The foundation between midwife and mother is the foundation upon which maternity care depends. Covering completely new topics areas, the new edition of this ground-breaking text brings together classic and current research to establish key tenets for maternity care within hospital and home.

This ground-breaking essential text reaffirms the fragility and the power of the relationship between midwife and mother and remains the definitive guide to the complex area of midwife-mother relations.

New to this Edition:
- Fully revised and expanded to reflect key developments in midwifery philosophy over the past decade, applying a theoretical approach to emerging concepts such as emotional labour and midwifery partnership
- Covers completely new topics areas, including the effects of emotional labour, poverty and health policy
- Combines new works from the previous edition with new chapters on innovative midwifery practice
- Brings together classic and current research to establish key tenets for maternity care within hospital and home