Ostetricia Illustrata

426-page volume with 850 illustrations.

This is the first edition of the textbook in which none of the original authors has been directly involved. Kevin Hanretty has joined the author of the fourth edition and Ian Ramsden has replaced Robin Callander as illustrator.

The authors have revised the text to reflect current changes and to give greater emphasis to new developments in clinical practice, while preserving the spirit of the original work. The aim is to provide an accessible understanding of modern obstetric practice for medical students, junior doctors, trainees and midwives.

Ian Ramsden has produced new illustrations and updated many of the existing ones. In several sections the authors sought advice from colleagues, including Dr Tom Turner (neonatal paediatrician), Mrs Dorothy Sorley (physiotherapist) and Mrs Ann MacKenzie (head of psychoprophylaxis services.

Obstetrics remains a delicate specialty in which a normal situation can rapidly become critical. For most women pregnancy is a physiological process with a favourable outcome, and enabling women to take care of themselves during pregnancy is widely recognised as important. However, there should be no compromise on safety for mothers and babies: good obstetric care must be based on sound understanding and careful attention to detail in order to detect abnormalities as early as possible.