case studies throughout to illustrate key principles and apply the law in context.




Midwifery Continuity of Care


Book Description

Endorsed by the Australian College of Midwives and The Royal College of Midwives Midwifery Continuity of Care is a robust 'how to' guide to establishing midwifery continuity of care. Written by a team of international experts in their field, this book highlights lessons learned to help develop new ways of planning, implementing, evaluating and sustaining midwifery continuity of care for the benefit of women, babies and communities. - Summarises the evidence for midwifery continuity of care to support policy makers, commissioners of maternity services and health service executives with their implementation of midwifery continuity of care - Practical real world examples, stories and experiences to bring to life the diversity of ways that midwifery continuity of care can be implemented - Highlights a range of issues for managers and leaders to be aware of, including organisational, industrial and safety and quality issues - Explores how building alliances can enable midwifery continuity of care to flourish, addressing scaling up and sustainability Evolve Student and Faculty Resources: - eBook on VitalSource - An inspirational video interview with author, Jane Sandall




Ethics and Midwifery


Book Description

Midwives increasingly face challenging ethical issues which have clinical and legal implications, but they have not always been adequateky prepared to dael with them. This book adopts a multi-disciplinary approach to guide them through dilemmas which comm




The Report of the Morecambe Bay Investigation


Book Description

For the great majority, pregnancy and childbirth should be a positive and happy experience that culminates in a healthy mother and baby. This means, however, that on those occasions when things do go wrong, the effects are even more devastating than in other areas of healthcare. Maternity care must reconcile these dual aspects in order to be safe, effective and responsive. When it does not, the consequences may be stark. This Report details a distressing chain of events that began with serious failures of clinical care in the maternity unit at Furness General Hospital, part of what became the University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust. The result was avoidable harm to mothers and babies, including tragic and unnecessary deaths. What followed was a pattern of failure to recognise the nature and severity of the problem, with, in some cases, denial that any problem existed, and a series of missed opportunities to intervene that involved almost every level of the NHS. These events have finally been brought to light thanks to the efforts of some diligent and courageous families, who persistently refused to accept what they were being told. Those families deserve great credit. This Report includes detailed and damning criticisms of the maternity unit, the Trust and the regulatory and supervisory system. This Report sets out why that is and how it could have been avoided.