Home Birth

Mary L. Nolan is Professor of Perinatal Education at the University of Worcester, UK. She is also Senior Tutor at the National Childbirth Trust.

• 1. Policy – does it mean what it says? 2. Choosing Home Birth Against Medical Advice 3. Fear and Risk 4. Choice, Bullying and Coercion 5. Communication and Language 6. Avoidance, Subversion and Confrontation 7. Stress in Pregnancy and Birth 8. Men’s Experience of Home Birth Against Medical Advice 9. Free Birth: the end of the choice continuum 10. Advocacy, Empathy and Autonomy 11. The Dialectic between Possibilities and Limits

'This remains an invaluable resource for any student midwife learning how to best understnad and serve women, any midwife who wants to improve the pregnancy, birthing and mothering exerience of the women under their care...This book feeds fantastically into homebirth and service provision debates around the world and should not be overlooked by any health professional dedicated to supporting women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth and parenthood.' – Midwifery News'Why do women choose to give birth at home, even in situations defined as medically risky? Are they ignorant? Irresponsible? Risking their babies' lives for their own good experience? Mary L. Nolan explores this uncharted territory with respect and intelligence, creating a fascinating and invaluable resource for carers involved with home birth and/or women with "high risk" pregnancies. Women and families choosing home birth will especially enjoy the voices of strong-minded women who are making their own choices.' – Dr Sarah J. Buckley, author of Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering, www.sarahjbuckley.com'I would strongly recommend it to anyone working in maternity services...These stories need to be heard if normality and choice in childbirth is to remain a real option' – MIDIRS