Obstetrics is a field of medicine that is concerned with pregnancy, child delivery and the postpartum period. The fields of obstetrics and gynecology are combined to provide a holistic approach to women's reproductive health and childbirth. The development of ultrasonography, amniocentesis and other methods for diagnosing birth defects, have facilitated the defective fetuses and unwanted pregnancies. Obstetric ultrasonography allows the determination of the number of fetuses, detection of congenital anomalies, and dating the first trimester bleeding, among others. CT and X-rays are considered harmful owing to their teratogenic effects on the fetus. Pregnant woman who have diabetes mellitus, thyroid disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, hypercoagulability, etc. are at risk for developing complications in pregnancy. This book presents the complex subject of obstetrics in the most comprehensible and easy to understand language. From theories to research to practical applications, case studies related to all contemporary topics of relevance to this field have been included in this book. It aims to equip students and experts with the advanced topics and upcoming concepts in this area.
