Abstract
Pregnancy, birth and parenthood represent a unique and powerful journey for a woman, a journey that affects her for ever. She experiences many physical, social and emotional challenges as her relationship with her partner and her status within her family and social context change. The Winterton report (House of Commons Health Committee 1992) challenged the pattern of maternity service provision based on a medical model of care. The report stated:
that becoming a mother is not an illness… it is the mother who gives birth and who will have the lifelong commitment which motherhood brings. She is the most active participant in the birth process. (v)
In order to be an active participant, the woman needs to enter into an active partnership with the health professionals who care for her. The midwife is therefore in an ideal position to work with women throughout their journey towards motherhood, encouraging them to trust their instincts and abilities, enabling them to feel empowered and confident. Achieving empowerment in practice is not easy and may require a major reappraisal of the midwife’s style of working, her perceptions of her own power and her relationship with the women in her care.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Bianchi A (1995) Powerful or powerless: is it a mother’s choice? International Journal of Childbirth Education, 11(3): 37–8.
Braye S, Preston-Shoot M (1995) Power, partnership and empowerment. In Braye S, Preston-Shoot M (eds) Empowering Practice in Social Care. Open University Press, Buckingham, pp. 98–122.
Buggins E (1995) Mind your language. Nursing Standard, 10(1): 22.
Buggins E, Newburn M, Fletcher G, Gready M, Draper J, Dodds R (1996) Finding our voices. British Journal of Midwifery, 4(10): 539–42.
Clement S (1997) Childbirth on television. British Journal of Midwifery, 5(1): 37–42.
Department of Health (1993) Changing Childbirth Part I. Report of the Expert Maternity Group. HMSO, London.
Enkin M (1989) Effective care of the low risk woman in pregnancy and childbirth. Women’s Health in the 1990s. Conference proceedings of 9th International Congress of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Amsterdam, May 1989. Parthenon, Lancashire.
Enkin M, Keirse M, Chalmers I (1995) A Guide to Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Ewles L, Simnett I (1993) Fundamentals of communication. In Promoting Health — a Practical Guide, 2nd edn. Scutari Press, London, pp. 121–38.
Fletcher G, Buggins E, Newburn M, Gready M, Draper J, Wang M (1997) The Voices Project Final Report. National Childbirth Trust, London.
Garcia J, Redshaw M, Fitzsimons B, Keene J (1998) First Class Delivery. A National Survey of Women’s Views of Maternity Care. Audit Commission, London.
Gibson CH (1995) Definitions of empowerment. Handout 1. 7. In RCM Invest in Breast Together. RCM, London.
Gillen J (1995) Can midwives practice autonomously? British Journal of Midwifery, 3(5): 245–6.
Goer H (1996) Childbirth education empowers women to make informed choices in health care, to assume responsibility for their health and to trust their inner wisdom. Journal of Perinatal Education, 1: 11–12.
Gready M, Buggins E, Newburn M, Fletcher G, Dodds R, Wang M (1997) Hearing it like it is: understanding the views of users. British Journal of Midwifery, 5(8): 496–500.
Green J, Coupland V, Kitzinger J (1998) Great Expectations. A Prospective Study of Women’s Expectations and Experiences of Childbirth. Books for Midwives Press, Hale.
Halldörsdöttir S, Karlsdöttir S (1996) Empowerment or discouragement: women’s experiences of caring and uncaring encounters during childbirth. Health Care for Women International, 17: 361–79.
Henderson C (1995) All change. British Journal of Midwifery, 3(12): 630–1.
House of Commons Health Committee (1992) Second Report, Maternity Services vol. 1, Section 100. HMSO, London.
Jackson K (1996) History of changing childbirth. In Dodds R, Goodman M, Tyler S (eds) Listen with Mother. Books for Midwives Press, Hale, p. 3.
Kitzinger S (1988) Why women need midwives. In Kitzinger S (ed.) The Midwife Challenge. Pandora, London, pp. 1–20.
Maternity Care in Action (1984) Part 2. HMSO, London.
MIDIRS (1997) Breech Presentation — Options for Care. Informed Choice for Women. MIDIRS/NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, Bristol.
NHSE (1996) Maternity Services Liaison Committees — Guidelines for Working Effectively. DoH, London.
Oakley A (1993) Birth as a Normal Process. Essays on Women, Medicine and Health. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
Odent M (1984) Birth Reborn. What Childbirth Should Be. Souvenir Press, London.
Osterman KF and Kottkamp RB (1993) Reflective practice for educators. Cited in Furneaux N ( 1995 ) Achieving professional empowerment through education. The challenge of changing childbirth. Midwifery Educational Resource Pack. ENB, London.
Pope R, Cooney M, Graham L, Holliday M, Patel S (1998) Aspects of care: 4. Views of professionals and mothers. British Journal of Midwifery, 6(3): 144–7.
Proctor S (1998) What determines quality in maternity care? Comparing perceptions of childbearing women and midwives. Birth, 25: 85.
Raphael-Leff J (1991) Psychological Processes of Childbearing. Chapman & Hall, London.
Sandall J (1995) Burnout and midwifery: an occupational hazard? British Journal of Midwifery 3(5): 620–1.
Sandall J (1996) Moving towards caseload practice: what evidence do we have? British Journal of Midwifery, 4(12): 246–8.
Schott J (1994) The importance of encouraging women to think for themselves. British Journal of Midwifery, 2(1): 3–4.
Smith A (1993) The meaning behind the WORDS. New Generation, 12(2): 15.
Wagner M (1994) Pursuing the Birth Machine. ACE Graphics, Camperdown, Australia.
Warwick C (1996) Supervision and practice change at King’s. In Kirkham M (ed.) Supervision of Midwives. Books for Midwives Press, Hale.
WHO (1985) Birth is not an illness. 15 Recommendations of the World Heath Organisation. WHO Report on Appropriate Technology for Birth. WHO, Geneva.
Winyard G, Moores Y (1996) Covering Letter: Maternity Services Liaison Committees — Guidelines for Working Effectively. NHSE, Leeds.
Craig G. (1998) Women’s Views Count — Building responsive maternity services. A resource pack to help health professionals and user representatives ask service users their views. College of Health. London.
Green J, Coupland V, Kitzinger J (1998) Great Expectations. A Prospective Study of Women’s Expectations and Experiences of Childbirth. Books for Midwives Press. Hale.
Robertson A (1997) Empowering women. Teaching Active Birth in the 90s. ACE Graphics, Camperdown, Australia.
Editor information
Copyright information
© 2000 Macmillan Publishers Limited
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Fletcher, G., Buggins, E. (2000). Empowerment — a gift bestowed or withheld?. In: Alexander, J., Roth, C., Levy, V. (eds) Midwifery Practice: Core Topics 3. Midwifery Practice. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15038-0_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-15038-0_8
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-76433-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-15038-0
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive