Becoming a Midwife in a Free-standing Birth Centre

This book explores the lived experiences of newly qualified midwives working in free-standing birth centres, highlighting the emotional, professional, and sociological aspects of their journeys from novices to confident practitioners in an out-of-hospital setting. As newly qualified midwives transition from their educational settings to the low-tech environment in their free-standing birth centre, they broaden their skill set, develop hands-on skills, and learn, for example, to care for labouring women without continuous fetal monitoring. This book spotlights the skills needed to work in free-standing birth centres and the importance of becoming well integrated into a team, which, in turn, allows newly qualified midwives to build confidence in their abilities and offer comprehensive care to women and their families throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Capturing the skill acquisition, learning, and professional identity development of newly qualified midwives, this thoughtful book emphasises the critical role of mentorship from experienced midwives and the supportive environment for midwives and families in free-standing birth centres, many of which also offer home birth services. This book is an essential contribution to the literature around midwifery practice, with an emphasis on physiological birth, continuity of care, skill acquisition, and professional identity development. It will be of use to students, practitioners, and scholars with an interest in these areas.

Nancy Iris Stone is an American-German midwife who has lived in Germany for nearly four decades. She has practised midwifery for 24 years in both hospital settings and a free-standing birth centre. Her research focuses on birth in free-standing birth centres, with particular attention to the lived experiences of women and birthing people, as well as midwives. Passionate about midwifery practice, she is committed to fostering the transmission of skills and knowledge between generations of midwives.

1. ASK a Midwife: Acquisition of Skills and Knowledge of Midwives in Free-Standing Birth Centres, 2. : Pathways into free-standing birth centre practice, 3. "I still felt like a student at first." Stories of beginnings, 4. Becoming a part of birth stories: Attuning to the whole, 5. Opening up Pandora's jar: Honouring the power in women's stories, 6. Embodied practices: Giving voice to lived experience, 7. "I've arrived." Welcoming babies into the world, 8. "They're motivated and willing to work hard." Experienced midwives' lived experience of newly qualified midwives' orientation, 9. "Not a good fit": The challenge to feel at home in team care, 10. "She was labouring in a rain barrel when we arrived!": The surprising and awe-inspiring experiences of newly qualified midwives, 11. "I was the last midwife to hear the fetal heartbeats." Intrauterine death in midwifery practice, 12. The power of reflection: Olivia's story, 13. "I am the midwife I dreamt of becoming": Amelia's story, 14. Reclaiming presence