Midwifery Care Studies: A Reflexive Methodology for a Practice-Based Science

Midwifery research is increasingly understood as shaped by the specific social, political, and historical contexts, with scientific practices actively co-producing realities. This recently developed perspective highlights the need for discipline-specific approaches that reflect the diversity and creativity of midwifery care.

This contribution introduces Midwifery Care Studies as a novel, reflexive approach to studying midwifery as a practice-based science.

Building on analyses inspired by feminist science studies, Midwifery Care Studies examine midwifery care in practice. Using participatory methods, this approach aimed to investigate midwifery care practices on their own terms.

Midwifery Care Studies share the sensitivities and response-abilities that shape everyday midwifery care practices. Acknowledging the relational character of midwifery care, Midwifery Care Studies articulate modes and techniques of becoming-with that involve birth givers, fetuses, midwives, technologies, words, values, and birthing environments. By carving out the material, social, and ethical specificities of situated midwifery care practices, Midwifery Care Studies examine unfolding and shifting "goods" and "bads" in practice, as well as how tensions between them are handled.

Sensitive to the ontological politics of care and research practices, Midwifery Care Studies aim at providing the analytical and conceptual resources needed to foster generative engagements with the multitude of lived realities of being pregnant and giving birth.