Mothers and Midwives
The Ethical Journey

A framework of ethics specific to midwifery and derived from midwifery practice that takes ethical discourse beyond current literature, proposing strategies for ethical practice based on findings arising out of the profession itself.

Refines the understanding of ethics within the context of everyday midwifery practice

Offers an alternative approach to the ethics of professional practice, reuniting morality and personal interest

The aspirations, values and lived reality of mothers and midwives, and the commitment of the midwife to the woman are the focus of a newly constructed ethic for midwifery practice

Foreword
Acknowledgements
Glossary of terms and context of analysis
Glossary of terms
Context of the analysis
Introduction
References

CHAPTER 1: The need for a midwifery ethic of practice

The metaphor
Looking for the pool of ethics: a personal journey
Ways of seeing: ways of acting
The social construction of our world
The nature of 'practice'
References

CHAPTER 2: On the sealed highway - mainstream ethics, medicalisation and midwifery

The nature of midwifery practice
The influence of moral philosophy, and nursing ethics
Moral philosophy and mainstream ethical frameworks available to midwives
Why midwives would be turning to mainstream ethical frameworks
Summary
References

CHAPTER 3: The false trail - a critique of bioethics and the problem-solving approach for midwifery ethics

Bioethics - its development and critics (the pool of ethics)
Casuistry and context
Quandary or dilemma-based ethics
Contextualism
A critique of the normative, dilemmic/problem-solving approach of bioethics for midwifery
When the situation is stripped of context
When the subject is depersonalised
The abstract nature of principles
What is ethically 'good'?
Prior ethical practice , character, virtues and relationships
Summary
References

CHAPTER 4: Midwifery's detour through nursing ethics - a critique of professional codes and influences that shape the midwifery ethics discourse

Traditions of a professional practice, institutionalisation, and application of a code
a critique of ethical codes
Perceived strengths of codes
Perceived weaknesses of codes
How ethical discourse in midwifery is shaped
Educational curricula and their ethical orientation
The workplace setting and institutional influence
Text books, journals and conference presentations: their ethical orientation

CHAPTER 5: Off the beaten track - feminist virtue ethics and midwifery

Values and assumptions of feminist theory - epistemology and ontology
A feminist approach to ethics in midwifery
Virtue Ethics - context, character and relationship
Narratives, identity and traditions
The public and private
Privilege
Difference
Normal/Abnormal - The impact of linguistics
Metaphors in childbirth reveal practice orientation
Summary
References

CHAPTER 6: A conducted tour or independent travel? examining underlying assumptions and values

Owners of the original knowledge
Profiles of those women telling their experiences
The informant-researcher relationship
Constructing consensual meanings
Mothers' and midwives' shared values
Power in relationships
Power 'over' - exploitative, manipulative
Power 'for' - nutritive
Power 'with' - integrative
Summary
References

CHAPTER 7: Facing obstacles along the way - mothers' and midwives' narratives of unethical childbirth practices

Institutional dominance
Paternalism
Lack of self-determination
Fear, Safety, Mortality-Morbidity (negativity of attitude)
Unsupportive of the woman
Procedure-oriented approach; 'system workers'
Values conflict
Workplace/service provider versus personal/professional midwifery ethics
Not valuing individuals
Emotions/feelings
Summary
References

CHAPTER 8: Going to a comfortable place - the ethical voice of mothers and midwives

'Being with' woman
Values-Virtues
Supporting the woman
Knowing the woman
Woman's comfort: security, 'safe' for the woman
Ways of seeing
Metaphors used by mothers and midwives
Personal transformation
Summary
References

CHAPTER 9: Checking our course - values and philosophical foundations of the midwifery profession

The philosophy and theory behind midwifery practice
Ways of knowing: midwifery's epistemology
Ethical theories and principles 'incorporated'
Ways of seeing and construction: orientation
Practitioner definitions of midwifery practice
Practitioner identified philosophy of midwifery practice: values and beliefs
Summary
References

CHAPTER 10: Plotting our practice - values and philosophical foundations of the birthing environment

The power of language
Birth language
A concept analysis of normal labour
Practice decisions and conflict between work place and personal/professional ethics
The midwifery relationship
Summary
References

CHAPTER 11: The discourse of other travellers - literature on women's experiences

The birth: women's experiences
The midwife's approach: women's experiences
Summary
References

CHAPTER 12: Mapping a new ethic for midwives - from 'practice estate' to the pool and back, now a return journey travelled in tandem

The ethic of engagement - a midwifery ethic
The nature of engagement in ethical responses and relationships
The centrality of concepts which emerged from real life experience and literature, in an ethic of midwifery
Implications for practice and recommendations
References
Conclusion

Midwives: postgraduate; Feminist/Women's Studies courses; Ethics programs