Medical professionals are often involved in the management of the pregnant patient without necessarily being experts on all the complications surrounding pregnancy. The Handbook of Obstetric Medicine addresses the most common and serious medical conditions encountered in pregnancy, including heart disease, thromboembolism, diabetes, skin problems, gastrointestinal disease, neurological problems, hormonal diseases, hypertension and pre-eclampsia, and more. For each condition, the handbook includes a description of incidence, clinical features, pathogenesis, diagnosis, the effect of pregnancy, and management of the condition. The book also includes a detailed section focusing on the differential diagnosis of common symptoms including hypertension, chest pain, palpitations, breathlessness, headaches, dizziness, abdominal pain, and more. The symptoms and differential diagnoses are presented in an easy-to-read tabular format and include a description of important clinical features and potential areas of investigation. For those clinicians understandably reluctant to prescribe drugs during pregnancy, a useful appendix includes a section on prescribing in pregnancy and a list of contra-indicated drugs. In addition, to assist in the interpretation of laboratory tests, a second appendix lists normal laboratory values in pregnancy, broken down by trimester. Pre -pregnancy counselling and postnatal follow up are vital in the holistic management of women with medical problems and this includes appropriate contraceptive advice. A third appendix has therefore been added as a ready reference for clinicians not familiar with effective contraception. The new edition remains a pragmatic and easy-to-use design by including tables, bullets, and "Points to remember" boxes for ease of reference. It is an essential on-the-spot guide for obstetricians, physicians, general practitioners, and midwives in both practice and training. Catherine Nelson-Piercy, MA, FRCP, FRCOG Past President, International Society of Obstetric Medicine, Professor of Obstetric Medicine, King's College London, Co-founding Editor-in-Chief, Obstetric Medicine Praise for previous editions: "This is an excellent handbook of obstetric medicine, which deserves to be on the shelves of all actively practicing obstetricians."-British Medical Association Medical Book Awards "This book gets it just right and is a true handbook, easy to read, accessible and is not too large but packs in a lot of useful and relevant information." - Glycosmedia

Recognition of the importance of maternal medicine is now reflected in the content of the MRCOG exam, core training and higher training in both obstetrics and medicine. This book approaches obstetric medicine from the point of view of real patients and clinical scenarios as well as model answers to exam questions. The book will be invaluable for trainees and consultants who want to test themselves .

All cardiologists will be called on to assess and manage pregnant women, however the majority have had little or no training in the subject. In the same way, obstetricians assess women with cardiac conditions, and therefore require the knowledge to both refer patients with heart disease as well as to manage them through the pregnancy. However a recent enquiry into maternal deaths has highlighted that morbidity and mortality of women with heart disease in pregnancy has continued to increase over the last 15 years and substandard care has been identified in 40% of cases. Recommendations have been made that women with, or at risk of, heart disease are screened and counselled on the appropriate risks of undergoing a pregnancy, and as a result all physicians involved need a good understanding of the subject and access to the relevant information.
A concise handbook written for cardiology and obstetric trainees and consultants, as well as specialist nurses and midwives, Heart Disease in Pregnancy provides a detailed introduction to the physiological changes of pregnancy and gives practical advice on the management of women with heart disease who are pregnant or who are considering pregnancy. It also provides the relevant obstetric knowledge and processes needed for a cardiologist to successfully manage a pregnant woman.

With higher risks to mother and baby in pregnant women with renal disease, critical decision-making is key. Giving practical guidance for antenatal, post-partum and maternity unit challenges, this book supports good practice and evidence-based management. The book includes evidence on antenatal and post-partum care; management of acute kidney injury in the delivery suite; and care guidelines for acute, chronic, and previously undiagnosed kidney diseases. The book also covers acute kidney injury, transplant, dialysis, pre-conception counselling, and medications. Previously published by RCOG, this revised edition includes: * Updated expert consensus statements * Complete revision, with a new chapter on contraception * Updates in management of acute kidney injury, hypertension, dialysis and pregnancy, renal transplantation and pre-eclampsia. Structured to help clinicians make decisions, this book is for use by obstetricians, renal physicians, maternal medicine clinicians, midwives, urologists and specialist nurses.