The 21st edition of this standard reference book – now published in English for the first time -provides indispensable, hands-on information for the delivery room, as well as before and after childbirth. The book combines proven facts and techniques with new insights through a consistent focus on practical and applied knowledge. All of those involved in the care of pregnant, laboring, and post natal women and newborn can benefit from the established didactic concept of this book.

The objective of this book is to provide a source of aid for health care providers for mothers and their unborn or newborn child. With enthusiasm, I looked forward to the translation and adaptation of the 21st edition of the German textbook Praktische Geburtshilfe into English and its publication under the current title Practical Obstetrics. The manuscript reflects the current state of the obstetrical and neonatal art in the globalized world of medicine. We were keen to reach a balance between the science of medicine and practical patient care, principles of practice, policies, and regulation of most professional and academic organizations, guidelines, and recommendations. I am very thankful to Sue Travis for the careful translation of the German manuscript into English. I am indebted for advice from Dr. Paul Ogburn, New York and Doha, and Dr. Alfredo Gei, Houston, and also from Lisa Austin, Chicago and Doha, in the adaptation to American policies and procedures.

About the Author

Contents

۱ Physiology
۲ Diagnosis of pregnancy
۳ Prenatal care
۴ Maternal disorders in pregnancy
۵ Problems in the second half of pregnancy
۶ Disorders of the fetus
۷ Normal labor
۸ Pathological labor
۹ Obstetrical operations
۱۰ Antepartum and postpartum hemorrhage
۱۱ Normal puerperium
۱۲ Pathological puerperium
۱۳ The newborn