title: Space, place and the midwife: exploring the relationship between the birth environment, neurobiology and midwifery practice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Research indicates that midwives and their practice are influenced by space and place and that midwives practice differently in different places. It is possible that one mechanism through which space and place influence midwifery practice is via neurobiological responses such as the production and release of oxytocin, which can be triggered by experiences and perceptions of the physical environment.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To articulate the significance of space and place to midwifery and explore the relationship between the birth environment, neurobiology and midwifery practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality midwifery care requires the facilitation of trusting social relationships and the provision of emotionally sensitive care to childbearing women. The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a critical role in human social and emotional behaviour by increasing trust, reducing stress and heightening empathy, reciprocity and generosity.
  Through its role as a trigger for oxytocin release, the birth environment may play a direct role in the provision of quality midwifery care.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Midwifery, Child and Family Health, Faculty of Health, Level 7, Building 10, University of Technology, Sydney, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia. Electronic address: athena.hammond@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hammond
authors.forename: Maralyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Foureur
authors.forename: Caroline S E
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Homer
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Davis
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008880:Midwifery / Q000458:organization & administration*; D009446:Neurobiology; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010121:Oxytocin; D011247:Pregnancy; D011361:Professional Competence
chemical_list: D010121:Oxytocin
keywords: Birth environment; Midwifery practice; Oxytocin; Space and place