Evidence and Skills for Normal Labour and Birth: A Guide for Midwives

Using high-quality evidence from around the world, this new edition of an important text draws together various experts to critically examine our knowledge and understanding of elements of physiological labour and birth care, looking at how it can be translated into real-world midwifery practice.

Building upon the foundations developed by Dr Denis Walsh in previous editions of the book, this rewritten and thoroughly updated third edition continues the emphasis towards translating evidence into skilful, safe, and respectful midwifery practice. It evaluates what we know about how skilful midwifery care improves outcomes and experiences for childbearing women, discussing different models of midwifery and maternity care and their impact on the organisation of health services. It introduces concepts from implementation science to enable the utilisation of evidence into midwifery practice. Chapters include recommendations for readers, and focuses on topics such as:

- The impact of midwifery care and biopsychosocial outcomes

- The implications of not following the evidence

- The optimal design for birth settings

- Preparation for childbirth

- Why oxytocin matters

- The biomechanics of birth

- The provision of midwifery care in midwifery-led units, at home and obstetric units

- Facilitating physiological breech birth

- Evidence-based perineal care.

Evidence and Skills for Labour and Birth: A Guide for Midwifery Practice provides an overview of the tangible differences skilled midwives can make in supporting positive biopsychosocial outcomes for women during labour and birth. It is an essential read for midwifery students throughout their qualifying programmes, practising midwives, policymakers, researchers, and those designing and administrating maternity care services.

Denis Walsh is Associate Professor in Midwifery at The University of Nottingham. He lectures on evidence and skills for normal birth internationally and is widely published on midwifery issues and normal birth.