Additional contributors to second edition
| Kavita Goswami | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Coventry |
| Kate Grady | Consultant Anaesthetist, Manchester |
| Elaine Metcalfe | ALSG, Manchester |
| Margaret Oates | Consultant Perinatal Psychiatrist, Nottingham |
| Poonam Pradhan | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Birmingham |
| Abdul Sultan | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Croydon |
| Gargeswari Sunanda | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Birmingham |
| Ranee Thaker | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Croydon |
| Steve Walkinshaw | Consultant in Fetomaternal Medicine, Liverpool |
| Catherine Wykes | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Brighton |
Additional contributors to first edition
| The late Professor Richard Johanson | |
| Nick Coleman | Consultant Anaesthetist, Stoke‐on‐Trent |
| David Griffiths | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Swindon |
| Mona Khadra | Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford |
| Harmini Sidhu | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Craigavon |
| Peter Young | Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Stoke‐on‐Trent |
Foreword to fourth edition
There are few, if any, such polarised areas of clinical practice as obstetrics. The contrast between the magical beauty of normal pregnancy and childbirth and the often very rapidly progressive and terrifying emergency situation is extreme.
Being prepared for any eventuality is therefore the cornerstone of safe obstetric practice, and while this anticipation can help avoid a situation altogether, it can also enhance the likelihood of early recognition and damage limitation. In those absolutely unavoidable emergencies being well informed, prepared and practised can make the difference between life and death, or health and disability: this is reason enough for clinicians to go to every length to keep themselves informed, alert and vigilant.
This manual is a goldmine of information concerning the pathophysiology and management of emergencies concerning the pregnant (or recently pregnant) woman. It is practical, with useful tips and algorithms, as well as giving depth of knowledge with logical explanations to aid understanding. Whilst it forms part of the mMOET pre‐course reading it also stands alone as an excellent text for all clinicians practicing in this specialty.
Don’t be unprepared: read, learn, practice and teach what is here, expect the unexpected, and you will keep women and their babies safe.
Sara Paterson‐Brown FRCS FRCOG
Preface to fourth edition
We have the honour of participating in the miracle of birth and sharing the experiences of families worldwide, but with that honour comes the responsibility of keeping our women and babies safe.
MOET was the brainchild of passionate Obstetricians and Anaesthetists who recognised that, whilst our specialty is very rewarding, it carries high risk for some of our women. By training and studying together, we can improve our practice and their outcomes. Since 1997, through MOET, we have trained over 8380 clinicians and we have around 720 instructors. We have shared our approach worldwide by taking the course overseas to Liberia,