Contents:

What's New in the 3rd edition: Chapter 3: expands on the scope of practice, competencies and legislative risk for midwives in South Africa, with reference to `caring as a competency'; Chapters 10-13: strengthened focus on psycho-social and cultural aspects of pregnancy and birth including the role of the father, an understanding of `good enough mothering', violence against women, special mental health needs in pregnancy and birth, and issues of loss and grief; Previous Chapter 17 is divided into two new chapters: new Chapter 17 focuses on antenatal care whilst Chapter 18 focuses on follow up-care and fetal surveillance; Chapter 33: covers life-saving obstetric interventions such as caesarean section, and general and regional anaesthetics in obstetrics. (Previous Chapter 32 has been divided and renumbered as Chapters 33 & 34); Chapter 34: (previously Chapter 32) covers essential obstetric interventions including induction of labour, termination of pregnancy, assisted deliveries, and external cephalic version; Chapter 36: (previously Chapters 34 & 35) combines the physiology and psychology of the puerperium; Chapter 43: (previously Chapters 42, 44 & 47) combines the chapters on birth defects and abnormalities; Chapter 45: this chapter on respiratory disorders of the newborn includes Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) as best practice for new born resuscitation; Chapter 48: includes updated information on contraception and fertility planning; Chapter 50: updated to include information on specific infections in obstetrics; Chapter 51: updated to include TB and HIV care, both prevalent causes of maternal mortality; Selected practical procedures have been included to benefit the students.