Birth centres are suitable for every woman whose birth is straightforward which accounts for around 75% of all women. This inspirational guide shows how small scale maternity provision has a profound clinical and organisational advantage over large scale hospital provision including saving of time and money by reducing intervention rates. It presents the thoughts and feelings of midwives and patients and how both enjoy the humane and compassionate care of the birth centre ethos. The book is invaluable for midwives obstetricians doulas maternity care assistants and maternity service planners and managers. It also provides enlightening information for general practitioners and other health and social care professionals maternity service users groups and academics with an interest in midwifery and health services.