Holistic Midwifery Volume II: Care of the mother and baby from the onset of labor through the first hours after birth by Anne Frye; Illustrated by Rhonda Baker out of stock - due in shortly

Price: NZ$320.00 (add to order) plus postage and packing ($7.00 - $12.00 in New Zealand depending on where you live)

First published in 2004; 1475 pages; 21 x 26 cms; hard cover (case bound); 1,600 black and white drawings

Index to this page:

Table of Contents; About the Author; Book Reviews

Table of Contents:

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION AND HISTORY OF PUBLICATION ii
FOREWORD xiv
PREFACE xv
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xvii
THE POSTMODERN MIDWIFE AS A SOURCE OF AUTHORITATIVE KNOWLEDGE xviii
BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH VOLUME II xxii
WHAT IS LABOR? 1
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE MOTHER AND BABY RELEVANT TO LABOR AND BIRTH. 3
THE EVOLUTION OF OUR UNDERSTANDING OF FETAL DESCENT 4
BASIC PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF LABOR AND BIRTH 7
FEATURES OF FETAL ANATOMY PERTINENT TO THE BIRTH PROCESS 7
WAYS IN WHICH THE BABY’S BODY ADAPTS DURING DESCENT: ANATOMICAL DIAMETERS, ATTITUDE AND MOULDING 28
BASIC PRINCIPLES OF HOW THE MOTHER’S SOFT AND BONY PELVIC STRUCTURES INFLUENCE FETAL DESCENT 48
THE STATION OF THE PRESENTING PART 60
SYNCLITISM AND ASYNCLITISM 64
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE MOTHER’S BODY, THE BABY’S BODY AND THE PROCESS OF LABOR 68
COMPOUND PRESENTATION 71
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON THE BASIC PHYSICAL PRINCIPLES OF BIRTH 72
THE BIRTH PROCESS WHEN THE BABY IS IN A FLEXED CEPHALIC PRESENTATION 75
THE FREQUENCY OF DIFFERENT VERTEX POSITIONS 75
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN OCCIPUT ANTERIOR VERTEX PRESENTAFIONS 76
The Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Occiput Trans verse (LOT) 91
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Occiput Transverse (ROT) 95
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Occiput Anterior (LOA) 97
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Occiput Anterior (ROA) 99
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Occiput Anterior (0A) 101
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN OCCIPUT POSTEREIOR VERTEX PRESENTATIONS 102
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Occiput Posterior (ROP) 108
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Move,nents: Left Occiput Posterior (LOP) 112
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Occiput Posterior (OP) 116
MEDIAN VERTEX POSITIONING (MILITARY ATTITUDE) 118
VARIATIONS IN VERTEX DESCENT AND ROTATION 119
THE BIRTH PROCESS WHEN THE BABY IS IN AN EXTENDED CEPHALIC PRESENTATION 121
FACE PRESENTATIONS: GENERAL PRINCIPLES 121
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN MENTUM ANTERIOR FACE PRESENTATIONS 123
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Mentum Anterior (LMA) 128
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Moi’ment,s. Right Mentuni Anterior (RMA) 130
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Mentum Transverse (LMT) 132
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Mentun Transverse (RMT) 134
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Mentum ,Anterior (MA) 136
TIlE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN MENTUM POSTERIOR FACE PRESENTATIONS 138
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Mentum Posterior (LMP) 141
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Mentum Posterior (RMP) 144
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Mentum Posterior (MP) 147
BROW PRESENTATION: GENERAL PRINCIPLES 150
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN FRONTUM ANTERIOR BROW PRESENTAT1ONS 152
