Oxford Handbook of Midwifery (2 page)

v

Foreword from the first edition

Midwifery is the art of the possibility. It requires insight, understanding and empathy. Above all it is about delivering the information and serv- ices, which women and their families need. In the rapidly changing field of health and social care this is no mean feat and in spite of the advances of technology and information retrieval, access to a handbook is as invalu- able as ever.

I have been privileged to be involved in the development of the first
Oxford Handbook of Midwifery
and am aware of the enthusiasm, commitment and attention to detail that the authors have strived for in bringing this publication from ‘conception to birth’. Throughout they have sought to provide an important, informative and evidence based tool for midwives and others working in maternity and family health services. In its construction, the handbook reflects the woman’s journey through childbirth as well as the context in which maternity and midwifery care is delivered.

It is my view that the
Oxford Handbook of Midwifery
will provide an important foundation upon which current and future student midwives might begin to plan and develop their professional knowledge and practice skills. For qualified midwives, junior doctors and other healthcare professionals the handbook provides a framework and ready reference upon which they can advance their knowledge and understanding. It enables easy access to essential elements of midwifery care and will certainly help midwives more effectively structure the information and advice they give to women.

This is a welcomed addition to the midwifery literature and a resource which is likely to become part and parcel of the midwife’s ‘bag of tools’. I commend this work to the profession and trust that it will aid midwives and other healthcare professionals in meeting the demands and challenges of health service provision in the 21
^st
century.

Professor Paul Lewis Academic Head of Midwifery & Child Health

Bournemouth University

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Preface

vii

Since the first edition of the
Oxford Handbook of Midwifery
was pub- lished in 2006, maternity services and midwifery education face further challenges and developments. The structure of the health service is to undergo radical change and midwifery education is now offered at degree level in all UK universities. Influential Department of Health initiatives focus on the wider public health role of the midwife and strengthen the place of the midwife as the key organiser of care for all pregnant women, regardless of the risk factors women may face
¹
.

This book continues to be a handy reference guide for both Midwives and Student Midwives. It has been updated to reflect current guidelines and protocols in both obstetric and midwifery practice. New chapters are included on the impact of obesity during pregnancy and diabetes. Many chapters have been substantially revised or rewritten to reflect the changing nature of midwifery practice. There is a brand new section on sexual health with many aspects included for the first time and the contraception section provides the latest advice on new contraceptive methods.

This edition provides concise, practical and accessible content about the essential elements of midwifery practice in a pocket sized format. Chapters provide information on assessment, diagnosis, management and advice to give to the mother and family. The chapters are arranged so that the journey from pregnancy to birth and beyond can be followed easily. The page-to-a-topic format, followed through the majority of the book, means that information is easily available without the need to scan large volumes of text to find relevant principles. In the centre of the book there is a useful section on emergencies, marked by full-length blue page borders, so that it can be found quickly.

Although the book is intended for use by midwives and students it will also prove useful to others who work with women and families such as health visitors, community nurses, general practitioner trainees, childbirth educators and medical students. The book is illustrated throughout by diagrams, checklists and algorithms for key interventions.

1
Department of Health (2010).
Midwifery 2020: Delivering expectations
. London: Department of Health.

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ix

Acknowledgements

In producing a second edition of the book we are indebted to a number of people who have assisted us along the way. As authors we could not have produced the book without the excellent support of the editorial team at Oxford University Press. Anna Winstanley and Beth Womack have very patiently guided us through the process once again. Many thanks for your patience and support. Thanks also to Michael Hawkes for last minute advice and guidance.

Grateful thanks also to the Jessop Wing Maternity Unit, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust; for access to guidelines, evidence based protocols and care pathways.

Angela Thurlby contributed chapters on neonatal care in our first edition and has kindly reviewed and updated these; thank you Angela.

Finally, our search for illustrations and the process of gaining permission to use the work of others has proved more arduous than expected. We are therefore particularly indebted to Stella Medforth for producing such beautifully clear drawings at very short notice to illustrate the care in labour chapters.

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xi

Contents

Detailed contents
xiii

Contributor
xxiii

Symbols and abbreviations
xxv

Part 1
Introduction

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 Helping women cope with pregnancy:

8

9 Recognizing and managing

10

Part 2
Normal labour