Missing voices about a foreign place: exploring midwifery practice with midwives who cared for single mothers and babies/or adoption in Queensland (1960-1990)

Abstract

Past professional practice with Australian single mothers and their babies for adoption is conspicuous by its absence in much of the adoption, nursing and gender studies literature. 1ndepth interviews supported by guided questions enabled 18 Queensland midwives to tell their stories retrospectively. A thematic analysis of the data was informed by a grounded theory approach. Findings suggest that the evolution of four midwifery approaches influenced practice with single mothers over three decades in Queensland. These approaches are prescribed practice, practice under question, practice born of lived experience, and practice in transition and by negotiation. The findings showed a humanistic, historical trend in midwifery practice that reflected wider social changes regarding the increasing status of women and the challenging of patriarchal institutions. This study makes a small, original contribution to Australian and international literature regarding the past 'care' of single mothers.