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Frontum Transverse (LFT) 158
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Frontum Transverse (RFT) 160
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Frontum Anterior (LFA} 162
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Frontum Anterior (RFA) 164
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Frontum Anterior (FA) 166
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN FRONTUM POSTERIOR BROW PRESENTATIONS 168
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Frontum Posterior (RFP) 171
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Frontum Posterior (LFP) 175
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Frontum Posterior (FP) 179
THE BIRTH PROCESS WHEN THE BABY IS BREECH 182
BREECH PRESENTATION: GENERAL PRINCIPLES 182
THE PROCESS OF BIRFH IN SACRUM ANTERIOR BREECH PRESFNTATIONS 186
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Sacrum Anterior (LSA) 201
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Sacrum Anterior (RSA) 204
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Sacrum Anterior (SA) 207
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Sacrum Transverse (LST) 210
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Sacrum Transverse (RST) 212
THE PROCESS OF BIRTH IN SACRUM POSTERIOR BREECH PRESENTATONS 214
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Right Sacrum Posterior (RSP) 219
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Left Sacrum Posterior (LSP 222
Summary of the Cardinal Spiraling Movements: Sacrum Posterior (SP) 225
VARIATIONS IN BREECH DESCENT AND ROTATION 229
TIlE PROCESS OF LABOR WHEN THE PELVIS IS CONTRACTED OR THE BABY IS IN A NONLONGIT1DINAL LIE 230
THE PROCESS OF LABOR FOR WOMEN WITH CONTRACTED PELVISES 230
OBLIQUE LIE 237
TRANSVERSE LIE 238
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ALL TYPES OF FETAL PRESENTATIONS 242
ADDITIONAL MATERNAL CONSIDERATIONS 245
HOW AND WHY LABOR BEGINS 245
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 0F UTERINE CHANGES DURING LATE PREGNANCY AND LABOR 247
NERVES 0F THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM AND PELVIS AND THE PAIN OF LABOR 253
ECSTATIC BIRTH: THE MATERNAL RESPONSE TO THE PAIN AND STRESS OF LABOR 259
ADDITIONAL FETAL AND NEONATAL CONSIDERATIONS 262
THE BABY’S JOURNEY THROUGH LABOR TO BIRTH 262
PRODUCTION AND ELIMINATION OF MECONIUM DURING GESTATION 283
BODY TEMPERATURE REGULATION IN THE FETUS AND NEWBORN 284
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ADDITIONAL ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS RELEVANT TO LABOR AND BIRTH 291
BEING AT BIRTHS 295
SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR LABOR AND BIRTH 296
BASIC AND EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES USED DURING LABOR AND BIRTII 296
POSITIONING-ASSIST EQUIPMENT AND MATERNAL COMFORT ITEMS 308
OSHA REGULATIONS AND THE DISPOSAL OF BIOLOGICAL WASTE 311
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FOR LABOR AND BIRTH 312
INTEGRATING YOUR PRESENCE INTO THE MOTHER’S SPACE 313
THE BIRTH ASSISTANTS 313
ARRIVING AT THE HOME OF THE LABORING WOMAN 317
SETTING UP EQUIPMENT AND PREPARING THE HOUSE FOR BIRTH 319
PARTNERS, FRIENDS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AT THE BIRTH 322
CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH A WOMAN CAN OPEN UP AND LET GO 324
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON INTEGRATING YOUR PRESENCE INTO THE MOTHER’S SPACE 326
MONITORING MATERNAL AND FETAL WELL-BEING DURING LABOR 327
RECORD-KEEPING DURING LABOR 327
ASSESSING AND SUPPORTING THE MOTHER’S WELL-BEING DURING LABOR 334
ASSESSING AND SUPPORTING THE BABY’S WELL-BEING DURING LABOR 339
