Overview

Respectful Maternity Practices for Labour, Birth and the Postnatal Period is a must-read for obstetricians, doctors, midwives, nurses, and students seeking to enhance their knowledge and clinical practice. It's more than a textbook: it's a call to action, fostering compassion, and ensuring that every woman and baby receives the respectful, high-quality care they deserve. This book distinguishes itself by moving beyond a purely clinical, fact-delivery model. It combines robust, evidence-based information with a culturally aware and highly accessible writing style, making it not just an informative resource, but also an inspiring guide for all maternity caregivers. With a global perspective and deep respect for cultural diversity, this book explores how maternity care can—and must—uphold the autonomy, voices, and lived experiences of all those giving birth. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, the book challenges harmful norms and equips caregivers with the tools to cultivate safety and trust in every birth setting. Spans the full spectrum of care environments, from intimate home settings to hospitals nestled in the jungle, to large, resource-rich medical facilities Dr. Shawn Walker, a leading expert in the field, contributes a vital section on physiological breech birth Vivid photographs are used throughout, to enhance understanding and provide clear visual guidance for safe practice An invaluable, free online section provides editable resources for use in practice Rooted in dignity, empathy, and human rights, this essential guide offers a thoughtful and practical framework for ensuring that every woman, baby, and family receives respectful, compassionate care throughout labour, birth, and the postnatal period.

Full Product Details

Author:   Tanya Burchell (Fernandez Foundation)
Publisher:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Imprint:   John Wiley & Sons Inc
Edition:   Global Edition
ISBN:  

9781394210114

ISBN 10:   1394210116
Pages:   464
Publication Date:   12 February 2026
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Awaiting stock  
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Table of Contents

Dedication Preface/Introduction About the Companion Website SECTION 1: CAREGIVERS AND FUTURE-CAREGIVERS          1.         Our Responsibilities and Desires in Maternity Care          2.         Hopes and Dreams for Maternity Care          3.         Handover          4.         Mentoring Future-Caregivers   SECTION 2: THE LABOUR ROOM ENVIRONMENT          5.         The Labour Room Environment          6.         The Labour Room Environment - Our Impact   SECTION 3: CARE DURING LABOUR AND BIRTH          7.         The Labour Room Welcome          8.         Eating and Drinking in Labour          9.         Mobility in Labour        10.       Monitoring in Labour with Our Heads, Hearts and Hands        11.       Caring for Women Experiencing Painful Contractions        12.       When A Woman Feels the Urge to Push        13.       Care During the Birth        14.       Waterbirth        15.       Breech - An Unusual Normal by Tanya Burchell and Shawn Walker        16.       Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section - The New Normal        17.       Meconium        18.       Initial Care and Assessment of the MotherBaby Unit        19.       Initial Care of Low-Birth-Weight Babies        20.       Birth of the Placenta        21.       Repairing Perineal Trauma   SECTION 4: COMPLEX NEEDS IN LABOUR        22.       Prelabour Rupture of Membranes        23.       Preterm Labour and Birth        24.       Labour Dystocia        25.       Inducing Labour        26.       Medical Challenges: Hypertension, Obstetric Cholestasis, Diabetes Mellitus, Sickle Cell and Thalassemia        27.       Birth by Forceps or Vacuum        28.       Caesarean Section        29.       Tokophobia SECTION 5: POSTNATAL CARE        30.       Compassionate Care for the Postnatal MotherBaby Unit        31.       Breastfeeding        32.       Hypoglycaemia, Hypothermia and Hypoxia        33.       Neonatal Jaundice   SECTION 6: PROMPT CARE IN A CRITICAL, OBSTETRIC EVENT        34.       Maternal Sepsis        35.       When a Baby Becomes Stuck        36.       Cord Presentation and Prolapse        37.       Postpartum Haemorrhage        38.       Severe Pre-Eclampsia, Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome        39.       Adult and Newborn Life Support   SECTION 7: WHEN A MOTHER OR BABY DIES        40.       When a Mother or Baby Dies

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Author Information

Tanya Burchell is a highly respected British nurse, midwife and educator, dedicated to promoting compassionate and respectful maternity care. She possesses extensive international experience, including living in Cyprus, India, Bangladesh and Cambodia, and this direct engagement with diverse cultures deeply influences her approach to healthcare, highlighting her commitment to understanding and integrating varied beliefs and attitudes into best practices. Tanya's vision is to foster maternity units globally, where passion, current practices, and compassion thrive, and staff genuinely love their work.

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