Drawing out what is known about the effectiveness of care in normal labour and birth, this guide explores the research and evidence. It highlights where the evidence is compelling and discusses its application where women question its relevance to them and where the practitioner's expertise leads them to challenge it.

Covers the stories of women's birth from the developed world and the developing world, from home to hospitals, from trauma to triumph. This book gives a voice to the other key players in this dramatic event: the childbirth professionals, fathers, siblings, and grandparents.

Birth centres are suitable for every woman whose birth is straightforward, which accounts for around 75 per cent of all women. This guide shows how small scale maternity provision has a profound clinical and organisational advantage over large scale hospital provision, including saving of time and money by reducing intervention rates.

This text brings to light much evidence around what works best for normal birth. Beginning with the decision about where to have a baby, through all the phases of labour to the immediate post-birth period, it systematically details research and other evidence sources that endorse a low intervention approach.

Drawing out what is known about the effectiveness of care in normal labour and birth, this guide explores the research and evidence. It highlights where the evidence is compelling and discusses its application where women question its relevance to them and where the practitioner's expertise leads them to challenge it.