Abstract

In this introductory chapter, Mandie Scamell, Raymond Devries and Kirstie Coxon provide the context for this text, and an overview of the book and section contents. The collection is made up of theoretically linked chapters, each of which contains analysis of risks and uncertainties relating to pregnancy and childbirth in a range of different geographical settings. The chapter authors include risk social scientists, clinicians and academics, providing a unique opportunity to go ‘beyond’ surface risk narratives, to delve deeper and understand how risk theories help make sense of what is happening in practice, whilst clinical experience can balance or refute some of the claims made by social theories. Starting from an initial engagement with Beck’s Risk Society thesis, we argue that sensitivity to risk has been a defining feature of recent history. The book examines risk talk, risk language and risk communication and begins to examine the impact of recent social changes such as recognition of maternity inequalities amongst marginalised communities, and emergent questions about gender identity in maternity care. Throughout, we aim to address key practice and theoretical questions; we also identify future directions and potential ways to address the challenges that risk thinking presents within maternity care.