The Midwife's Labour and Birth Handbook

This fully revised and updated third edition of The Midwife's Labour and Birth Handbook is a practical and accessible guide to midwifery care. It addresses important questions such as: If shoulder dystocia is anticipated, why not encourage all-fours birth as prevention in preference to a semi-recumbent position? Why not leave the baby requiring resuscitation attached to its oxygen supply - the umbilical cord - when undertaking initial bag and mask ventilation? Why are those who opt for vaginal breech birth rarely encouraged to have an upright labour and birth? Why is skin-to-skin contact at birth so rarely offered to well preterm babies when there is evidence of benefit? This well-regarded text promotes normality and woman-centred care, using research, evidence-based guidelines and anecdotal accounts from women. It challenges practice and guidelines which are biased or based on poor evidence. Guidance is offered on how to deal with difficult, sometimes controversial, situations. The Midwife's Labour and Birth Handbook is an essential guide for both student midwives and experienced practising midwives. New to this edition Full colour photographs including a kneeling breech birth Suturing diagrams to assist left-handed midwives Expanded chapters on slow progress in labour and malposition/malpresentations, including a rare photograph of a face presentation birth