Humanisation of childbirth : 7. The role of critical pedagogy in midwifery education

In this seventh article of the 19th Midwifery Basics series on humanising birth, the authors discuss the importance of using critical pedagogy as a pathway to transforming maternity care and humanising childbirth. We have a responsibility to students in terms of what and how we teach future generations of midwives. Midwives are guardians of normal birth, and they are also teachers, passing on midwifery technology (knowledge of the art and skill of midwifery) to midwifery students. Midwifery academics in particular, as educators and researchers, are guardians of the discipline and its knowledge base. The authors of this paper, all of whom work in higher education, see education as transformational – transformational on a personal level, as well as encompassing the transformation from student to midwife, the transformation of the profession itself and, ultimately, the transformation of society.