A Book For Midwives: Care For Pregnancy, Birth, And Women's health

by Susan M. Klein, Suellen Miller, Fiona Thomson

A vital resource for practicing midwives and midwifery training programs, A Book for Midwives covers the essentials of care before, during, and after birth. This illustrated guide equips midwives, birth attendants, and families with the information they need for healthier pregnancies and safer births. Inside, you'll find information

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

527 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jordan]

If it weren't for this book, I might not be a midwife today. :P

[Princess Faith]

Great book for mothers

[Michele]

This book is chock full of info geared towards women having babies away from Western medical methods, and really allows for women, midwives, and birth partners to incorporate cultural practices and values into the birthing process. Within reason of course! There are parts that advise against wiping animal dung on freshly-cut umbilical cords and emphasize how important birth is, regardless of whether the woman was raped, is a prostitute, or is a single mother. Besides addressing pregnancy and the birthing process, it also addresses birth control methods, STDs, alternative ways of inducing labor, pain reduction, etc, and the roles of family and community.

For the layman like me, it was remarkably helpful in explaining in simple terms what's happening during pregnancy and the stages of birth, and it gives simple ways to know what's happening in your body. I'm not saying this should be a substitute for a doctor or midwife, but it's good supplemental knowledge, especially since a lot of doctor explanations are couched in medical-speak, and it sometimes feels like they're trying to convince you to take a certain course of action rather than just providing information to you.

Be aware- some of the illustrations are a little hokey, and the sections that talk about the things that might go wrong during labor are worrisome (hello, placenta previa, womb falling out, and/or uterus rupturing!). Fortunately, the chances of those things happening are very slim.

Highly recommend, though maybe check out the later, updated edition.

[Susan]

This book is essential to any one who is taking care of women in pregnancy and childbirth. I dont care what country you live in. This book takes away technology and enlightens a care provider or birth attendant to the understanding the pregnant/birthing human body on the most simple level. Because of this perspective, an appreciation for technology can develop as well as the understanding of how, in developed countries, we have the potential to improve the health of women and fetus' and babies.

[HeavyReader]

This book is aimed at midwives working in places quite far from Western medicine. It includes so much useful information. Any midwife or doula would do well to read it, especially anyone working in rural areas.

[Christin Smith]

Having read this while I was preparing to have a planned home-birth, this book was very informative, covering everything from prenatal care to labor and birth, in an easy to understand style.

[Lisa]

Only read half of this and skimmed the rest. Not exactly the information I was looking for.