An exploration of the professional relationship between caseloading midwives and the women they care for.

This research seeks to increase understanding regarding the midwife-woman relationship. Midwives provide care within a context that is intimate and highly emotional. Additionally, it is often in a one-to-one setting that is private. To work successfully in this space they need to have a high level of self-awareness and reflexivity to be responsive to the situations that may arise. A positive relationship has been shown to influence the outcome for the woman and her baby (Hunter, 2005; Pembroke & Pembroke, 2008; Thomas & Dixon, 2012; Walsh, 1999), and increase the job satisfaction for the midwife (McAra-Couper, Gilkison, Crowther, Hunter, Hotchin & Gunn, 2014)