Lead maternity carer midwives' construction of normal birth : a qualitative study : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey University

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorCrabtree, Susan M
dc.date.accessioned2016-08-07T23:10:56Z
dc.date.available2016-08-07T23:10:56Z
dc.date.issued2002
dc.description.abstractMidwives provide maternity care for the majority of women in New Zealand and in 2000 midwives were the Lead Maternity Carer for seventy one percent of childbearing women. The aim of this research was to explore the assertion that continuity of midwifery care 'enhances and protects the normal process of childbirth' (New Zealand College of Midwives, 1993, p.7). I aimed to explore the meaning of 'normal birth' in Lead Maternity Care midwifery practice in the current New Zealand context and to understand the complex influences surrounding midwives' construction of normal birth. In order to explore the construction of 'normal birth' Lead Maternity Carer midwives were invited to participate in a small qualitative study. In-depth one to one interviews were used to collect data from nine Lead Maternity Carer midwives. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Using a qualitative approach allowed me to make thoughtful links with the literature and build upon what is already known about the construction of normal birth. Data analysis revealed that midwifery practice and women's birthing experiences occur in a contested context that remains firmly entrenched in a medically dominant model of care. There is an increasing normalisation of intervention and technology leading to ongoing medicalisation of the physiological processes of labour and birth. The midwives interviewed employed a number of strategies for promoting the normalcy of labour and birth including supporting women's choice to birth at home, and working with women in the hospital setting to birth without intervention. However, the medical model influenced the midwives' practice in a number of subtle ways and I argue that the medical model is the default mode: it is always there and is taken as the 'right' way to 'do' birth unless it is actively contended.en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10179/8501
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherMassey Universityen_US
dc.rightsThe Authoren_US
dc.subjectNew Zealanden_US
dc.subjectChildbirthen_US
dc.subjectMidwivesen_US
dc.titleLead maternity carer midwives' construction of normal birth : a qualitative study : a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at Massey Universityen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
massey.contributor.authorCrabtree, Susan Men_US
thesis.degree.disciplineNursingen_US
thesis.degree.grantorMassey Universityen_US
thesis.degree.levelMastersen_US
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (M. A.)en_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Thumbnail Image
Name:
01_front.pdf
Size:
868.43 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
Thumbnail Image
Name:
02_whole.pdf
Size:
25.14 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
804 B
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download
Collections
Theses and Dissertations