Book Review

A very detailed history of Midwifery in New Zealand, covering approximately the last 170 years. This is an extremely well documented account of the foundation of the current accepted midwifery programs in this country.

Relevant quotes and studies are noted, and fully referenced, with many appropriate statistics, graphs and tables included. Photographs of the central characters give faces to their names, allowing a further examination of their personality through body language and visual connection. A single piece of artwork introduces the chapter describing traditional Maori birthing practises and beautifully depicts the image of a historical woman-centred, and supported, birth.

The author introduces the content of her book by briefly outlining the existing midwifery situation in New Zealand, and her own personal experiences of maternity services during the births of her children.

The book then takes us on a journey through history, detailing the people, places and thoughts that affected midwifery practises along the way. This history gives us an understanding of the reasoning behind the accepted practises and the challenges midwives face in the current political climate.

This is a valuable historical text for all midwives, especially trainees, and all others involved with maternity services, such as consumer groups and health professionals working within the spectrum of midwifery services. It provides an understanding of the varied roles that midwives may attain depending on how they view birth. ie, Lay midwife, domiciliary midwife, Obstetric midwife, etc.

It examines the continuing battle in regard to how birth should be viewed. Either as a natural bodily function, as taught in midwifery, or as a myriad of potential problems that should, and supposedly can, be averted using the technology at hand, which is often the standard Obstetric viewpoint.

Political strategies are discussed, detailed and referenced, as they occurred in the historical context of the book. Allowing a connection between the tactics used currently and the successful techniques used in the past. This, in itself, is valuable, as the organisation of lobbying continues to be a focus towards gaining autonomous practice for midwives today.

Abbreviations are listed at both the back and the front of the book, for ease of location. And all references are listed, by chapter, clearly and concisely at the rear of the book.

Although this book's history is set in New Zealand, many connections can clearly be seen between the status of midwives in Australia and those in our neighbouring isle. We would do well to learn from the many examples of successful political intrigue used throughout this book. It demonstrates clearly how the historical figures involved aimed towards attaining the current educational and workplace climate of all midwives and, so far, have succeeded in their aims. An invaluable tool for all those lobbying for change within midwifery, as it provides a greater understanding that can only add to their current techniques.

Jackie Mawson
Convenor of Birthrites: Healing After Caesarean Inc.