So, you have another tool for coping with the enormity of labour. You know you can use a pool at the hospital or hire one for home. Or, hangout in the shower. What about what we are advised to do, both during pregnancy and during labour? And where does information come from on its way to us? How are midwives supported to care for a woman labouring or birthing in water? Does it change their work and what risks and benefits does that introduce for you as a woman giving birth? The below is a thesis by Kim Russell - further reading as part of the All4Maternity course I started and I am totally engrossed. Russell speaks of how waterbirth is thought of in hospitals settings (that she studied) and how this might impact the support of a woman in labour. "The normalisation of waterbirth practice enabled hybrid midwives to reconcile their position as a biomedical midwife with their professional identity (self) as a normal birth practitioner through waterbirth practice. Waterbirth practice appears to have helped labour ward midwives to close the philosophical gap between ‘doing’ midwifery and ‘being with woman’. Waterbirth enhances the physiology of childbirth and promotes normal birth midwifery practice, but its promotion in labour wards is dependent on the availability of equipment and the philosophy of care adopted by the organisation (Cluett et al., 2004). Consequently for change in hospital waterbirth to be successful, innovations that support critical praxis (see chapter four of this thesis) and harness the legitimate power of authority figures is required. An important step in the change process was the increased awareness amongst participants and co-researchers that the organisational culture made it difficult for individuals to practice ‘real’ midwifery" From Russell, Kim (2016) Changing the culture on labour ward to increase midwives promotion of birthing pools: an action research study. PhD thesis, University of Nottingham. . . . . . #all4maternity #practisingmidwifejournal #midwivesmatter #welovemidwives #doulauk #birthdoula #birthteam #waterbirth #birthpool #hypnobirth #positivebirth #positiveinduction #vbac #niceguidelines (at Kent, Kent, United Kingdom) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkLypBA_Wt/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=kcvlasm1we05