Great expectations.

摘要

How did you become interested in the psychology of birth? In 1984 I applied for a job with Martin Richards in Cambridge examining implications of medical staffing structures for maternity staff and for women. At interview I said, ‘I’m afraid that my only previous experience of this field is having my own children,’ and Martin said, ‘Don’t denigrate it’. I was amazed that a Cambridge academic was telling me that personal experiences were valid ways of knowing. As I got to know Martin better – we worked together for 12 years – I realised that starting from personal experience was his hallmark. Since 1996 I have worked in the Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU) where many of my colleagues have a background in midwifery. I have always worked in multidisciplinary research groups and am a strong believer in psychologists working with other disciplines.