The Midwife's Labour and Birth Handbook 3rd Edition

“With this latest edition, the authors have supplied a guide to contemporary midwifery practice that will be useful to both new and experienced midwives, and indeed to anyone involved with the care of mother and baby in the labour and birth setting. Highly recommended.”  (Nursing Times, 5 August 2014)

“This is a useful book, written at a level that students can clearly follow and easily understand.”  (Doody’s, 7 March 2014)

“It is not an exhaustive textbook of midwifery practice, but, rather, a very helpful handbook that the student will find invaluable for review and the experienced, seasoned midwife can use to maintain currency with evidence-based practice.”  (Birth, 3 September 2013)

“The Midwife’s Labour and Birth Handbook appears in its third updated edition to provide a fine survey fully revised and updated for the latest midwifery practices. From professional questions in birthing options and recommendations based on anticipated issues to breech births, skin-to-skin contact at birth, and guidelines based on poor evidence and how to overcome them, this is a solid reference that includes new color photos, suturing diagrams to assist left-handed midwives, and expanded chapters on malposition and slow labor. At each step of the birth, midwifery requirements and recommendations are covered in depth, making for a fine reference loaded with bibliographical references and best practices based on the latest research.”  (Midwest Book Reviews, 1 July 2013)

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 3rd Edition 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