In her book, midwife Ruth Ehrhardt very simply explores, as the title suggests, how the basic needs of labouring women can be met. It takes into consideration the subtle effect environmental factors have on labour and what those attending births need to be aware of. Drawing on the work of Michel Odent, it focuses quite plainly on the physiology of labour, childbirth and postpartum. This book is aimed at pregnant mothers as well as those attending births, whether in the capacity as caregiver (doctor, midwife, doula) or partner. "To bring together what is important in such a small number of pages is a feat. I hope that, on the five continents, all pregnant women, midwives, doulas, doctors, etc. will take the time to assimilate the contents of this chef d'oeuvre: it will be a turning point in the history of childbirth and therefore in the history of mankind." - Michel Odent

The main aim of this practical Handbookis to strengthen counselling and communication skills of skilled attendants (SAs) and other health providers, helping them to effectively discuss with women, families and communities the key issues surrounding pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum, postnatal and post-abortion care. Counselling for Maternal and Newborn Health Careis divided into three main sections. Part 1 is an introduction which describes the aims and objectives and the general layout of the Handbook. Part 2 describes the counselling process and outlines the six key steps to effective counselling. It explores the counselling context and factors that influence this context including the socio-economic, gender, and cultural environment. A series of guiding principles is introduced and specific counselling skills are outlined. Part 3 focuses on different maternal and newborn health topics, including general care in the home during pregnancy; birth and emergency planning; danger signs in pregnancy; post-abortion care; support during labor; postnatal care of the mother and newborn; family planning counselling; breastfeeding; women with HIV/AIDS; death and bereavement; women and violence; linking with the community. Each Session contains specific aims and objectives, clearly outlining the skills that will be developed and corresponding learning outcomes. Practical activities have been designed to encourage reflection, provoke discussions, build skills and ensure the local relevance of information. There is a review at the end of each session to ensure the SAs have understood the key points before they progress to subsequent sessions.

The delivery of high quality and equitable care for both mothers and newborns is complex and requires efforts across many sectors. The United States spends more on childbirth than any other country in the world, yet outcomes are worse than other high-resource countries, and even worse for Black and Native American women. There are a variety of factors that influence childbirth, including social determinants such as income, educational levels, access to care, financing, transportation, structural racism and geographic variability in birth settings. It is important to reevaluate the United States' approach to maternal and newborn care through the lens of these factors across multiple disciplines. Birth Settings in America: Outcomes, Quality, Access, and Choice reviews and evaluates maternal and newborn care in the United States, the epidemiology of social and clinical risks in pregnancy and childbirth, birth settings research, and access to and choice of birth settings.

Focusing on the wide spectrum of feelings that may arise when with child, this companion to the emotional journey caused by pregnancy, birth, and early parenting offers informative resources and homeopathic remedies for both parents-to-be and childbirth practitioners. With advice about laying fears to rest, keeping birth gentle, and protecting the baby-moon, this hand-held doula helps couples face the choices on their journey to parenthood as well as adjust to their new roles as parents, all the while emphasizing the spiritual journey of birth by putting the mother's emotional and spiritual needs before her physical requirements. Proposing that the experience of childbirth has the capacity to nourish rather than replete the soul, the book encourages women to take responsibility for their own birthing process and to surrender to their own instinctive powers rather than to those of medical intervention.

Intended to provide evidence-based recommendations to guide health care professionals in the management of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, and newborns, and the post abortion, including management of endemic deseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB and anaemia. This edition has been updated to include recommendations from recently approved WHO guidelines relevant to maternal and perinatal health. These include pre-eclampsia & eclampsia; postpartum haemorrhage; postnatal care for the mother and baby; newborn resuscitation; prevention of mother-to- child transmission of HIV; HIV and infant feeding; malaria in pregnancy, interventions to improve preterm birth outcomes, tobacco use and second-hand exposure in pregnancy, post-partum depression, post-partum family planning and post abortion care.

Since the middle of the twentieth century, the development of plastics has been one of the main factors influencing the history of medicine. This development has not only transformed most medical disciplines, it has also made possible the emergence of new medical concepts. Focusing on obstetrics, this first book about the history of medicine in relation to the plastic revolution asks vit al questions about childbirth today-and tomorrow- and demonstrates that this also a turning point in the history of humanity.

This guide provides a full range of updated, evidence-based norms and standards that will enable health care providers to give high quality care during pregnancy, delivery and in the postpartum period, considering the needs of the mother and her newborn baby. All recommendations are for skilled attendants working at the primary level of health care, either at the facility or in the community. They apply to all women attending antenatal care, in delivery, postpartum or post abortion care, or who come for emergency care, and to all newborns at birth and during the first week of life (or later) for routine and emergency care. This guide is a guide for clinical decision-making. It facilitates the collection; analysis, classification and use of relevant information by suggesting key questions, essential observations and/or examinations, and recommending appropriate research-based interventions. It promotes the early detection of complications and the initiation of early and appropriate treatment, including time referral, if necessary. Correct use of this guide should help reduce high maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity rates prevalent in many parts of the developing world, thereby making pregnancy and childbirth safer.