Theories and perspectives for midwifery

The authors 15

Editors 15

Authors 15

Introduction 17

Background 17

Structure of the book 18

What is Nordic midwifery? 19

What are theories and perspectives in midwifery? 22

References 24

Part I /   The Nordic context of midwifery

01 / Midwifery history in a Nordic and international perspective 27

Ingela Lundgren

Traditional midwifery 27

Early midwifery in Europe 28

Regulation and professionalisation of midwifery in Europe 29

Early midwifery in the Nordic countries 29

Regulation and professionalisation of midwifery in the Nordic countries 30

Reflections 32

References 33

02 / Midwifery in a Nordic context 35

Ellen Blix, Ólöf Ásta Ólafsdottìr, Rikke Damkjær Maimburg, Anita Wikberg, Helga Gottfreðsdóttir, Ellen Aagaard Nøhr & Ingela Lundgren

The Nordic countries 35

Demography, language and people 36

National minorities 38

Sámi – the indigenous people 38

The Nordic welfare state model 40

Maternity care 41

Midwifery in a Nordic context 42

Challenges 44

References 46

03 / Childbearing immigrants in the Nordic countries 49

Pirjo Koski & Anita Wikberg

The immigrant population in Nordic countries 49

Healthcare for the immigrant population 50

Health outcomes and experiences of childbearing immigrant women in Nordic maternity care 51

Practical examples of cultural issues in maternity care 52

Reflections and implications for practice 53

References 55

04 / Midwifery education in the Nordic context 57

Helga Gottfreðsdóttir, Christina Prinds, Anita Wikberg & Ingvild Aune

Introduction 57

Overview of midwifery education in the Nordic region 59

Content of midwifery education in the Nordic countries 60

Midwifery education – similarities and differences in the Nordic context 62

Advanced midwifery education – future speculations 62

Future challenges in midwifery education 63

References 64

Part II /   Theories, concepts and perspectives in midwifery

05 / Why is a theoretical basis for midwifery important? 69

Marie Berg, Christina Prinds & Tine Schauer Eri

The importance of having a theoretical basis in midwifery 69

Different kinds of knowledge are needed 69

What is a theory? 70

How are theories developed 72

A mapping review on existing theoretical models for midwifery care 73

Reflections 76

References 77

06 / Evidence-based midwifery 79

Ellen Aagaard Nøhr, Ellen Blix & Ingela Lundgren

Introduction 79

Evidence-based practice – in an international perspective 80

The Cochrane movement 80

Evidence-based medicine 82

Shared decision-making 83

Evidence-based midwifery care – in an international perspective 83

Synthesising qualitative research in midwifery 84

Evidence for midwifery from both qualitative and quantitative research 85

Evidence-based midwifery care – in a Nordic perspective 86

Promoting the field of midwifery 87

Claiming influence on guidelines 87

Strengthening the evidence base for Nordic midwifery 88

Perspectives and values influence every childbirth 89

Reflections 90

References 91

07 / Perspectives on childbearing 95

Rikke Damkjær Maimburg & Ellen Blix

Social/midwifery vs. medical model of maternity care 95

Childbirth as a social process in-between life and death 96

Medicalisation of childbearing 98

Bio-politics and individual preferences 99

Acceleration of pregnancy and childbirth 100

Reflections 101

References 101

08 / Salutogenesis in midwifery 105

Marie Berg & Ólöf Ásta Ólafsdóttir

Introduction 105

The concepts in the theory of salutogenesis 106

Salutogenesis in practice and research – an international perspective 107

Salutogenesis in practice, education and research in a Nordic perspective 109

Reflections 111

References 112

09 / Normal birth 115

Emma Marie Swift, Katja Schrøder & Helga Gottfreðsdóttir

Normal birth – introduction 115

Defining normal birth 115

Normal birth in numbers 116

Why is promoting normal birth important? 118

Obstacles to normal birth in the Nordic countries 120

Medicalisation – a challenge in healthcare 120

Working for the system, not the women 122

Women want freedom of choice 123

Promoting normal birth in theory and practice 123

Promoting normal birth in education 124

An Icelandic example 124

A Danish example 125

Reflections 126

References 127

10 / Midwife-woman relationship 131

Ólöf Ásta Ólafsdóttir, Tiina Murto & Bente Dahl

Midwife-woman relationship – introduction 131

Midwife-woman relationship in theory, practice and education 132

The building up of a midwife-woman relationship 133

Hindrances in the building up of a midwife-woman relationship 136

The midwife-woman relationship in a Nordic and international perspective 137

Reflections 138

References 139

11 / Woman-centred care 143

Ingela Lundgren & Bente Dahl

Woman-centred care – introduction 143

Woman-centred care in theory, practice and education 144

Choice and control (Informed choice) 146

Woman-centred care in the Nordic context 148

Choice and control in the Nordic context 149

Reflections 154

References 155

12 / Family-centred care 157

Bente Dahl & Christina Prinds

Family-centred care – introduction 157

Clarification of concepts used in this chapter 158

Family-centred care in theory and practice 158

Parenthood and present-day family constellations 158

Present-day family constellations – examples of caring and non-caring encounters in maternity care 160