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON MONITORING THE MOTHER’S AND BABY’S WELL-BEING DURING LABOR 365
UNDERSTANDING AND MONITORING THE FLOW OF LABOR 366
ASSESSING THE PROGRESS AND STRENGTH OF LABOR: AN OVERVIEW 366
ABDOMINAL EXAMINATION TECHNIQUES FOR USE DURING LABOR 372
ADDITIONAL NONINVASIVE TECHNIQUES FOR ASSESSING PROGRESS 378
PERFORMING INTERNAL EXAMS [)URING LABOR 38
THE PLACENTAL MEMBRANES AND AMNIOTIC FLUID DURING LABOR 405
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON UNDERSTANDING AND MONITORING THE FLOW OF LABOR.... 410
SUPPORTING THE WOMAN DURING LABOR AND BIRTH 412
INDIVIDUALIZING CARE DURING LABOR 412
TUNING INTO BIRTHING ENERGY 413
DON’T JUST DO SOMETHING 415
POSITIONS AND ACTIVITIES FOR LABOR 417
USING COMFORT AND POSITIONING AIDS IN LABOR 425
PROTECTING THE BLADDER DURING LABOR 434
LATENT (PRODROMAL) AND EARLY LABOR 435
ACTIVE DILATION 438
BREATHING AND RELAXING DURING LABOR 441
THE RESTING PHASE OF LABOR 443
ACTIVE PUSHING 444
MATERNAL POSITION DURING PUSHING AND AT THE TIME OF BIRTH 450
ASSISTING AT THE BIRTH OF A VERTEX BABY 458
HYDROTHERAPY AND WATERBIRTH 469
CARING FOR THE MOTHER’S SOFT TISSUES DURING BIRIH 482
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON SUPPORTING THE WOMAN DURING LABOR AND BIRTH 485
MISSING THE BIRTH 488
THE BIRTH AND EXAMINATION OF THE CORD AND PLACENTA 489
PLACENTA-TO-NEWBORN TRANSFUSION, PHYSIOLOGICAL CLOSURE OF THE UMBILICAL VESSELS AND SEVERANCE OF THE CORD 489
BIRTH OF THE PLACENTA, CORD AND MEMBRANES 506
EXAMINING THE PLACENTA 523
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON THE BIRTH AND EXAMINATION OF THE CORD AND PLACENTA 554
EVALUATING NEWBORN WELL-BEING 557
THE HEALTHY FULL-TERM NEWBORN IN THE FIRST HOURS OF LIFE 557
TIIE APGAR SCORE 568
STATES OF NEWBORN CONSCIOUSNESS AND BEHAVIOR 573
ASSESSMENT OF GESTATIONAL AGE 575
ASSESSMENT OF THE BABY’S SIZE AND ITS RELATIONSHIP TO GESTATIONAL AGE 588
ASSESSING THE NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF THE TERM NEWBORN WITH THE CANSCORE 607
INITIAL PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE NEWBORN 614
COMPLETE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION OF THE NEWBORN 617
The Newborn Exam: An Overview 617
Newborn Examination Techniques 624
Observing the Infant and Evaluating Posture and Muscle Tone 626
Assessing the Infant’s Body Weight, Measurements, Proportions and Temperature 632
Examining the Skin 635
Examining the Head and Neck 647
Examining the Chest, Lungs and Heart 670
Examining the Arms, Clavicles and Hands 683
Examining the Abdomen and Groin 691
Examining the Genitalia, Perineum and Anus 702
Examining the Legs, Knees, Hips, Ankles and Feet 714
Examining the Back, Spine Scapulae and Buttocks 732
When You Suspect a Problem during the Newborn Exam 734
REFLEXES AND NEUROMOTOR RESPONSES IN THE NEWBORN: AN OVERVIEW 735
Developmental Reflexes and Other Neuromotor Evaluations 736
Deep Tendon Reflexes 75 1
Assessment of Cranial Nerve Function 754
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON EVALUATING NEWBORN WELL-BEING 758
CARE OF THE MOTHER AND BABY DURING THE HOURS FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF THE PLACENTA 762
TIlE POSTPARTUM WATCH: AN OVERVIEW 762
Caring for the Mother in the First Hours after Birth 765
Afterbirth Pains 770
Care of the Baby after the Birth 771
THE HERBAL BATH 773
USES FOR THE PLACENTA 774
CARING FOR THE LOTUS PLACENTA 778
PARTING INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PARENTS 779
TAKING YOUR LEAVE 785
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON CARE OF THE MOTHER AND BABY DURING THE HOURS FOLLOWING THE BIRTH OF THE PLACENTA .. 786
WHEN LABOR AND BIRTH DEMAND SPECIFIC MIDWIFERY SKILLS 787
REMEDIES, SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLEX LABOR SITUATIONS 788
USEFUL REMEDIES 788
