Varney's Midwifery

From The Critics

Reviewer: Brenda Alexander, MSN, CNM(University of Kentucky College of Nursing)
Description: This guide for midwifery practice includes an introduction to midwifery; healthcare of women; antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care; and a section on newborn care. The last section describes specific skills used by midwives. This third edition is expanded from the 1987 version to include updates in practice and more chapters on primary care.
Purpose: This book provides a primary reference reflective of current midwifery practice. Some chapters tend to focus on specific issues and ignore broader subjects, i.e., midlife health, with nothing on teenagers and reproductive issues; exercise rather an overall chapter on health promotion; and a chapter on HIV that could also encompass chronic health conditions and their influence on reproductive health.
Audience: The book serves as a reference for midwifery students and beginning practitioners.
Features: Illustrations are useful; more would be helpful. The references are current and pertinent. The table of contents and index are adequate; chapters are broken down into subheadings, making it easy to locate information. The last chapters include step-by-step explanations on skills necessary in practice.
Assessment: This text is basic to midwifery. It is more reflective of current practice and a much-needed update of the previous edition. It is written for a specific audience — midwives — although any advanced practitioner involved in women's health could use it as a reference.

Brenda Alexander

This guide for midwifery practice includes an introduction to midwifery; healthcare of women; antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care; and a section on newborn care. The last section describes specific skills used by midwives. This third edition is expanded from the 1987 version to include updates in practice and more chapters on primary care. This book provides a primary reference reflective of current midwifery practice. Some chapters tend to focus on specific issues and ignore broader subjects, i.e., midlife health, with nothing on teenagers and reproductive issues; exercise rather an overall chapter on health promotion; and a chapter on HIV that could also encompass chronic health conditions and their influence on reproductive health. The book serves as a reference for midwifery students and beginning practitioners. Illustrations are useful; more would be helpful. The references are current and pertinent. The table of contents and index are adequate; chapters are broken down into subheadings, making it easy to locate information. The last chapters include step-by-step explanations on skills necessary in practice. This text is basic to midwifery. It is more reflective of current practice and a much-needed update of the previous edition. It is written for a specific audience -- midwives -- although any advanced practitioner involved in women's health could use it as a reference.

3 Stars from Doody