Myles Textbook for Midwives

Recognised by many as the leading international textbook for midwives, Myles Textbook for Midwives returns in its 14th edition. This edition has been revised by new editors Diane Fraser and Maggie Cooper who are regarded as being at the forefront of the profession. They have recruited a number of new contributors to ensure that this edition is completely up to date with current thought and practice.

In keeping with the accent on teamwork in today's maternity services, there are more contributions from other members of the healthcare team, as well as a mother's perspective on the use of technology within pregnancy and childbirth. The focus is on the provision of woman-centred, midwife-friendly care.

Section 1: Midwifery: The midwife. The social context of childbirth and motherhood. Midwifery patterns of care and women's choices. Ethics in midwifery. The history and regulation of midwifery.

Section 2: Human anatomy and reproduction: The female pelvis and reproductive organs. The female urinary tract. Hormonal cycles: fertilisation and early development. The placenta. The foetus.

Section 3: Pregnancy: Preparing for pregnancy. Change and adaptation in pregnancy. Being pregnant and preparing for parenthood. Exercises for pregnancy, labour and the puerperum. Antenatal care. Abnormalities of early pregnancy. Problems of pregnancy. Common medical disorders associated with pregnancy. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Sexually transmissible and reproductive tract infections in pregnancy. Multiple pregnancy. Specialised antenatal investigations.

Section 4: Labour: Physiology and care in the early stage of labour. The first stage of labour. Pain relief and comfort in labour. The second stage of labour: physiology and the midwife's role. Physiology and management of the third stage of labour. Prolonged pregnancy and disorders of uterine action. Malpositions of the occiput and malpresentations. Operative deliveries. Midwifery and obstetric emergencies.

Section 5: The puerperum: Physiology and care in the puerperum. Physical problems and complications in the puerperum. Emotional, psychological and psychiatric problems. Family planning. Bereavement and loss in maternity care.

Section 6: The new-born baby: The baby at birth. The normal birth. Feeding. The health low birthweight baby. Recognising the ill baby. Respiratory problems. Trauma during birth, haemorrhage and convulsions. Congenital abnormalities. Jaundice and infection. Metabolic and endocrine disorders and drug withdrawal.

Section 7: The context of midwifery practice: Pharmacology and childbirth. Complementary therapies in midwifery. Community, public health and social services. Midwifery supervision and clinical governance. Risk management in midwifery. Organisation of healthcare in the United Kingdom. International midwifery. Vital statistics.