Naturopathic Remedies 788
Homeopathic Remedies 794
Traditional Chinese Medicine 795
Allopathic Pharmacologic Agents for Treating Uterine Atony 802
MULTI-USE SKILLS, TREATMENTS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT 816
Urinary Catheterization 816
Artficial Rupture of Membranes 818
Cleansing and Retention Enemas 820
Hypodermic Injections 823
Sterile Water Injections for the Relief of Excessive Localized Pain 834
The TENS Unit 838
Oxygen Delivery Devices and Resuscitation Equipment 839
Intravenous Equipment and IV Therapy 858
Resuscitating the Mother 889
MULTI-USE MANUAL SKILLS 891
Opening the Pelvis (or the Midwife ‘s Forceps) 891
Fundal Pressure 894
The Use of Version during Labor 896
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON REMEDIES, SKILLS AND EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLEX LABOR SITUATIONS 903
MIDWIFING WOMEN THROUGH UNCOMMON OR CHALLENGING LABOR SITUATIONS 907
WORKING WITH COMPLEX LABORS 907
COPING WITH CRITICAL EMERGENCIES IN LABOR: SOME BASICS 911
WHEN TRANSPORT IS NECESSARY DURING LABOR 912
AFTER YOU ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL 919
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON MIDWIFING WOMEN THROUGH UNCOMMON OR CHALLENGING LABOR SITUATIONS 928
ASSISTING LABOR AND BIRTH IN OTHER-THAN-VERTEX PRESENTATIONS, MULTIPLE, PRETERM AND POSTTERM BIRTHS 929
ASSISTING AT THE BIRTH OF A BABY PRESENTING HER FACE 929
ASSISTING AT THE BIRTH OF A BABY PRESENTING HIS BROW 932
ASSISTING AT THE BIRTH OF A BREECH BABY 933
UNSTABLE LIE, OBLIQUE LIE AND TRANSVERSE LIE IN LABOR 972
ASSISTING AT MULTIPLE BIRTHS 976
WHEN THE BABY IS EARLY OR LATE 990
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ASSISTING LABOR AND BIRTH IN OTHER-THAN-VERTEX PRESENTATIONS, MULTIPLES AND PRETERM BIRTHS 994
ISSUES INVOLVING THE FLOW OF LABOR 997
NATURAL INDUCTION AND AUGMENTATION OF LABOR 997
SLOW PROGRESS IN LABOR: AN OVERVIEW 1011
ENDLESS EARLY LABOR 1013
WHEN ACTIVE LABOR IS SLOW 1016
UNIQUE LABOR PATTERNS 1019
DIFFICULTIES WITH CONTRACTIONS 1020
PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPEDIMENTS TO PROGRESS DURING LABOR 1024
CERVICAL AND OTHER SOFT TISSUE PROBLEMS DURING LABOR 1026
RECOGNIZING AND DEALING WITH OBSTRUCTED LABOR 1035
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ISSUES INVOLVING THE FLOW OF LABOR 1046
SUPPORTING THE MOTHER WHO IS HAVING A HARD TIME COPING WITH LABOR 1048
ENTERING PAINS AND BACK PAIN IN LABOR 1048
NAUSEA AND VOMITING 1050
UNDERSTANDING AND PREVENTING MATERNAL EXHAUSTION 1052
BLOOD PRESSURE VARIATIONS IN LABOR 1056
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON SUPPORTING THE MOTHER WHO IS HAVING A HARD TIME COPING WITH LABOR 1057
OTHER SPECIAL SITUATIONS IN LABOR 1058
ASSISTING THE RELINQUISHING MOTHER AND ADOPTIVE FAMILY 1058
ASSISTING WOMEN WITH PREEXISTING MEDICAL CONDITIONS OR DISABILITIES 1059
ASSISTING LABORING WOMEN WHO HAVE RECEIVED NO PRENATAL CARE 1060
ASSISTING THE WOMAN WHO HAS A HISTORY OF UTERINE SURGERY 1061
WORKING WITH THE BABY WHO IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH DESCENT 1062
TECHNIQUES USED TO HELP THE BABY DESCEND DURING LABOR 1062
ASSISTING THE WOMAN WHOSE BABY IS IN A POSTERIOR POSITION 1068
ASSISTING A WOMAN WHOSE BABY IS IN A COMPOUND PRESENTATION 1076
CORD PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCIES DURING LABOR 1078
SHOULDER DYSTOCIA 1088
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON WORKING WITH THE BABY DURING LABOR 1120
ABNORMAL BLEEDING DURING LABOR 1122
BLEEDING IN LABOR: AN OVERVIEW 1122
BLEEDING DUE TO PLACENTAL DISRUPTION 1124
BLEEDING DUE TO MATERNAL TISSUE DAMAGE 1134
UTERINE RUPTURE DURING LABOR 1135
SOURCES OF FETAL BLEEDING OTHER THAN THE PLACENTA 1140
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ABNORMAL BLEEDING DURING LABOR 1141
