Childbirth, Midwifery and Concepts of Time [Paperback]

All cultures are concerned with the business of childbirth, so much so that it can never be described as a purely physiological or even psychological event. This volume draws together work from a range of anthropologists and midwives who have found anthropological approaches useful in their work. Using case studies from a variety of cultural settings, the writers explore the centrality of the way time is conceptualized, marked and measured to the ways of perceiving and managing childbirth: how women, midwives and other birth attendants are affected by issues of power and control, but also actively attempt to change established forms of thinking and practice. The stories are engaging as well as critical and invite the reader to think afresh about time, and about reproduction.

List of Figures

Foreword
Ronnie Frankenberg

Acknowledgements

Introduction

PART I: HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT

Chapter 1.From Tradition to Modernity: Time and Childbirth in Historical Perspective
Christine McCourtandFiona Dykes

Chapter 2.Cosmologies, Concepts and Theories: Time and Childbirth in Cross-cultural Perspective
Christine McCourt

PART II: TIME AND CHILDBIRTH PRACTICES

Chapter 3.Counting Time in Pregnancy and Labour
Soo DowneandFiona Dykes

Chapter 4.The Progress of Labour: Orderly Chaos?
Clare WinterandMargie Duff

Chapter 5.Time and Midwifery Practice
Trudy Stevens

Chapter 6. Waiting on Birth : Management of Time and Place in a Birth Centre
Denis Walsh

Chapter 7.Management of Time in Aboriginal and Northern Midwifery Settings
Gisela Becker

PART III: TIME AND CHILDBIRTH EXPERIENCES

Chapter 8.Narrative Timl“$