Includes bibliographical references and index.

Machine generated contents note: List of contributors; Preface; Acknowledgements; 1. Pelvic and fetal cranial anatomy and stages and mechanism of labour K. Muhunthan; 2. The first stage of labour Daisy Nirmal and David Fraser; 3. Analgesia and anaesthesia in labour Mark Porter; 4. Intrapartum fetal monitoring Savvas Argyridis and Sabaratnam Arulkumaran; 5. Uterine contractions Christofides Agathoklis and Sabaratnam Arulkumaran; 6. The management of intrapartum 'fetal distress' Laura Coleman and Bryony Strachan; 7. Nutrition and hydration in labour David Fraser and Jonathon Francis; 8. Prolonged second stage of labour including difficult decision-making on operative vaginal delivery and caesarean section Deirdre J. Murphy; 9. Instrumental vaginal deliveries: indications, techniques and complications Gabriel Kalakoutis, Stergios Doumouchtsis and Sabaratnam Arulkumaran; 10. Caesarean deliveries: indications, techniques and complications Gerard H. A. Visser; 11. Breech and twin delivery Stephen Walkinshaw; 12. Cord prolapse and shoulder dystocia Joanna Crofts; 13. Antepartum haemorrhage Neelam Potdar, Osric Navti and Justin C. Konje; 14. Management of the third stage of labour Hajeb Kamali and Pina Amin; 15. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) Anushuya Devi Kasi and Edwin Chandraharan; 16. Management of morbidly adherent placenta Rosemary Townsend and Edwin Chandraharan; 17. Acute illness and maternal collapse in the postpartum period Jessica Hoyle, Guy Jackson and Steve Yentis; 18. Episiotomy and obstetric perineal trauma Ranee Thakar and Abdul H. Sultan; 19. Induction of labour Vikram Talaulikar and Sabaratnam Arulkumaran; 20. Preterm prelabour rupture of membranes (pPROM) Austin Ugwumadu; 21. The management of preterm labour Jan Joergensen and Ronald Lamont; 22. Labour in women with medical disorders Mandish Dhanjal and Catherine Nelson-Piercy; 23. Management of women with previous caesarean section Tsz Lin Lo and Tak Yeung Leung; 24. Rupture of the uterus Ana Pinas Carrillo and Edwin Chandraharan; 25. Management of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia James J. Walker; 26. Neonatal resuscitation and the management of immediate neonatal problems Paul Mannix; 27. The immediate puerperium Shankari Arulkumaran; 28. Triage and prioritization in a busy labour ward Nina Johns; 29. Risk management in intrapartum care Leroy Edozien; 30. Teamworking, skills and drills on the labour ward Katie Cornthwaite and Dimitrios M. Siassakos; 31. Cerebral palsy arising from events in labour Mariana Rei and Diogo Ayres-de-Campos; 32. Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) in obstetrics Melissa Whitten; 33. Non-technical skills to improve obstetric practice Kim Hinshaw; Index.

"An understanding of when and how to intervene is the key to good obstetric care. This textbook is an encompassing reference covering all the essential information relating to childbirth; it offers clear practical guidance on all aspects of labour and delivery. Written by well-known leading experts, each chapter offers a modern authoritative review of best practice. The evidence base decribed will help to optimize outcome through appropriate clinical management and justifiable intervention. Whilst this is an ideal textbook for those training and taking examinations in labour ward practice, it offers all those caring for the woman in labour a modern, evidence-based approach which will help them understand, recognize and deliver the best possible clinical care. The importance of team working, prioritizing, and the organization of maternity care receive appropriate emphasis with clear guidance and practical advice"--Provided by publisher.