Includes bibliographical references and index.

Labour and normal birth / Cathy Charles -- Vaginal examination and artificial rupture of the membranes / Vicky Chapman -- Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour / Bryony Read -- Perineal trauma and suturing / Vicky Chapman -- Examination of the newborn baby at birth / Caroline Rutter -- Home birth / Janet Gwillam -- Water for labour and birth / Cathy Charles & Vicky Chapman -- Slow progress and malpresentations/malpositions in labour / Vicky Chapman -- Assisted birth: ventouse and forceps / Cathy Charles -- Caesarean section / Cathy Charles -- Vaginal birth after caesarean section / Vicky Chapman -- Preterm birth / Vicky Chapman -- Breech birth / Lesley Shuttler -- Twins and higher order births / Jo Coggins -- Haemorrhage / Sheila Miskelly -- Emergencies in labour and birth / Sheila Miskelly -- Neonatal and maternal resuscitation / Nick Castle -- Induction of labour / Mary-Lou Elliott -- Pre-eclampsia / Annette Briley -- Stillbirth and neonatal death / Cathy Charles & Barbara Kavanagh -- Bullying and assertiveness / Hilary Field -- Risk management, litigation, and complaints / Cathy Charles -- Intrapartum blood tests / Julie Davies -- Medicines and the midwife / Vicky Chapman & Sheila Miskelly.