Abstract
Obstetrics describes care related to pregnancy. In high-risk cases, such as maternal cardiac or renal disease, this may include pre-pregnancy care to optimise the mother’s medical condition prior to conception. Care continues throughout the antenatal period, differing for women depending on their risk status (described in Chapter 2). Obstetric care then focuses on labour and delivery, and continues to the end of the postpartum period. During this time there are profound changes in maternal physiology. In addition, disorders may develop that are unique to pregnancy e.g. pre-eclampsia, obstetric cholestasis. An understanding of the changes in maternal physiology and the pathophysiology of pregnancy-related disorders is essential to provide safe, effective obstetric care.
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