Varney's Midwifery, Fourth Edition

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Summary: A must read
Review: I have always found Varney to be useful and easy to read, especially in comparison to Speroff or Gabbe. I think that this book was never intended to be the definitive text on home birth. If a midwife's interest lies in homebirth, seek out books that cater to that option. I found the skills sections especially helpful. It isn't Varney's job to unite midwives, her primary job is to educate. You can not teach the spirit of midwife through a book, that's where mentoring comes into play. This is certainly a must have for all practicing midwives, regardless of educational background.

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Summary: My Midwifery Bible
Review: I have come to rely on this book time and time again. No nurse midwife should be without a copy of this book.

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Summary: This book is a must reference for every practicing midwife.
Review: I have read the other posted reviews of this textbook and feel obliged to respond to those who negatively critiqued its application to out-of-hospital birth. Midwifery IS midwifery. The principles put forth in this third edition set the gold standard for safe and competent care of mothers and neonates ... regardless of the setting ... and also provide the parameters for well-woman care. It would behoove every midwife to become as knowledgeable as possible about full-scope midwifery practice and Varney's Midwifery provides an ideal resource.

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Summary: The best book about clinical midwifery on the planet!
Review: I've been a Certified Nurse-Midwife and educator for 18 years. I have used all of Helen Varney's midwifery textbooks (including this one)for myself and my students. Varney's Midwifery is thourough, clear, well written and easy for professional and lay man to read and understand. I especially appreciate her attention to details. I used the chapter on "Maternal Psychological Adjustments and Procesesses" as the sole basis for an oral final exam because I wanted my students to focus on the psychological aspects of pregnancy (not just the physical). I especially like the section on out-of-hospital-births. My students especially like (and appreciate) the "Skills" section which teaches them how to use their hands to perform various skills that make them feel competent in the clinical settings. Varney's Midwifery has and always will be # 1 on my students' REQUIRED textbook lists. The other wonderful thing about Helen as an author is that she is open to criticism AND suggestions for changes in her book.

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Summary: Not for those looking for Home Birth information!
Review: This book does no service to the Home Birth community. If you are looking for information on all facets of birth in a MEDICAL setting, then this book would be for you. Home birth facilitators would never recommend some of the practices in this book. (The Zanelli technique, for instance. Which is when you have a baby that's head has delivered but the shoulders are stuck, and it shows you how to push the baby back inside the womb.Or as already mentioned, Circumcision.) This book would be useful for those birth facilitators that intend to practice exclusively in a hospital setting.

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Summary: This is a good reference book, but not the best for homebirt
Review: This book is a good reference book, but not the best one for homebirth midwives. Myle's, and Anne' Frye's books I have found to be more applicable in my practice. To the above person that thinks that Circumsision should not be addresses, I could not disagree more. Circumsision is a subject that should be addressed prenatally, and Since midwives are supposed to provide basic Post-partum care to the mother and baby during the first six weeks It is essentual that midwives and parents are educated about the issue antapartum