Preface

Delivery assistance during childbirth is a major challenge today. Safety in childbirth to avoid maternal–fetal morbidity and mortality depends on proper usage of medications, avoiding early and unnecessary interventions, and limiting delays in decision-making. It is also important to consider the birthing person's expectations and desires. The setting where the delivery will occur should be prepared by a sensitive, respectful, and kind staff. It is important to avoid interventions such as fundal pressure, routine episiotomy, and unnecessary cesarean section. In addition, cultural and socioeconomic aspects as well as the patient's preferred birthing method are important factors in childbirth. The birthing person deserves an environment of respect without abusive measures.

This book presents important information on childbirth and stresses the importance of good-quality care. It covers the following topics: intrapartum care, induction of labor, episiotomy, uterotonics, new technologies to date pregnancy at birth, skin-to-skin contact, and contraception.

Chapter 1, "Introductory Chapter: Childbirth Challenges", is the introductory chapter and addresses the importance of respectful maternity care. Chapter 2, "Intrapartum Care: What Does the Evidence Say?", discusses labor progression, presenting information on the definition and duration of the latent and active first stages of labor and the progress of the first and second stages of labor. It also discusses pain relief during labor, prevention of postpartum hemorrhage (third stage of labor), and care of the newborn. Chapter 3, "Induction of Labour", describes the indications and contraindications for inducing labor, cervical repining, and induction agents and their complications. Chapter 4, "Update and Trend in Episiotomy Practice", evaluates the current trends in episiotomy, indications, obstetrical anal sphincter injuries (OASIS), and complications. Chapter 5, "Recent Advances in the Use of Uterotonics for the Prevention of Postpartum Hemorrhage", examines how to avoid postpartum hemorrhage, one of the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. As such, the chapter describes various uterotonics. Chapter 6, "New Technologies to Dating Pregnancy at Birth", describes new methods of pregnancy dating at birth. Chapter 7, "Literacy on Skin-to-Skin Contact", discusses the importance of skin-to-skin contact in the care of the newborn. Finally, Chapter 8, " Utilization of Implant Contraceptive Methods and Associated Factors among Reproductive-Age Women in Ethiopia", discusses contraception.

I would like to thank my wife Camila and our children João and Pedro for their support, understanding, and love during the journey to complete this book.

> **Julio Elito Jr.** Associate Professor of the Department of Obstetrics, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil

**1**

Section 1

Introduction

Section 1 Introduction

#### **Chapter 1**
