Life Saving Skills Manual. Essential Obstetric and Newborn Care

Description

Each year, more than 500 000 women worldwide die from complications of pregnancy and childbirth - one every minute. Many more survive but will suffer ill health and disability as a result of these complications. At least 80% of deaths result from five complications that are well understood and can be readily treated. We know how to prevent these deaths - there are existing effective medical and surgical interventions that are relatively inexpensive.

This manual is structured around the leading causes of maternal mortality and the delivery of basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric care. It is meant for use by all those healthcare providers who mainly work in resource-poor settings, trying to save lives in sometimes very difficult situations, including midwives, clinical officers, medical assistants and doctors.

Table of contents:

1. Communication, triage and referral
2. Resucitation of mother and neonate
3. Shock and the unconscious patient
4. Severe pre-ecampsia and eclampsia
5. Haemorrhage
6. Obstructed labour
7. Sepsis
8. Assisted delivery
9. Common obstetric emergencies
10. Complications of abortion

• Appendix 1: Supporting normal birth
• Appendix 2: Partograph
• Appendix 3: Essential drugs and immunisations with dosage and estimated need for pregnancy, childbirth and newborn care