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Virgin Birth
Midwifery
Midwilety(1994) 10.55-57 DLongmanGr~upUliLtd 1994
BOOK REVIEWS
The Art of Midwifery Edited by Hilary Marland Routledge, London, 1993,lst 234 pages
edn. ISBN O-415-06425-2,
This informative collection of essays, written by historians, examines the lives of midwives in Europe in the Early Modem Age. They draw from a wealth of primary source material as well as from midwifery and obstetric literature. This evidence confirms the great diversity in the status, skills, education and working practice of midwives both within and between the six European countries covered. The lives of certain outstanding midwives are detailed; particularly revealing is the great contribution to French midwifery made by Madame le Bousier du Coudray. Most interestingly, fresh insight is provided into the wider and public role of many midwives which included performing baptism and dealing with female maladies as well as having a moral obligation to investigate cases of incest, bastardy and infanticide. This book has much to tell us about the length and type of apprenticeship, about licensing, regulation and control of midwives as well as about their adaptation to the changing power of Church and State, but almost nothing about their area. The title is, therefore, somewhat misleading. There are no copies of documents and no illustrations. However, this well researched, well referenced book provides fascinating evidence for those interested in women’s history, social history and midwifery history in particular. JEAN TOWLER BA, RGN, RM, MTD
vii
Bii Edited by Robert Silman WET Press, 1993,lst edn. ISBN l-898292-00-0,114 Price f10.50
pages.
This book is the proceedings of a symposium which examined the ‘Virgin Birth Syndrome’. The panel included a doctor offering access to fertility services and a counsellor for the women requesting this service. Other participants where a lawyer, a clergyman, a member of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, a psychologist, a medical historian and an ethicist. The participants examined the various ethical issues around the topic of assisting women to conceive who are not within a ‘normal’ sexual relationship as understood by society in general. Some of these include
women who have never had, nor wish to enter, a relationship with a man. This discussion proved so interesting it stimulated me to read more widely on the topic. The diverse views argued reflect the responses that this idea has stimulated to date, from the sensationalism of the tabloids to the hysterical pontification of some politicians. The discussion does not go deep enough, however, leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction with the superficiality of some points although this may be understandable because of the paucity of knowledge surrounding the type of women who would desire this service and their reasons for doing so. The issues highlighted would be of interest to anyone working in the field of assisted reproduction or as a general area of discussion of ethical issues facing society today. DOROTHYSTEWART BA(Hons), Cert Ed FE, RM, ADM
Basic Sciences in Obstetrics and Gynaecology by M. de Sweit and G. Chamberlain Churchill Livingstone, 1992, 2nd edn, ISBN 04229-2,298 pages. Price g22.50
O-443
This book is a textbook for obstetricians preparing for their MRCOG part 1, and offers a more in-depth understanding of the elements of basic science underlying obstetrics. The content is presented within eleven chap ters. The multi-authored text draws from the knowledge of eminent contributors, from the areas of molecular biology to immunology. Chapters on embryology, anatomy, physiology and the fetus may be of particular interest to midwives. Short chapters on statistics and physics are also included. The information is well presented and easy to follow. The text is supported by clear black and white line diagrams and tables, some of which have been reproduced from other key textbooks within the field. The major criticism is that the book is unreferenced; a common fault in general obstetric textbooks. In view of the price, the lack of referencing and the intended audience, this book is a more suitable acquisition for the medical library than the midwifery library. Midwives undertaking advanced studies may, however, benefit from reading individual chapters. SARAHCHURCH RGN, RM 55
Midwilety(1994) 10.55-57 DLongmanGr~upUliLtd 1994
BOOK REVIEWS
The Art of Midwifery Edited by Hilary Marland Routledge, London, 1993,lst 234 pages
edn. ISBN O-415-06425-2,
This informative collection of essays, written by historians, examines the lives of midwives in Europe in the Early Modem Age. They draw from a wealth of primary source material as well as from midwifery and obstetric literature. This evidence confirms the great diversity in the status, skills, education and working practice of midwives both within and between the six European countries covered. The lives of certain outstanding midwives are detailed; particularly revealing is the great contribution to French midwifery made by Madame le Bousier du Coudray. Most interestingly, fresh insight is provided into the wider and public role of many midwives which included performing baptism and dealing with female maladies as well as having a moral obligation to investigate cases of incest, bastardy and infanticide. This book has much to tell us about the length and type of apprenticeship, about licensing, regulation and control of midwives as well as about their adaptation to the changing power of Church and State, but almost nothing about their area. The title is, therefore, somewhat misleading. There are no copies of documents and no illustrations. However, this well researched, well referenced book provides fascinating evidence for those interested in women’s history, social history and midwifery history in particular. JEAN TOWLER BA, RGN, RM, MTD
vii
Bii Edited by Robert Silman WET Press, 1993,lst edn. ISBN l-898292-00-0,114 Price f10.50
pages.
This book is the proceedings of a symposium which examined the ‘Virgin Birth Syndrome’. The panel included a doctor offering access to fertility services and a counsellor for the women requesting this service. Other participants where a lawyer, a clergyman, a member of the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, a psychologist, a medical historian and an ethicist. The participants examined the various ethical issues around the topic of assisting women to conceive who are not within a ‘normal’ sexual relationship as understood by society in general. Some of these include
women who have never had, nor wish to enter, a relationship with a man. This discussion proved so interesting it stimulated me to read more widely on the topic. The diverse views argued reflect the responses that this idea has stimulated to date, from the sensationalism of the tabloids to the hysterical pontification of some politicians. The discussion does not go deep enough, however, leaving a feeling of dissatisfaction with the superficiality of some points although this may be understandable because of the paucity of knowledge surrounding the type of women who would desire this service and their reasons for doing so. The issues highlighted would be of interest to anyone working in the field of assisted reproduction or as a general area of discussion of ethical issues facing society today. DOROTHYSTEWART BA(Hons), Cert Ed FE, RM, ADM
Basic Sciences in Obstetrics and Gynaecology by M. de Sweit and G. Chamberlain Churchill Livingstone, 1992, 2nd edn, ISBN 04229-2,298 pages. Price g22.50
O-443
This book is a textbook for obstetricians preparing for their MRCOG part 1, and offers a more in-depth understanding of the elements of basic science underlying obstetrics. The content is presented within eleven chap ters. The multi-authored text draws from the knowledge of eminent contributors, from the areas of molecular biology to immunology. Chapters on embryology, anatomy, physiology and the fetus may be of particular interest to midwives. Short chapters on statistics and physics are also included. The information is well presented and easy to follow. The text is supported by clear black and white line diagrams and tables, some of which have been reproduced from other key textbooks within the field. The major criticism is that the book is unreferenced; a common fault in general obstetric textbooks. In view of the price, the lack of referencing and the intended audience, this book is a more suitable acquisition for the medical library than the midwifery library. Midwives undertaking advanced studies may, however, benefit from reading individual chapters. SARAHCHURCH RGN, RM 55