Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour
Introduction Fetal heart monitoring, whether intermittent or continuous, is performed with the intent of assessing the well-being of the fetus and detecting the few who are hypoxic. Continuous electronic fetal…
Assisted birth: ventouse and forceps
Introduction With good labour support, most women will experience a spontaneous vaginal delivery. Some women, however, for a variety of reasons, will not. For those women the options are either…
Examination of the newborn baby at birth
Introduction The newborn check, which involves a thorough examination of the baby, is performed in the first few hours after birth and, with experience, is generally quite quick to perform….
Water for labour and birth
Introduction Labour and/or birth in water can be a wonderfully relaxing experience for a mother and baby. Deep-water immersion in labour became popular in the 1970s. When women relaxing in…
Home birth
Introduction There is no place like home. A home birth can be a deeply personal fulfilling experience for the woman, her partner and family. Until recent years home birth was…
Malpositions of the Occiput and Malpresentations
Chapter 21 Malpositions of the Occiput and Malpresentations Occipitoposterior positions Occipitoposterior positions are the most common type of malposition of the occiput and occur in approximately 10% of labours. A…
Common Medical Disorders Associated with Pregnancy
Chapter 13 Common Medical Disorders Associated with Pregnancy Cardiac disease In most pregnancies, heart disease is diagnosed before pregnancy. There is, however, a small but significant group of women who…
Problems of Pregnancy
Chapter 12 Problems of Pregnancy Abdominal pain in pregnancy Abdominal pain is a common complaint in pregnancy. It is probably suffered by all women at some stage, and therefore presents…
Antenatal Care
Chapter 9 Antenatal Care Aim of antenatal care The aim is to monitor the progress of pregnancy in order to support maternal health and normal fetal development. The midwife critically…
Jaundice and Infection
Chapter 35 Jaundice and Infection Jaundice is the yellow discoloration of the skin and sclera that results from raised levels of bilirubin in the blood (hyperbilirubinaemia). Conjugation of bilirubin Bilirubin…
