Abstract
Ethnographic observation and in depth interviews were used to explore the interactions between ten women and their midwives on a delivery suite in a low risk obstetric unit in Wales. There was evidence that for midwives a dichotomy of emotions existed, some of which were ‘natural’ and others ‘professional’, as biological feelings were controlled using emotion management techniques. This shadow labour forms part of the unseen work undertaken by midwives. Although mothers valued the feelings of safety provided because midwives maintained a normal environment, they often failed to recognise it as work. This unseen component in the work of midwives, together with inadequate support mechanisms, could go some way to explaining recent retention and recruitment problems within the profession.
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