The Midwives' Guide to Key Medical Conditions: Pregnancy and Childbirth

The new edition of this popular paperback continues to offer student midwives with a wealth of information about the key medical conditions seen during pregnancy and childbirth. Each disorder – which has been selected because of its commonality or potential seriousness to health – is accompanied by a clear description of the associated anatomy and physiology thereby affording the reader with a clear understanding of the presenting complaint.

Containing almost 60 carefully reproduced line diagrams and an abundance of tables and ‘pull out’ boxes, this friendly, accessible volume explores the epidemiology of each disease, and its impact on maternal and child health. Relevant physiological changes in pregnancy are also provided, together with a clear discussion of associated pathophysiology. Throughout the book, prenatal, intra-partum and postnatal management advice is given, with particular emphasis given to the care of the acutely ill patient and medical emergencies.

The Midwives’ Guide to Key Medical Conditions is designed to help practitioners manage pregnancy and childbirth in women with systemic disease, recognize the early onset of disease-related pregnancy complications, and determine when it may be necessary to refer patients to another member of the healthcare team. The volume will ideal for all midwives, whether qualified or in training.

• Written by well-known authorities in the field to ensure that the information is perfectly tailored to the midwifery student
• Accessible writing style and clear artwork program helps make learning easy
• Recaps on the underlying anatomy and physiology for the relevant body system
• Explains the normal physiological changes that occur during pregnancy
• Summarises the relative risk of the specific disorder in the context of overall maternal mortality
• Explains the pathophysiology of a given condition, with emphasis on its impact on pregnancy
• Explores the relevant management the neonate and the likely impact of the medical disorder on future pregnancies
• Places particular emphasis on the management of critical illness and medical emergencies

• Risk management and the use of pathways of care
• Management of obesity
• Sepsis and infectious diseases
• Additional pre-existing chronic disorders