Customer Reviews

Varney's Midwifery, Fourth Edition

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I have read the other posted reviews of this textbook and feel obliged to respond to those who negatively critiqued its application to out-of-hospital birth. Midwifery IS midwifery. The principles put forth in this third edition set the gold standard for safe and competent care of mothers and neonates ... regardless of the setting ... and also provide the parameters for well-woman care. It would behoove every midwife to become as knowledgeable as possible about full-scope midwifery practice and Varney's Midwifery provides an ideal resource.

As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Nurse-Midwifery (JNM), the official publication of the American College of Nurse-Midwives, I would like to share my own unequivocal 5-star rating of this textbook for midwives as well as some excerpted comments taken from the excellent review it received in the March/April 1997 issue of JNM. Here's what Judith Carveth Trexler, CNM, PhD, the reviewer, had to say: "Midwives have long awaited the third edition of this classic reference. Its expansion in size and scope make it the definitive text for midwives and one that clearly serves as a primary reference for the profession .... Although midwives remain the primary audience for this book, it also serves as an excellent resource for medical students, nurses (particularly those in advanced practice), physician assistants, and other health professionals who find themselves in need of a comprehensive text that applies the physiologic and psychosocial dimensions of women's and infant health to safe, client-centered clinical management."

A great disappointment after a long wait. The midwifery community, eagerly anticipating the release of this third edition, and expecting promised text changes and updates on practice, received a political travesty instead of a midwifery textbook. Historical information pertaining to the midwifery movement in the United States is not only inaccurate, but intentionally deceiving. Sadly, this book endeavors to further divide midwives from differing educational backgrounds in the U. S., where great efforts are being made to unite the profession. As for core educational and reference content, the book does not provide enough updated information to justify its purchase if one already owns the second edition. For one small example, even though the text touches on information pertaining to out-of-hospital birth, it does not give adequate information in these areas. It is apparent that the author is occupied with political rather than educational agendas. Don't let the name change deceive you ... this is most certainly "nurse-midwifery" from the author's perspective. An extreme disappointment.

Perspective of a soon-to-graduate direct-entry midwifery student: I would rather read almost ANY book rather than this one. I know some of you have to buy it like I did, but if you don't *have* to, don't. My toddler ripped a few pages out of it, and honestly, instead of getting upset that she had totally messed up a $100 book, I was kind of glad she did it, because I hate this book so much. I'd rather read anything by Anne Frye, Myles, heck, even Williams over this thing. It is boring as all get out, completely non-dynamic, there's no glossary, the index stinks, there are no words in bold or anything, no little case studies in a box beside the text... I mean NOTHING to relieve the monotony of the tone. Gag me with a spoon.

I am currently a Nurse-Midwifery Student in Northern Virginia and have found Varney's to be an excellent resource for students. I have read it from cover to cover many times and find that the scientific rationale provided in the chapters of the text help guide a new Midwife into this challenging and stimulating field of work. Ms. Varney is complex in her review of the care of women throughout their lifecycle. I have used this book so much that I also purchased 'The Pocket Midwife' to be a handy reference to the text. Although I may not practice all of the skills taught within the text, they were certainly thought provoking. I am sure to continue to read and reread this text in my preparation for starting my long-awaited career as a Nurse-Midwife! We are blessed that Ms. Varney has offered students a comprehensive and insightful text of Nurse-Midwifery! Thank you!

I have always found Varney to be useful and easy to read, especially in comparison to Speroff or Gabbe. I think that this book was never intended to be the definitive text on home birth. If a midwife's interest lies in homebirth, seek out books that cater to that option. I found the skills sections especially helpful. It isn't Varney's job to unite midwives, her primary job is to educate. You can not teach the spirit of midwife through a book, that's where mentoring comes into play. This is certainly a must have for all practicing midwives, regardless of educational background.

I am currently a student CNM and have found Varney's to offer a great insight to the scientific end of Midwifery. However, I feel that Ms. Varney neglects the beautiful and spiritual side of providing Midwifery care. Although I found her text to be comprehensive in certain aspects of theory and rationale of Nurse-Midwifery I was disappointed that such a classic Midwifery text would leave out the wholistic focus of Midwifery. It is a book I refer to often, but I place it alongside my William's Obstetrics and Gabbe's text. I was hoping to place it among Spiritual Midwifery, Heart and Hands, Frye's Holistic Midwifery, and many countless others that place the primary focus on sharing with women. I am glad that I purchased the text for my library and found it helpful, but it was certainly not what I expected. I feel that certain sections of this text whould not be included (ie. Circumcision for one could feel that the author of this chapter believes wholeheartedly in the practice of routine circumcision). I did not expect such brutality in a Midwifery text.

This book is very well written, detailed, and easy to understand. I couldn't have been more excited when UPS pulled up to my house with this package! It's the Holy Grail of Midwifery!

I commend Ms. Rooks on her accomplishment, HOWEVER , please DELETE the section on circumcision. Let the patient and pediatric practitioner address this subject. We midwives do not belong in this field except to personally respond to inquiries of the patient. We should point out the "cons" of this barbaric procedure in the same way we do to routine anesthesia during labor and birth.

Very well written, comprehensive text on Midwifery. Used in midwifery school, also would be informative for nursing students or those entering obstetrics or interested in being a doula.