Failure to progress : the contraction of the midwifery profession

The changes that are happening within midwifery are of concern to all those within the health care system, the academic world and those whose lives are touched by midwifery care.

Failure to Progress reflects on the current situation and questions whether it is the most appropriate way of providing care for the childbearing woman.

The book discusses what is happening both within and to midwifery as a profession in a context of social change.

Topics covered include: - The evolution of the midwife's role - women's issues - the functioning of the midwife within the health care system - the effects of organisational change - the relationship of the midwife with the woman she cares for and with the medical practitioners.

All of the contributors to Failure to Progress are actively involved with the provision of care to the childbearing woman, and most are practising midwifes.

Together they build up a comprehensive picture of midwifery toady which will be relevant to all midwifery students, practitioners and policy makers and not least the consumers of midwifery care.