Optimal Birth: What, Why & How: A Reflective, Narrative Approach Based on Research Evidence (Fresh Heart Books for Better Birth) - Softcover

Donna, Sylvie; Downe, Soo; Wright, Rebecca

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1906619115 ISBN 13: 9781906619114

Publisher: Fresh Heart Publishing, 2010

Synopsis

This is a book for midwives and other caregivers, who are interested in making birth as safe and as good as possible for all parties concerned, especially mother and baby. Originally called Optimal Birth: The What, The Why & The How (ISBN: 9781906619046), this new edition has full notes and references to research, it features more birth stories, many of them completely new, as well as lots of reflective questions so as to promote creative solutions. There are also plenty of additional sections, all of which were requested by people who reviewed the 1st edition. (While the 1st edition had only 132 pages, this 2nd edition has 684 pages! However, the style is still very upbeat and the new accounts and commentaries from professionals give an insight into all kinds of issues.) There is a special focus on: the midwife-mother relationship (Does it matter how well you get on? What happens if you don't?); communication, the use of words and silence (Do words and silence affect outcomes?); and the issue of control (Who should be in control? What are the implications of shifts in power?) A few hundred people have contributed or checked material, including midwives, obstetricians and other professionals. Overall, the book with its discussions of both RCTs and case studies considers statistics in the light of the very human side of birth. The reflective questions which feature throughout the book make it ideal for students and caregivers in the field of birth who are serious about improving their practice, not only for the sake of their clients, but also so as to improve their own job satisfaction.

About this title

About the Author

Sylvie Donna is a teacher and lecturer, whose experience has mainly been with managers and other working adults around the world. (She published the teacher handbook Teach Business English with Cambridge University Press in 2000 and has since written CD-ROMs and many articles on health and related subjects.) Sylvie's own three pregnancies prompted her to begin researching issues around birth, perhaps because it was her habit to conduct research while she was finishing her own Master's in teaching. Then, after experiencing three safe and satisfying birthing experiences, she gradually became aware of how few other mothers were having similarly good experiences and how many caregivers were becoming disillusioned by the problems common in contemporary models of midwifery or obstetric care. This led her to conduct more research, collect first-hand accounts and collaborate with health professionals. Her aim in this book is to inspire creative solutions from students, midwives, obstetricians, GPs, doulas and other caregivers working in the field of birth so as to improve experience and safety for mothers, babies and professionals.

Edition details

• Publisher: Fresh Heart Publishing
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1906619115
• ISBN 13: 9781906619114
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 684