This is a great book – and one that every midwife, doula and childbirth educator should possess! It covers all sorts of tricks, techniques and tips which you can use in practice to help solve potential problems. From OP positioning to prolonged second stage, there are suggestions of things you – and women - can try, and little pictures throughout which help you see how the suggestions work. The handbook also includes information on why some of the 'modern' approaches to childbirth (such as encouraging directed pushing and the 'stranded beetle' position) are problematic.
If there is a 'down side', it would be that, while the knowledge held in this little book is very useful, it's not the be all and end all of midwifery knowledge – for sure, it should be used in conjunction with material from other sources. No guide is going to be able to look from all angles or cover all of the issues which women and midwives face during labour. But then it never pretends to be more than it is: a useful book to have around. (While this one is smaller than the average book, I'm hoping the next edition might be even smaller, to make it easier to carry around in a pocket.)
With the original sources well referenced, this is a guide which might help you through difficulties but which will also enable you to follow up areas of interest. I can honestly say that, since this book came out, I haven't attended a birth without it!
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