Pregnancy is an important period in a woman’’s life. To have a healthy pregnancy, a healthy newborn and to prevent complications during childbirth, regular checkups, exercise, a healthy diet and dietary supplements are of the utmost importance. Childbirth can occur by a Caesarean section or through vaginal passage. Caesarean sections are recommended for babies in the breech position, for twins or in cases of extreme distress. Pain control, active management of labor, fetal monitoring, etc. are integral to delivery management. The care of the newborn infant is vital to its health and well-being. Adequate breastfeeding and food consumption, good hygiene and care are essential to an infant’’s health. Low weight or premature infants, or infants with congenital malformations, intrauterine growth restriction, birth asphyxia, pulmonary hypoplasia or sepsis can have a better chance of survival and normal neurological and physiological development if provided with due care and monitoring. The fields of perinatology and neonatology are actively involved in the medical care of the mother and the infant respectively. This book contains some path-breaking studies in pregnancy and childbirth. It discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of childbirth. It will help the readers in keeping pace with the rapid changes in this field.
