Introduction
Part One: Love in Context
Chapter 1: What do we mean by love?
Diane Ménage
Chapter 2: Love and the humanisation of childbirth
Lesley Page and Clare Wardhaugh
Chapter 3: Why we need to talk about love in midwifery
Elizabeth Newnham
Part Two: Love in Practice
Chapter 4: Love as Touch
Claire Nutt
Chapter 5: Love as Actions
Indie McDowell
Chapter 6: Love as Words
Anna Marsh
Chapter 7: Love as Time
Diane Ménage and Jenny Patterson
Chapter 8: Love as Gift
Jenny Patterson
Part Three: Love in the Profession
Chapter 9: Love for Self: controversies and word games
Kate Greenstock
Chapter 10: Love and Colleagues: sustaining wellbeing in the workplace through social connections
Sheena Byrom and Anna Byrom
Chapter 11: Love in Midwifery Leadership
Michelle Waterfall
Chapter 12: Love in Midwifery Education
Maeve O’Connell and Naomi O’Donovan
Chapter 13: Love and Professional Issues in Midwifery
Diane Ménage
Conclusion: Strength, growth and transformation
Index
Biography
Diane Ménage is a midwife with a life-long interest in women’s health and well-being. Throughout her career, her focus has always been on providing individualised evidence-based care through relationships. As a midwife, she has worked clinically in hospital settings, community midwifery, and independent practice. She completed her PhD research on Women’s Lived Experience of Compassionate Midwifery at Coventry University (UK) in 2018. She has written extensively for midwifery journals, contributed to book chapters and co-authored the textbook An Introduction to Research for Midwives, 4th Edition. Diane is a part-time lecturer in Midwifery at De Montfort University. In her role as a midwifery educator, she is passionate about embedding compassion and self-compassion into midwifery education.
Jenny Patterson has worked as a midwife since 2007, within the UK NHS and independently. Jenny has a particular interest in traumatic birth experiences and her PhD thesis explored post traumatic stress disorder in women post childbirth (PTSD-PC). Jenny has been part of an international group of midwives, midwifery researchers, and lecturers that explored midwives’ needs regarding stress and trauma across the UK and Ireland. Following completion of trauma management training, Jenny has led workshops for women and midwives. She has published several midwifery journal articles, contributed to a few book chapters, and presented in the UK and Europe. Jenny currently lectures in midwifery at Edinburgh Napier University, Scotland, UK. Current research interests include exploring how maternity care providers and interpreters can best collaborate to provide high quality care for women whose first language is not that of the country in which they are receiving maternity care.
"Love and Midwifery offers a positive and inspiring way forward. It’s a tonic for those working in the birthing world and invaluable to those tasked with the work of reviewing maternity care and shaping policy." - Iola Aaron, The Practising Midwife
