Professor G. Justus HofmeyrDirector/Hon Professor, Effective Care Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, University of Fort Hare, Eastern Cape Department of Health, Frere and Cecilia Makiwane Hospitals, South Africa. Prof Zarko AlfirevicProfessor of Fetal and Maternal Medicine Division of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Liverpool, UK. Caroline A. CrowtherAssociate Professor, Dept Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Adelaide, South Africa. Lelia DuleyObstetric Epidemiologist, Institute of Health Sciences, Oxford, UK. Dr A Metin GülmezogluDepartment of Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization. Mrs Gillian? ML GyteCochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group, Division of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, The University of Liverpool, UK. Ellen D. HodnettProfessor James P. Neilson, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Liverpool, UK.

"Pregnancy and Childbirth presents the best evidence for the care of pregnant women to doctors, midwives, students and parents." (Doody's Reviews)

• Foreword. Preface.How to use this book.What is evidence?The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group.Scope of this book.Methods for the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth.Group reviews.Abridgement of the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth abstracts in this book.Systematic review protocols.Effectiveness icons.How to locate the original review.A brief guide to the format of results in Cochrane reviews.Acknowledgements.Authors.Chapter 1. The Context of Care for Pregnant Women. Chapter 2. Antenatal Care.2.1 Pre-pregnancy evaluation.2.2 General antenatal care.2.3 Behaviour/advice during pregnancy.2.4 Nutrition during pregnancy.2.5 Weight gain in pregnancy.2.6 Symptoms during pregnancy.2.7 Use of medicines during pregnancy.2.8 Miscarriage.Chapter 3. Medical Problems During Pregnancy.3.1 Hypertension during pregnancy. 3.2 Anaemia during pregnancy.3.3 Diabetes mellitus. 3.4 Thrombocytopenia.3.5 Inherited coagulation defects.3.6 Thrombophilias.3.7 Haemoglobinopathies.3.8 Thromboembolic disease.3.9 Myasthenia Gravis.3.10 Cardiac disease.3.11 Renal disease.3.12 Epilepsy.3.13 Human immunodeficiency virus infection (HIV). 3.14 Other viral infections. 3.15 Malaria.3.16 Other infections.3.17 Respiratory illness.3.18 Liver disease.3.19 Thyroid disease.3.20 Haemorrhoids.3.21 Psychiatric disorders.3.22 Skin diseases.Chapter 4. Disorders Affecting the Unborn Baby.4.1 Routine assessment of the baby during pregnancy.4.2 Prenatal diagnosis.4.3 Impaired growth and wellbeing of the unborn baby.4.4 Blood group incompatibilities – prevention and treatment.4.5 Death of the unborn baby.Chapter 5. Pregnancy Complications.5.1 Prelabour rupture of membranes.5.2 Preterm birth.5.3 Prolonged pregnancy.5.4 Multiple pregnancy.5.5 Antepartum haemorrhage.5.6 Infection during pregnancy.Chapter 6. Induction of Labour.6.1 Specific indications for labour induction.6.2 Techniques of labour induction – primary reviews.6.3 Techniques of labour induction – secondary reviews.Chapter 7. Care During Childbirth.7.1 Place of birth.7.2 Routine care during labour.7.3 Pain during labour.7.4 Slow progress during labour.7.5 Shoulder dystocia.7.6 Abnormal presentations and positions of the baby.7.7 Babies with compromised condition during labour .7.8 Cord prolapse.7.9 Perineal trauma.7.10 Operative vaginal birth.7.11 Caesarean section.7.12 Pregnancy following caesarean section.7.13 Extrauterine pregnancy.7.14 Postpartum haemorrhage and retained placenta.7.15 Inversion of the uterus. Chapter 8. Care After Childbirth.8.1 Basic care of mother and baby.8.2 Perineal pain.8.3 Family planning.8.4 Perinatal death.8.5 Medical conditions after childbirth.8.6 Unhappiness after childbirth.8.7 Breastfeeding.Chapter 9. Rogues’ Gallery.Index.