Zika Virus Zika virus is a mosquito-borne infection which has been associated with profound effects on the unborn fetus in pregnant women. It was first reported in Africa in the 1940s but prior to the major outbreak in Brazil in 2015, few outbreaks have been documented. It has since spread rapidly over most countries in […]
Zavanelli Manoeuvre
Zavanelli Manoeuvre Extracted from Mayes Midwifery 14th Edition, Sue Macdonald & Julia Magill-Cuerden (Eds). Baillière Tindall, 2011. Courtesy Elsevier A manoeuvre of last resort in which the fetal head is manually flexed and returned to the vagina prior to delivery being undertaken by caesarean section.
Woods’ Manoeuvre
Woods’ Manoeuvre Extracted from Mayes Midwifery 14th Edition, Sue Macdonald & Julia Magill-Cuerden (Eds). Baillière Tindall, 2011. Courtesy Elsevier A manoeuvre used to assist in the delivery of the baby in shoulder dystocia. The woman should be assisted into the lithotomy position or onto all fours to remove restrictions to the sacrum and coccyx (present […]
Wharton’s Jelly
Wharton’s Jelly Wharton’s jelly is a gelatinous substance that provides insulation and protection of the blood vessels within the umbilical cord against extension, bending, twisting and compression. It is a primitive connective tissue (primary mesenchyme) and contains stem cells (in addition to those present in umbilical cord blood) as well as lipids and growth factors.
Waterbirth
Waterbirth Extracted from Mayes Midwifery 14th Edition, Sue Macdonald & Julia Magill-Cuerden (Eds). Baillière Tindall, 2011. Courtesy Elsevier Therapeutic use of water in childbirth has grown in popularity, and most maternity units now offer a birthing pool. Some women may wish to spend most of their labour and birth in the water pool, others choose […]
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB)
Vitamin K Deficiency Bleeding (VKDB) Extracted from Myles Textbook for Midwives 15th Edition. Diane M. Fraser, Margaret A. Cooper (Eds). London; Churchill Livingstone: 2009. Courtesy Elsevier. Vitamin K deficiency bleeding (VKDB), previously known as haemorrhagic disease of the newborn, most commonly occurs between birth and 8 weeks of life, although it may occur up to […]
Ventouse Method
Ventouse Method Extracted from Survival Guide to Midwifery, 2nd Edition (2012) Diane M. Fraser and Margaret A. Cooper, Oxford; Churchill Livingstone: 2012. Courtesy Elsevier The ventouse method is a commonly used intervention in assisted vaginal birth. The ventouse is a vacuum extraction instrument that applies traction. It can be used as an alternative to forceps. […]
Varicella Zoster
Varicella Zoster Extracted from Survival Guide to Midwifery, 2nd Edition (2012) Diane M. Fraser and Margaret A. Cooper, Oxford; Churchill Livingstone: 2012. Courtesy Elsevier Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly contagious DNA virus of the herpes family, transmitted by respiratory droplets and contact with vesicle fluid. It causes varicella (chickenpox). The virus has an […]
Valsalva Manouevre
Valsalva Manouevre Extracted from Survival Guide to Midwifery, 2nd Edition (2012) Diane M. Fraser and Margaret A. Cooper, Oxford; Churchill Livingstone: 2012. Courtesy Elsevier The Valsalva manoeuvre describes the process of managed active pushing accompanied by breath holding in the second stage of labour. It is now accepted that this process may have adverse consequences […]
Vaginal Seeding
Vaginal Seeding A process of giving babies born by caesarean section a swab of the mother’s vaginal fluids in the belief that it will ‘seed’ their immune systems to help protect them from developing conditions such as asthma, food allergies and hay fever in later life. The concept has been promoted by advocates of the […]