Bringing a design perspective to the birth environment, this fascinating book collects and critically examines the knowledge we have. It exposes the social, political and historical thinking that influences the way birth spaces have been designed and looks at how they can be designed in future.

The book starts by examining changing historical attitudes to childbirth and uses maternity and architectural policy and practice to develop this story. It explores both the idea of ‘fitting childbirth into the machine’ and the resistance to this, along with the emergence of the idea of the birth environment. From there, it describes the best evidence we have on how the design of spaces impact on childbirth experiences and outcomes. Drawing on an international selection of case studies, the book gives the reader insights into regional differences in birth culture and environments across the globe and offers the opportunity to imagine birth environments of the future based on the most up-to-date evidence from medicine, midwifery, anthropology, design, and architecture.

Including practical recommendations as well as big picture thinking, this book is written for all those with an interest in creating the best possible environments for childbirth as part of supporting a healthy start to a child’s life. It is especially relevant for midwives, and other maternity care practitioners and administrators.