In Chapter 4, we consider both women’s and men’s accounts of the birth of their first child. In our focus on birthing experiences, we consider both women’s and men’s experiences separately and explore similarities within couples. For women, we reflect on orientations to ideas of ‘natural’ birth, and for men we focus on accounts of emotional responses to the birth of a child, and their experiences of cutting the umbilical cord (or not). For both women and men, we focus on issues with receiving support while in hospital, experiences of traumatic birth, and men’s involvement in the birth of their child. Overall, this chapter highlights similarities between women and men within some of the couples, as well as marked differences for some couples. The chapter explores how in some instances birthing is naturalised, while in other instances it is seen as highly mediated.

This chapter discusses midwifery practices in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in urban and regional areas. It begins by considering the challenges Indigenous women face when they experience maternity care in mainstream healthcare settings, and the importance of providing and receiving culturally safe maternity care. Traditional birthing practices used by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women prior to colonisation are discussed. The chapter provides an overview of maternal and neonatal health today by considering statistics related to the health of Indigenous mothers and infants, fertility rates and gestational issues Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women may face, along with recent improvements in antenatal care and infant health outcomes. Current birthing practices are discussed, before Indigenous-led models of care are presented as ways to provide culturally safe care to pregnant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. The chapter considers the role of Indigenous nurses and midwives in contributing to better maternal outcomes for Indigenous women and their babies, and provides concrete ways in which all nurses and midwives can provide culturally safe care.