Offers state-of-the-art analyses of the new midwifery Midwifery in the developed world is in a state of ferment and change - a phenomenon referred to as the new midwifery. Reconceiving Midwifery offers state-of-the-art analyses of the new midwifery as it is practiced. The authors - social scientists and midwifery practitioners - reflect on regional differences in the emerging profession, providing a systematic account of its historical, local, and international roots, its evolving regulatory status, and the degree to which it has been integrated into health care systems.