Author(s): Cate Kennedy

Non-Fiction

Every year thousands of New Zealand and Australian women are coaxed, guided and reassured by midwives. Yet the unpredictable nature of pregnancy and birth, and the lack of knowledge about what midwives actually do, means that their profession, although revered by some, is often misunderstood or overlooked. Few women, though, ever forget the midwives who look after them when they give birth. In Labour of Love midwives and maternal and child health nurses tell their own stories and provide a glimpse into a world of old and new knowledge. With courage, humour and dedication they tell of the unnoticed and largely unacknowledged work that goes on behind the scenes as they care for women who are trying to conceive, who are labouring, or facing the challenges of caring for a newborn baby. From busy urban hospitals to isolated villages in war zones, this collection describes profoundly emotional moments, the pain of adoption, complex clinical situations, life-or-death decisions and the way maternity care has changed over the decades. Candid, tender and wise, Labour of Love captures all the love, anticipation, pain and excitement of birth and its aftermath, and shares the experiences of the healthcare professionals who play such a vital part in it.