Midwifery Emergencies At A Glance

Midwifery Emergencies at a Glance is a succinct, illustrated guide covering the practical skills needed to manage obstetric and midwifery emergencies, as well as high-risk midwifery care. It provides clear guidance on the factors which predispose to complications so that preventative management can be employed whenever possible.  Broad-ranging yet easy-to-read, Midwifery Emergencies at a Glance details the underlying physiology and pathophysiology related to the emergency and explores both the physical and psychological care of the woman, partner and newborn during and following the emergency. 

Key features:

• Evidence-based, with guidance from the NMC, RCOG, NICE, and The Resuscitation Council
• Presented in an innovative, visual style that makes the key concepts easy to understand
• Provides helpful websites that expand on various topics as well as providing information on support groups for the woman and her family

Midwifery Emergencies at a Glance is an ideal guide for practising midwives, pre‐registration student midwives, general practitioners and junior doctors to support both revision and clinical practice. 

Preface viii

Abbreviations ix

About the companion website x

Part 1 Professional issues 1

Section 1 Professionalism

1 Professional standards 2

2 Communications during an emergency 4

Part 2 Emergency skills 7

Section 2 Resuscitation

3 Maternal resuscitation 8

4 Neonatal resuscitation 10

Section 3 Haemorrhage

5 Antepartum haemorrhage 14

6 Primary postpartum haemorrhage 16

7 Secondary postpartum haemorrhage 18

Section 4 Malpresentations and multiple pregnancy

8 Occipito posterior positions 20

9 Face and brow presentations 22

10 Breech presentations 24

11 Cord presentation and prolapse 26

12 Twins 28

Section 5 Dystocia

13 Shoulder dystocia 30

14 Uterine dystocia – failure to progress 32

Section 6 Placental separation problems

15 Manual removal of the placenta 34

16 Adhered or partially adhered placenta 36

Section 7 Uterine emergencies

17 Uterine inversion 38

18 Uterine rupture and scar dehiscence 40

Part 3 Medical and psychological emergencies 43

Section 8 Psychological disorders

19 Post-traumatic stress disorder 44

20 Postnatal depression (mood disorder) 46

21 Puerperal (postpartum) psychosis 48

Section 9 Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

22 Pre-eclampsia 50

23 Eclampsia 52

Section 10 Embolic and coagulation disorders

24 Venous thromboembolism 54

25 Amniotic fluid embolism 56

26 Disseminated intravascular coagulation 58

Section 11 Preterm labour

27 Prelabour rupture of membranes 60

28 Preterm labour and delivery 62

Part 4 Associated skills 65

Section 12 Instrumental and Operative deliveries

29 Instrumental vaginal delivery 66

30 Preparation and transfer to the operating theatre 68

31 Role of the scrub midwife or nurse 70

32 Receiving the baby in the operating theatre 72

33 Immediate care following surgery 74

Section 13 Fetal surveillance

34 Electronic fetal monitoring – actions following a suspicious or pathological trace 76

35 Fetal scalp electrode 78

36 Fetal blood sampling 80

Section 14 Maternal monitoring

37 Recognising the deteriorating woman 82

38 Examination per vaginam 84

39 Speculum examination 86

40 Urinary catheterisation 88

Section 15 Venous skills

41 V