We were asked by numerous professors who used the book in college courses to update it. Thus, the new 1998 edition is back in some courses where it had been absent for several years. We are staunch advocates of midwifery care. I myself had my daughter at home with a midwife. So did other women in our group.
Midwives practice in hospitals, birthing centers and in the home.
Both nurse-midwives and independent midwives can be excellent choices, even for some women with known risk factors. Ironically, despite many studies which show equivalent and superior outcomes for midwifery care, as compared with physician care, it is still difficult for many women in many parts of this country to find a midwife. We all need to pressure our health care plans and local hospitals to make sure that midwives are an option. It is only because of consumer demand over the past 20 years that we have seen movement in this area. Thanks for sending in questions.