High Risk Maternity Care

Although midwives usually work with healthy women, sadly there are still occasions where medical intervention is necessary. In order to minimise the danger to mothers, it is vital that midwives can recognise deterioration and are aware of what action to take. Taking into account recommendations made by successive CEMACE reports on maternal deaths, High Risk Maternity Care examines relevant pathophysiology and pharmacology, highlighting appropriate interventions and how to interpret indications of clinical deterioration.

This very practical textbook is divided into three parts covering assessment, intervention and developing midwifery practice. Each chapter includes learning outcomes, case studies, key points, a ‘priorities for midwifery practice’ section and further reading. The chapters also have ‘time out/.activity based’ sessions to encourage the reader to reflect on the content of the chapter and also help them to relate the content to their own clinical practice. There are chapters on:

Assessment * Respiratory Assessment * Pulse Oximetry * Arterial Blood Gas Analysis * Haemodynamic Monitoring * Recognising Common Dysrhythmias * Neurological Assessment * Fluids and Electrolyte Disturbances * Psychological Disturbances * Stress * Shock-ruptured Uterus * Antepartum Haemorrhage * Postpartum Haemorrhage * Acute Kidney Injury * Hypertensive Disorder Eclampsia / HELLP Syndrome * Haematological Disorders * Respiratory Failure * Diabetic Emergencies * Caring for the Unconscious Patient * Oxygen Therapy * Suctioning * NIV / CPAP / BiPAP * Resuscitation * Pain Control * Family Care * Sleep * Setting up a Midwifery High Dependency Area * Clinical Outreach * Ethical Implications * Cultural Diversity * Legal and Professional Implications * Practice Development

This text is suitable for midwifery students studying critical care in midwifery and high risk maternity care or undertaking placements in level two or three settings. It will also be a valuable reference work for qualified midwives, especially those working in hospital settings, and critical care nurses.

Tina Moore is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Health and Social Sciences, University of Middlesex, UK. She currently runs the acute care and high dependency modules at Middlesex and is the co-author of High Dependency Nursing Care, now in its second edition.

Wendy McCracken-Parker is currently a Module Leader and Acting Programme Leader for the 18 month midwifery programme at the University of Middlesex, UK.