Myles' Textbook for Midwives

As a teacher for direct-entry midwives in the U.S., I have used Myles' Textbooks for years. I have recently finished reading this edition which is very similar to the 14th edition. The editors are the same and most of the material is the same. The book still has a very welcome emphasis on "Evidenced Based Practice", which was introduced with the 14th edition. It is still a wonderfully comprehensive textbook. The part I especially don't like in this edition is the drift toward the medical model of childbirth presented in the chapter on prolonged pregnancy and disorders of uterine action. Putting time limits on labor may be necessary for meeting new protocols in Britian, but seeing this trend reminds one of the reasons many in the U.S. opt for home birth instead of hospital birth. It just saddens me to see this change. In the 14th edition there was a chapter on "Family Planning" and in the 15th edition the chapter has changed to "Contraception and Sexual Health". The tone of the chapter has changed to reflect the title. The author seems to bemoan the fact that few women in the U.K. use the intrauterine device, while stating that it is not so unpopular elsewhere, as in China, where 60 million women use them. In China women are FORCED to use interuterine devices! The chapter "Woman-centred, midwife friendly care: principles, patterns and culture of practice" seems to have changed more to emphasize the midwife friendly part. There was a gem in the 14th edition that didn't make it to the 15th: "The aims of midwifery are far wider than physical health of mother and baby. They include the following: * to help the mother and her family make the transition to parenthood in the best way possible; that is, to emerge from childbirth physically and emotionally intact, with the relationships within the family, particularly the attachment between the mother and baby and parents, as strong as possible, and to have the confidence, knowledge and commitment to care for her child until adulthood. * to support and protect physiological processes and healthy outcomes * to provide comfort and alleviate the distressing symptoms of pregnancy, labour and birth and the postpartum period." However, there are still some gems in this revised chapter such as: "When practicing in less than ideal situations it is important to do the best you can, while recognizing that there are some factors out of your control and accepting that your contribution is limited." All in all Myles is still a great textbook and I'm still using it to train direct entry midwives in the States.

This book was required text for my midwifery course and through all the years they have been teaching midwifery from it in my country it has not yet failed us.

Behind me on my shelf, I have three copies of this textbook. The first copy is from 1966. It is a look back in time that is enough to make any childbirth professional giggle. The second book I have is from 1978. Again, this outdated book is a serious look at midwifery, with photos that are outlandish. I keep these books because I find the evolution of the books phenomenal... and yet, the content has not changed much over time. Childbirth is still physiologically the same as it was in 1966.The third book I own is eight years old. While it is not the most recent edition of the book, it was the edition printed before the current edition. This book has been what the previous editions have not been for me: a serious textbook about midwifery. Realistically, there are hundreds of midwifery textbooks out there, all of them good. But the Myle's textbook stands out above the others for a number of reasons. For one reason, it is simply well written. For another reason, it is been kept current with the changing times. And for a third reason, it tends to be the accepted textbook in midwifery study groups everywhere. The information in this book is solid and helpful. As a book to read as an aspiring midwife, this is definitely an intermediate level book, although the first few chapters begin gently. It is a book I would pack with me if I travelled.

I was only just wishing this week that I had my old Maggie Myles textbook with me. I left mine behind when I left Zambia where the book was used as an excellent tool for those of us practicing as midwives and educating young Zambian nurses in the same skill. The book helped me many times in difficult situations to make critical decisions regarding the mothers and babies in our care. I never dreamed I would get a chance to write a review. I doubt it is to the standard you require. No matter. I know the book was up to the standard of any nurse midwife working in challenging circumstances.