Mary Steen

Mary is a Professor of Midwifery at the University of South Australia (UniSA)and Women's & Children's Hospital, Adelaide. She also holds visiting professorships at the University of Chester,(UoC) UK and University of Port Harcourt, (Uniport), Nigeria. She is a mother of three children and has been a practising midwife for over 26 years and been involved in midwifery research since 1990. During that time she has become very interested in a wide remit of midwifery and family health issues which has lead her to undertake several research studies and service development projects; with the overall aim to improve the care and services for women, babies and their families. Her PhD studies resulted in the development of a new localised cooling device, commerically known as the 'femepad' which is available on Amazon. She has contributed to several books entitled 'Ask a Midwife', 'Pregnancy Day by Day, 'Babycare Day by Day' and is the author of 'Pregnancy and Birth: everything you need to know,(Dorling Kindersley) first author 'Handbook of Midwifery Research (Blackwell & Wiley) and editor of 'Supporting women to have a home: a practical guide for midwives'(Routledge). Mary continues to be involved in midwifery practice and particularly enjoys facilitating Perineal care workshops for midwives, antenatal and postnatal exercises and active birth sessions for women and then supporting parents through the transition to parenthood.