Future of the maternity services

"This century has seen a massive improvement in the safety of childbrith for both mother and baby, following the work of doctors and midwives and the improved health of women who have better nutrition and education. For the mother, pregnancy and childbirth is one of life's great experiences; for the baby it is the beginning of independent life. In consequence, pregnancy and labour are processes to be guided with a sensitive hand; it is hoped that most doctors and midwives in the Western world do this, but sadly this is not always so. The Department of Health's Report on Changing Childbirth showed many good practices going on in the United Kingdom, but their use is by no means universal. Following publication of the report and the ensuing public discussion, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, jointly with the Royal College of Midwives and the Royal College of General Practitioners, held a two-day Study Group. Midwives, GPs, obstetricians, health educators, neonatologists, anaesthetists and representatives of the women having babies discussed the best ways to take forward ideas into the future maternity service. The papers given and edited discussions are presented in this volume for a wider public to read."--Back cover.