INDICE: SECTION 1: BASIC SCIENCE IN OBSTETRICS. 1 Continuum of obstetrics. 2 Anatomy of the female pelvis. 3 Fertilisation, early development and implantation. 4 The placenta, membrances and umbilical cord. 5 Development of the embryo and fetus. 6 Maternal physiology in pregnancy. 7 Immunology in pregnancy. SECTION 2: NORMAL ANTENATAL CARE. 8 Antenatal Care. 9 Assessment of early pregnancy. 10 Fetal assessment in pregnancy. SECTION 3: ABNORMAL ANTENATAL CARE. 11 Assisted reproduction. 12 Antenatal diagnosis of fetal abnormalities. 13 Fetalgrowth restriction; small for gestational age. 14 Bleeding in pregnancy. 15 Multiple pregnancy. 16 Red cell isoimmunization in pregnancy. 17 Cardiovasculardisoders in pregnancy. 18 Medical disorders in pregnancy. 19 Psychiatric problems in pregnancy and puerperium. 20 Coagulation defects in pregnancy and puerperium. 21 Hypertension in pregnancy. 22 Infections in pregnancy. 23 Urinary tract in pregnancy. SECTION 4: NORMAL LABOUR. 24 The labouring mother. 25 The physiology and endocrinology of labour. 26 The management of labour. 27 Fetal monitoring in labour. 28 Analgesia and anaesthesia. 29 The midwife's role in pregnancy and labour. 30 The future of labour management. SECTION 5: ABNORMAL LABOUR. 31 Preterm labour and delivery of the preterm infant. 32 Prolonged pregnancy. 33 Abnormal uterine contractions and cephalo-pelvic disproportion. 34 Abnormal fetal presentation and position. 35 Induction and augmentation of labour. 36 Operative vaginal deliveries. 37 Caesarean section. 38 Postpartum haemorrhage and abnormalities of the third stage of labour. SECTION 6: PUERPERIUM. 39 The physiology of the puerperium. 40 Lactation. 41 Puerperal sepsis. 42 Venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. SECTION 7: THE BABY. 43 The newborn. 44 Effects of perinatal death. 45 Obstetrical responsibility for abnormal fetal or neonatal outcome. Section 8: The Reproductive Database. 46 Birth Rates. 47 Perinatal Mortality. 48 Maternal Mortality. SECTION 9: LEGAL PROBLEMS. 49 Medicolegal aspects. SECTION 10: RESEARCH. 50 Research in obstetrics and gynaecology.