Alexander Heazell is a Clinical Research Fellow at the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre of the University of Manchester. John Clift is a Lead Obstetric Anaesthetist at the City Hospital, Birmingham.

• Dedications; Acknowledgements; Abbreviations; 1. Maternal physiology and obstetrics John Clift; 2. Antenatal care Clare Tower; 3. Induction of labour Rebekah Samangaya; 4. Normal labour Sarah Vause; 5. Abnormal labour Jenny Myers; 6. Fetal monitoring Justine Nugent; 7. Operative delivery Jo Gillham; 8. Pre-eclampsia and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy Egidio Da Silva and Wilson Chimbira; 9. Obstetric haemorrhage Alexander Heazell; 10. Thromboembolic disorders Mark Tindall; 11. Infection Paul Dias; 12. Life support and obstetrics Julian Chilvers; 13. Drugs used in obstetrics Lisa Penney; 14. Confidential enquiry into fetal, neonatal and maternal death Katie Clift; Appendix; Index.

'The aim of this book is to provide a core understanding of obstetrics relevant to anaesthetic practice … this is accomplished with clarity and great readability. A pocket-sized paperback, this is a concise manual of obstetric terminology and procedures with implications for anaesthesia. It will be of value not only to anaesthetists but to a wider audience including obstetric trainees and midwives … It is easy to read, provides essential basic obstetric information and is a useful quick reference handbook.' International Journal of Obstetric Anaesthesia