Placing compassion at the heart of our care
Respectful Maternity Practices for Labour, Birth and the Postnatal Period is a must-read for obstetricians, doctors, midwives, nurses and students seeking to enhance their knowledge and clinical practice. It’s more than a textbook: it’s a call to action, fostering compassion and ensuring that every woman and baby receives the respectful, high-quality care they deserve.
This book distinguishes itself by moving beyond a purely clinical, fact-delivery model. It combines robust, evidence-based information with a culturally aware and highly accessible writing style, making it not just an informative resource, but also an inspiring guide for all maternity caregivers.
With a global perspective and deep respect for cultural diversity, this book explores how maternity care can—and must—uphold the autonomy, voices and lived experiences of all those giving birth. Through real-world examples and actionable strategies, the book challenges harmful norms and equips caregivers with the tools to cultivate safety and trust in every birth setting.
Spans the full spectrum of care environments, from intimate home settings to hospitals nestled in the jungle, to large, resource-rich medical facilities Dr. Shawn Walker, a leading expert in the field, contributes a vital section on physiological breech birth Vivid photographs are used throughout, to enhance understanding and provide clear visual guidance for safe practice An invaluable, free online section provides editable resources for use in practice
Rooted in dignity, empathy and human rights, this essential guide offers a thoughtful and practical framework for ensuring that every woman, baby and family receives respectful, compassionate care throughout labour, birth and the postnatal period.
By:
Tanya Burchell (Fernandez Foundation)
Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Inc
Country of Publication: United States
Edition: Global Edition
Dimensions:
Height: 305mm,
Width: 218mm,
Spine: 26mm
Weight: 1.191kg
ISBN: 9781394210114
ISBN 10: 1394210116
Pages: 448
Publication Date: 28 May 2026
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Dedication Preface/Introduction About the Companion Website SECTION 1: CAREGIVERS AND FUTURE-CAREGIVERS 1. Our Responsibilities and Desires in Maternity Care 2. Hopes and Dreams for Maternity Care 3. Handover 4. Mentoring Future-Caregivers SECTION 2: THE LABOUR ROOM ENVIRONMENT 5. The Labour Room Environment 6. The Labour Room Environment - Our Impact SECTION 3: CARE DURING LABOUR AND BIRTH 7. The Labour Room Welcome 8. Eating and Drinking in Labour 9. Mobility in Labour 10. Monitoring in Labour with Our Heads, Hearts and Hands 11. Caring for Women Experiencing Painful Contractions 12. When A Woman Feels the Urge to Push 13. Care During the Birth 14. Waterbirth 15. Breech - An Unusual Normal by Tanya Burchell and Shawn Walker 16. Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section - The New Normal 17. Meconium 18. Initial Care and Assessment of the MotherBaby Unit 19. Initial Care of Low-Birth-Weight Babies 20. Birth of the Placenta 21. Repairing Perineal Trauma SECTION 4: COMPLEX NEEDS IN LABOUR 22. Prelabour Rupture of Membranes 23. Preterm Labour and Birth 24. Labour Dystocia 25. Inducing Labour 26. Medical Challenges: Hypertension, Obstetric Cholestasis, Diabetes Mellitus, Sickle Cell and Thalassemia 27. Birth by Forceps or Vacuum 28. Caesarean Section 29. Tokophobia SECTION 5: POSTNATAL CARE 30. Compassionate Care for the Postnatal MotherBaby Unit 31. Breastfeeding 32. Hypoglycaemia, Hypothermia and Hypoxia 33. Neonatal Jaundice SECTION 6: PROMPT CARE IN A CRITICAL, OBSTETRIC EVENT 34. Maternal Sepsis 35. When a Baby Becomes Stuck 36. Cord Presentation and Prolapse 37. Postpartum Haemorrhage 38. Severe Pre-Eclampsia, Eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome 39. Adult and Newborn Life Support SECTION 7: WHEN A MOTHER OR BABY DIES 40. When a Mother or Baby Dies
Tanya Burchell is a highly respected British nurse, midwife and educator, dedicated to promoting compassionate and respectful maternity care. Having lived in Cyprus, India, Bangladesh, Cambodia and the United Kingdom, she brings extensive international experience to her work. This direct engagement with diverse cultures profoundly shapes her approach to healthcare, reflecting a steadfast commitment to integrating varied beliefs and attitudes into clinical best practice. Tanya’s vision is to foster maternity units globally, where passion, current practices and compassion thrive, and staff genuinely love their work.
