Preterm Birth

Naomi Carlisle is a midwifery lecturer at King’s College London, UK. She recently defended her PhD thesis regarding implementation of the preterm birth pathway in England, and has previously worked clinically in the Preterm Birth Surveillance Clinic at St Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK.Jenny Carter is a midwife and Senior Research Fellow at King’s College London and the Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Birth Research. Her PhD thesis focused on risk assessment in threatened preterm labour and development of the QUiPP app. She is a founder member of the UK Preterm Clinical Network, and she also works clinically in the Preterm Surveillance Clinic at St Thomas’ Hospital.

• 1.Why midwives need to know about preterm birth. 2.Causes of spontaneous preterm birth. 3.Risk factors for spontaneous preterm birth. 4.Specialist care for the woman at risk. 5.Interventions to prevent spontaneous preterm birth. 6.Interventions to reduce risk of neonatal mortality and morbidities. 7.Care of the woman in threatened preterm labour. 8.Care of the woman in hospital and preparation for preterm birth. 9.What the future may hold for preterm birth prediction and prevention. x.Appendix: Organisations providing support and information

This comprehensive and clear handbook should be an essential on every midwife’s reading list… The authors pay special attention to balancing practical pre-term birth knowledge with the experiences of women and the sensitivity that this topic requires. They include accounts from women, and they also approach the information around care of babies who are significantly premature, or less than 24 weeks with clarity and compassion… Overall, this book was informative, easy to digest and easy to refer back to in practice.Vic Holyoak, Book review for The Practising Midwife This must-read handbook is a comprehensive, factual and informative handbook, and an excellent resource for midwives and students. The chapters are full of essential knowledge, that assists the reader in understanding the risks, causes, prediction markers and interventions associated with preterm birth and the specialist care required.Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent OBE, Chief Midwife, International Confederation of Midwives (ICM)Preterm birth is complex, and strategies to tackle this enormous problem are rapidly evolving. This is an excellent resource, written by clinicians with immense experience, clearly written and easy to understand, covering both essential and contemporary knowledge in the subject. I can highly recommend it.Professor Andrew Shennan OBE, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Preterm Birth Committee Chair (2021-2023)A fantastic resource for midwives and student midwives wishing to gain a greater insight into all aspects of preterm birth. This book is comprehensive and highly informative. A must read for clinical midwives looking to improve preterm birth services.Gemma Miller, Preterm birth specialist midwives NHS Networks ChairA great resource for midwives looking after those women at risk of spontaneous preterm birth with lots of useful tips.Professor Anna David, University College London