Family-centred care in the Nordic context 162

A brief historical background 162

Experiences of family-centred care in the Nordic context 163

Reflections 165

References 166

13 / Continuity of care 169

Ingegerd Hildingsson & Ingvild Aune

Continuity of care – introduction 169

Continuity of care in theory, practice and education 169

Team midwifery models 169

Midwifery group practice 170

Caseload midwifery 170

Continuity of care – evidence-based care 170

The role of the midwife in continuity models 171

Continuity of care in midwifery education 172

Continuity of care in a Nordic context 172

Continuity of care models in Norway 172

Continuity of care models in Denmark 173

Continuity of care models in Iceland 173

Continuity of care models in Sweden 174

Continuity of care in midwifery education – an example from Norway 175

Women’s and midwives’ experiences of continuity of midwifery care in Sweden 175

Reflections 177

References 178

14 / Place of birth 181

Berglind Hálfdánsdóttir, Ellen Blix, Helena Lindgren & ­Anne-Mette Schroll

Place of birth – introduction 181

Place of birth in theory, practice and education 181

The paradox of place of birth: birth as a normal process or a medical risk 181

Place of birth from women’s perspectives 182

Women’s autonomy and informed choice in place of birth 183

Midwives’ role and workplace culture in different places of birth 183

Birthing room design and place of birth 184

Centralisation and place of birth 185

Education and place of birth 186

Place of birth in a Nordic context 187

Places of birth in different Nordic countries 187

Denmark 187

Finland 187

Iceland 187

Norway 188

Sweden 188

Birth outcomes in different places of birth in the Nordic countries 189

Home births 189

Midwifery-led units 190

Obstetric units 190

Reflections 191

References 192

15 / Support 195

Caroline Bäckström & Stina Thorstensson

Support in childbearing – introduction 195

Support during childbearing – in practice and education 196

Social and professional support 196

Pregnancy 197

Labour and birth 198

Midwifery students 201

The postpartum period 202

Support in a Nordic context 202

Reflections 204

References 205

Part III /   Examples of theories concepts and perspectives …|in midwifery from the Nordic countries

16 / Midwifery discourse 211

Tine Schauer Eri

Midwifery discourse – introduction 211

What is a discourse? 211

A midwifery discourse in a Nordic context 212

The concept of risk in the medical and midwifery discourse 213

A midwifery discourse in a Nordic and international perspective 214

A midwifery discourse in practice and education 215

Reflections 217

References 217

17 / A Midwifery Model of woman-centred care (MiMo) …|developed in a Nordic context 219

Ólöf Ásta Ólafsdóttir, Marie Berg & Ingela Lundgren

MiMo – introduction 219

MiMo – theory development 219

MiMo – description 220

MiMo in research, practice and education 226

MiMo in an international perspective 228

Reflections 229

References 230

18 / A theory of professionalism in midwifery …|for the empowerment of childbearing women 233

Sigfríður Inga Karlsdóttir & Sigríður Halldórsdóttir

The theory – introduction 233

The revised theory – description, practice and education 235

The revised theory in a Nordic and international perspective 239

Reflections 240

References 241

19 / A theory for intercultural caring in midwifery and maternity care 243

Anita Wikberg

A theory for intercultural caring – introduction 243

Theory for intercultural caring – description 243

Concepts of the theory 243

The development of the theory 244

The four dimensions of caring 246

Theory for intercultural caring – in practice and education 248

Reflections 249

References 250

20 / Continuity of care – in a Danish context 253

Ingrid Jepsen & Ellen Aagaard Nøhr

Continuity of care – introduction 253

The model of continuity of care in midwifery 254

Continuity of care in Denmark 255

Organisation of continuity of care since 2019 256

Time off and resting period 258

Back-up in continuity of care teams and in the conventional system 258

Holiday 259

Continuity of care in a Danish and international perspective 259

Reflections 261

References 262

21 / Genuine caring in caring for the genuine …|– a midwifery care model for childbearing women at increased risk 265

Marie Berg

The theory – introduction 265

A dignity-protective relationship 267

Embodied knowledge 268

A balancing of the natural and medical perspectives 270

The theory in practice, education and research 271

Reflections 271

References 273

22 / Being with child and caring fellowship 275

Terese Bondas

Being with child – introduction 275

The development of the theory 276

Being with child – description 276

Living the pregnancy with child 277

Living the birth with child 277

Living postpartum with child 278

Caring fellowship – the theory in practice 279

The caring fellowship with the professional midwife 279

An international perspective on the theory 280

Reflections 281

References 283

23 / Birth and parenthood education practical model for Somalis 285

Pirjo Koski

Description of the new BPE practical model 285

Descriptions of the concepts of the model 286

The development of the BPE practical model 287

The BPE practical model and education 289

The model in a Nordic and international context 290

Reflections 291

References 292

24 / Midwives as anchored companions 295

Ingela Lundgren

Anchored companion – introduction 295

Anchored companion – concept development 296

Anchored companion – description 297

Anchored companion in an international and Nordic perspective 298

Anchored companion – in practice and education 299

Reflections 301

References 301