WHEN DEATH IS A PART OF BIRTH 1142
ASSISTING AT THE LABOR AND BIRFH OF A MOTHER WHOSE BABY IS KNOWN TO HAVE LETHAL DEFECTS OR TO HAVE DIED PRIOR TO THE ONSET OF LABOR 1142
WHEN A MOTHER DIES DURING OR AFTER LABOR 1149
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON WHEN DEATH IS A PART OF BIRTH 1150
MATERNAL PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR DURING PLACENTAL DELIVERY AND THE HOURS FOLLOWING BIRTH 1151
POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE: AN OVERVIEW 1151
UNCOMMON PROBLEMS THAT CAN INTERFERE WITH THE BIRTH OF THE PLACENTA 1153
UTERINE INVERSION 1156
IMMEDIATE POSUPARTUM HEMORRHAGE 1161
SPECIFIC SKILLS 1166
Manual Removal of the Placenta 1166
Postpartum Intrauterine Exploration 1169
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON PROBLEMS THAT CAN OCCUR DURING PLACENTAL DELIVERY AND IN THE IMMEDIATE POSTPARTUM PERIOD 1170
UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING SHOCK 1171
AN OVERVIEW OF SHOCK SYNDROMES 1171
HYPOVOLEMIC SHOCK DUE TO HEMORRHAGE 1174
AMNIOTIC FLUID EMBOLISM (ANAPHYLACTOID SYNDROME OF PREGNANCY) 1190
HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS AND ANAPHYLACTIC SHOCK 1193
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING SHOCK 1202
WHEN THE NEWBORN DEVELOPS RESPIRATORY DISTRESS 1203
ANATOMICAL AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING RESPIRATORY DISTRESS 1203
Understanding Fetal and Neonatal Asphyxia 1203
The Anatomy of the Neonatal Airway and Upper Respiratory Tract 1213
Autonomic Neuromuscular Reflexes and the Baby’s Response to Resuscitation 1220
SPECIFIC SKILLS 1221
Clearing the Baby’s Airway 1221
Orogastric intubation of the Newborn 1226
Selecting and Using an Infant Oropharyngeal Airway 1228
Digital Endotracheal intubation of the Newborn 1230
The Laryngeal Mask Airway 1238
Spinal Alignment Techniques for Newborns 1244
Evaluating and Assisting the infant in Need of Resuscitation 1245
Evaluating the Apparently Normal Baby Who Develops Respiratory Distress 1262
MECONIUM ASPIRATION 1271
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON WHEN THE NEWBORN DEVELOPS RESPIRATORY DISTRESS 1273
ASSESSING, SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING THE BABY IN NEED OF SPECIALIZED CARE 1277
WHEN A BABY IS BORN WITH SERIOUS PROBLEMS 1277
TRANSPORTING THE NEWBORN: AN OVERVIEW 1280
NEONATAL TRANSPORT: AFTER YOU ARRIVE AT THE HOSPITAL 1284
SPECIFIC NEONATAL DEFECTS AND DISORDERS 1285
Evaluating the Newborn with Suspected Neurological Compromise 1285
Disorders That Affect the Respiratory Tract: An Overview 1297
Complicated Respiratory Distress 1300
Cyanosis, Rapid Breathing, Congestive Heart Failure, Shock or Arrhythmia:Detecting Heart Defects at Birth 1329
Pallor with Generalized Edema, Swollen, Fluid-Filled Abdomen and Respiratory Distress: Hydrops Fetalis 1338
Metabolic Emergencies and Seizures 1339
Detecting and Differentiating Newborn Hypoglycemia, Sepsis and Heart Defects 1341
Abdominal Distension and Vomiting at Birth: Detecting Gastrointestinal Anomalies 1345
Abdominal Mass, Single Umbilical Artery, Edema or Atypical Genitalia: Detecting Kidney and Genitourinary Tract Disorders 1358
Neonatal Hypertension 1363
Neonatal Shock and Hypotension 1364
Visible Defects and Abnormalities (Other Than Externalized Organs) 1366
Externalized Organs and Neural Tube Defects 1373
Birth Injuries (Other Than Cranial and intracranial Injuries) 1381
Cranial Injuries 1385
Drug Withdrawal 1391
Recognizing Babies with Possible Genetic or Chromosomal Disorders 1392
REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING ON ASSESSING, SUPPORTING AND TRANSPORTING TIlE BABY IN NEED OF SPECIALIZED CARE 1394
PRODUCT AND EQUIPMENT SOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES 1396
INDEX 1399

