MIDWIVES IN A PRECARIOUS BALANCE OF POWER WITHIN THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM OF THE UNITED STATES

The status of midwifery has been in a state of flux since the inclusion of midwifery into the mainstream medical community within the last few decades. The available literature is ambiguous concerning those changes and how they influence the midwife. Using in depth interviews with midwives who are carving out positions for themselves under new laws and new relationships within the medical hierarchy, this thesis seeks to uncover how these changes affect the midwives' commitment and adherence to the traditional-and idealized-midwifery model of care. Specifically, this means an examination of their perceptions concerning the use of pain control, new technologies, relationships with physicians, VBACs and the splintering of the midwives opinions over credentialing and midwifery education.