'...
Birthspirit belongs to all women and families. She manifests that
which has been unsaid, expressing her self in the language of women.
Knowing her fills the void that exists from the loss of story telling
in our families and our communities. She enables us to see the depths
- and to see the simplicity.' more
About Birthspirit
Editorial: The Branded Midwife Maggie Banks
page 5 Full text PDF (686 KB) FREE
Correspondence
pages 6-7 Full text PDF (691 KB) FREE
Dedication: For Kahu Who Didn’t Make It Karin Bettley
page 8 Full text PDF (751 KB)
Poem
Did the Earth Move for You? Lessons from the Canterbury Earthquake
Lorna Davies pages 9-12
Full text PDF (738 KB)
On 4 September 2010, the Canterbury region in New Zealand experienced an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale. A series of events following the quake and some of the implications for midwives, childbearing women and the maternity service are explored.
Midwifery Stitches
page 13 Full text PDF(744 KB)
Feeling the Fear ... Violet Clapham
pages 14 Full text PDF (627 KB)
A new midwife reflects on where fear sits and shifts within her practice.
.
Journeying with Women: Holistic Midwives and Relationship Sara Wickham
pages 215-21 Full text PDF(768 KB)
This article shares findings of a study in relation to the concept of ‘journeying’ that holistic midwives referred to and the notion that they journey alongside women as the women travel on their own journeys of childbirth. Core ideological values of holistic midwifery are shown along with highlighted issues which further our understanding of how these midwives view the woman-midwife relationship to be a unique and special one which may differ in many important ways from the kind of relationship that other health care providers may have with their clients.
Worst Ever Hospital Sign?
page 22 Full text PDF (741 KB)
A Simple Birth Should Be Simple – Right? Nina Anderson
pages 23-26 Full text PDF (664 KB)
Through a narrative about experiences with the births of friends, family and her own four children, Nina takes us through the progressive ‘enlightening’ process that happens for many women as they grow their self knowledge, a process which may challenge the concept of ‘necessary’ care.
A Tale of Three Placentas Cheryl Benn
pages 29-33 Full text PDF (847 KB)
Reflections on three births and the unusual findings following examination of each of the three placentas address hindsight and foresight implications for practice.
Mayan Abdominal Massage Shoshana Weinberg Cabrera
pages 34-36 Full text PDF (1002 KB)
A personal experience of infertility and the remedy of Mayan abdominal massage are related.
The Role of Traditional Healers and Social Midwives in Pregnancy: a Samoan Nursing Perspective Ausaga Faasalele Tanuvasa
pages 37-40 Full text PDF (703 KB)
This paper differentiates between the roles of different traditional caregivers for pregnant Samoan women and outlines the findings of two original studies in relation to the use of traditional healing massage afforded by milimili or light touch.
Bren’s Birth Leith Pugmire
pages 41-46 Full text PDF(747 KB)
A woman’s exploration for ‘knowing’ during the birth of her second child is discussed in relation to multiple, woman-focused stages during labour and birth.
Group B Streptococcus: The Impact of Risk and Prophylaxis on Midwives and Women in the Childbirth Experience Claire MacDonald,Rachel McLachlan, Sabina Handorf, Jayne Green
pages 47-54 Full text PDF(774 KB)
Discourse analysis of selected texts along with observations of midwifery practices have been used to explore issues relating to group B streptococcus, midwifery actions and the informed choice process.
Elusive and Contrary: An Optimal Inter-birth Interval for Twins at Term Maggie Banks
pages 55-57 Full text PDF (763 KB)
The Birth of Twins: An Historical Perspective
pages 58 Full text PDF (731 KB) FREE
An entry from the casebook of Edna E Aitken, a maternity nurse in training during 1935, maps the care given to a woman giving birth to her twins in that era. This historical document is a recent acquisition to Wise Woman Archives Trust (Inc) from Edna’s midwife daughter, Liz Brunton.
Reclaiming Our Breastfeeding Culture Trudy Hart
pages 61-64 Full text PDF(788 KB)
A Breech Reflection Sue Cookson
pages 65-67 Full text PDF (675 KB)
This reflection focuses on the ‘unknown’ of attending breech births, particularly in relation to when the midwife may need to assist the baby to be born.
Birthspirit is the website of Birthspirit Ltd, 15 Te Awa Rd, RD
3, Hamilton, New Zealand
Email: maggiebanks@birthspirit.co.nz or tonybanks@birthspirit.co.nz
Phone 64 7 856 4612
Birthspirit
and the 'B' styled symbol at the beginning of the name Birthspirit
are registered trademarks belonging to Birthspirit Ltd. All intellectual
property rights in that name and symbol, together with those relating
to this website, belong to Birthspirit Ltd.
