A Book for Midwives: Care for Pregnancy, Birth, and Women’s Health

Susan Klein, Suellen Miller, Fiona Thomson

2007

An illustrated practical manual designed for community health workers, traditional birth attendants, and families assisting childbirth in low-resource settings. The book provides step-by-step guidance on pregnancy monitoring, safe delivery practices, recognition of complications, postpartum care, infection prevention, and basic women’s health education. It emphasizes accessible knowledge, clear illustrations, and decision-making tools intended for environments where advanced medical facilities may not be immediately available.

“Good care during pregnancy and birth does not depend only on hospitals or machines. It depends on knowledge, careful attention, clean practices, and the ability to recognize when help is needed.”

Developed through global public health initiatives and field experience, the manual has been widely distributed in community health programs, particularly in regions with limited access to hospital-based care. While supported by many international health organizations for its practical value, community-based birthing approaches often receive less visibility in highly medicalized healthcare systems where institutional delivery is standard practice. As a result, the book circulates primarily within training programs and grassroots health networks rather than mainstream medical publishing channels.

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