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About the Author:

Anne Frye began her studies in 1975 at the Holistic Childbirth Institute in San Francisco, California. She went on to attend the Maternity Centre program in El Paso, Texas. Through these experiences she was granted an independant study Bachelor of Arts in the Humanities from New College of California in Holistic Midwifery. She has since taught extensively and practiced independant midwifery in both home and clinic settings.

In addition to this book, Anne has written:

Holistic Midwifery Midwifery: A Comprehensive Textbook for Midwives in Homebirth Practice - Volume 1 - Care During Pregnancy (click here to read about this book)
Understanding Diagnostic Tests in the Childbearing Year - A Holistic Guide to Evaluating the Health of Mother and Baby (click here to read about this book)
Healing Passage - A Midwife's Guide to the Care and Repair of the Tissues Involved in Birth (click here to read about this book)

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As I read deeper and deeper into this manuscript, my overwhelming reaction was that, if awards were given for texts such as these, Anne surely deserved one. Her thorough and innovative research has led her to core information on the physiology of birth—for example, on the cardinal movements of the baby and mechanisms of newborn stabilization—that I have not seen in any other contemporary textbook. At all times, she has been exhaustively inclusive and yet discriminating in suggesting appropriate responses to labor and birth complications. In fact, here is where I see the greatest evolution in her work since Holistic Midwifery Volume I: in the maturation of both her understanding and her ability to articulate complex concepts incisively.

A stellar example is Anne’s chapter on shoulder dystocia. She first clarifies the problem with relevant anatomy and physiology, and then elucidates a variety of treatments and their respective efficacy according to the situation. Other texts merely give a list of possibilities that leaves the reader wondering where to begin—and anyone who has handled this complication knows that time is of the essence!

For this and many other reasons, I consider this an excellent text for student midwives. Throughout, students are given concrete ways to interact with the information; for example, directions for finding the biparietal dimension on their own head, or for holding a doll and pelvis against their own body to better understand the left and right of fetal position. Terms are vividly described; for example, the meninges are characterized as fitting against brain tissue like a glove, with fingers encapsulating sections of gray matter. And the text is well organized, laying a solid foundation in all mechanisms of cephalic descent before treating the complexities of the breech. Her outstanding chapter on breech birth features tables the like of which I have never seen, showing what is happening with each part of the baby’s body at every stage of descent.

Above all else, Anne’s book heralds a return to what is truly natural in birth, what is physiologic. It represents the appreciation that, to some extent, midwifery has failed its mission by becoming increasingly, and sometimes carelessly, interventive. Anne teaches us to look deeper, and to understand that all we do—no matter how well intentioned or holistic— must be considered an intervention. She reminds us in her very style of presenting information that our primary charge is to do no harm. She encourages us to use our intuition, our gut, our compassion. She cautions us to be constantly aware of personal issues, shortcomings or shortsightedness that can influence how we do our work.

In short, this treasure trove of information is unmatched for breadth and depth by any other midwifery or obstetrical text. It is essential reading for every student and every practitioner, no matter how seasoned.

Any midwifery program worth its salt must midwife the midwife, and any decent midwifery text must do the same. To my dear friend and beloved sister in midwifery, I have but two last words to say: mission accomplished!"