Case-loading midwifery in New Zealand: making space for childbirth.
OBJECTIVE
to explore the way in which case-loading midwives in New Zealand construct midwifery (and in so doing, the concepts of woman and childbirth) and, given these constructions, to examine their practice within the obstetric hospital.


METHODS
in-depth interviews were conducted with 48 case-loading midwives. Along with relevant professional, regulatory and contractual documents, transcripts of these interviews comprise the 'texts' which were analysed using a feminist, poststructuralist framework drawing, particularly on the work of Foucault and Grosz.


METHODS
midwives practising throughout New Zealand participated in this study.


METHODS
case-loading midwives.


RESULTS
case-loading midwives in New Zealand work across various places as they move from community to primary or obstetric hospitals. They must also negotiate a variety of discursive spaces as they develop a plan of care with the childbearing woman. However, the biomedical discourse of childbirth is most dominant in the obstetric hospital. Therefore, midwives employ a number of strategies as they work to 'make space' for childbirth. These include re-constructing the maternal body as a competent body, re-positioning the woman at the centre of care, disrupting the obstetric gaze, and creating an oasis of privacy, calm and 'woman centeredness' within the birthing room.


CONCLUSIONS
midwives 'make space' for the childbearing woman. This space often, although not always, challenges obstetric constructions of childbirth and woman, creating an opportunity for alternatives that are less constraining and hopefully more enabling of an enjoyable and successful birth.


CONCLUSIONS
it is important to recognise and articulate the work that midwives do, to facilitate childbirth.
Davis
Deborah L
DL
School of Midwifery, Otago Polytechnic, Private Bag 1910, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand. ddavis@tekotago.ac.nz
Walker
Kim
K
D000328:Adult; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006700:Home Childbirth / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods*; D009321:Natural Childbirth / Q000451:nursing; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010687:Philosophy, Nursing; D011247:Pregnancy; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult