A Book for Midwives - new printing!

A Book for Midwives
Care for pregnancy, birth, and women's health
by Susan Klein, Suellen Miller, and Fiona Thomson
544 pages, paperback, illustrated
English ed. ISBN13: 978-0942364-23-1
Revised December 2009

Originally published in 1995, A Book for Midwives has proved a vital resource for practicing midwives and midwifery training programs around the world. The new edition is now available, and has been extensively updated and revised to reflect new WHO/UNICEF guidelines and standards for mothers and newborns.This book covers the essentials of care before, during, and after birth, providing a variety of designs for low-cost equipment and training materials.

This latest edition includes new information on helping women stay healthy during pregnancy; helping mothers have safer labors and births; preventing, managing, and treating obstetric emergencies; breastfeeding; the health needs of new babies; and involving the community in improving the health of mothers and pregnant women. It also includes new information about treatment and medications for HIV and other STIs; vaccinations, medicines, and drug interactions; infection prevention; improved methods for dealing with complicated deliveries; and new and updated information on family planning.

Heavily illustrated, clearly written, and developed with the participation of community-based midwives, midwifery trainers, and medical specialists around the world, it is equally useful in a rural village or urban clinic, as a training manual for students or as a reference for an experienced midwife.

Related Materials

• Download this book on our Free Downloads page.
• Available in Spanish: Un libro para parteras.
• If you are interested in women's health, you may also find interest in Where Women Have No Doctor, our general health care manual for women, and A Health Handbook for Women with Disabilities. Additionally, please see our women's health newsletter, the Women's Health Exchange.

What people have to say about A Book for Midwives:

"As in Where There is No Doctor, the Hesperian Foundation has again created a clearly written and culturally sensitive book which can be used by healthcare providers throughout the world who care for women and their babies and families...an excellent resource providing accurate technical information."
-Kathy Herschderfer, Secretary General
International Confederation of Midwives

"This comprehensive text for midwives is beautifully written and illustrated for teaching purposes in areas of the world in which maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality are quite high. The book is our best tool so far for preventing unnecessary deaths."
-Ina May Gaskin, author of Spiritual Midwifery