Product DescriptionThe second edition of A guide to effective care in pregnancy and childbirth will be invaluable to anyone involved in the care of pregnant women, and to expectant parents. The book is about the effects of care given and received during pregnancy and childbirth. Fifteen years ago the authors began a systematic review of the evidence. They analysed more than 7000 of the best clinical research studies, and classified the elements of care as effective, promising, not proven either way, or not worth using. The result of this work was two major publications: Effective care in pregnancy and childbirth and a regularly updated electronic database of reviews.All the main findings and conclusions of these publications are available here in an easily readable, inexpensive, and updated form. The new edition is extensively revised and rewritten, incorporating the results of the important evidence about the effects of care during pregnancy and childbirth that has accumulated since the first edition was published. The first edition received critical acclaim because its conclusions were based on sound evidence and has become a unique reference source for evaluating care policies and practices.Review`A gem. It is one of those books that an owner will have to replace every year because it will be so worn out from constant use... To say that this book should be `required reading' is not enough; it deserves `required ownership'!' BirthFrom reviews of the first editionThere are few books that can be considered `essential' reading in obstetrics but this is certainly one of them. Maternal and Child HealthA gem. It is one of those books that an owner will have to replace every year because it will be so worn out from constant use... To say that this book should be `required reading' is not enough; it deserves `requred ownership'! BirthToo good to be true! This is the midwives bible. MIDIRS`a must for all midwives and for anyone working with expectant parents... It provides quick, easy access to the conclusions of carefully assessed research... An invaluable resource... It is crucial that this second edition of the guide replaces the first edition, as there is important new evidence and modifications to conclusions which need to be heeded. The invitation to readers to bring omissions and mistakes to the attention of the editors can only serve to improve the already high quality of these publications.' MIDIRS Midwifery Digest (Sep 1995) 5:3`Excellent. Those who have not seen it should take the time to become familiar with this "bible" of maternity care. This small volume has become the reference text for anyone who is serious about practising obstetrics using the best evidence available... this book is a useful update and refinement of the original work that revolutionized obstetrics textbooks.' Anthony J. Reid, University of Toronto, Canadian Family Physician, (vol. 42, June 1996)`it is timely that the second edition has been published... The size of the book means that it is affordable and easily referred to in a clinic, a ward, a delivery suite or an office.' British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, July 1996, Vol. 103, 1996`This guide has enabled all those engaged in providing maternity care to base their practice on a sound foundation and the new edition enables them to update their knowledge. Those who do not yet own a copy are strongly advised to buy one now; those who have the first edition would find enough new material to justify its purchase.' Luke Zander, Family Practice, Vol. 13, No. 6, 1996`The bible of research-based care... the tome for assessing what's helpful and unhelpful in maternity care.' Heather Welford, The IndependentAbout the AuthorMurray W. Enkin is Professor of Obstetrics at McMaster University, Canada. Mar J. N. C. Keirse is professor of Obstetrics at the University of Leiden, Netherlands. james Neilson is Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Liverpool Universi