
Pharmacology in Midwifery
- 1st Edition - June 1, 2024
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Authors: Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez, Maryam Bazargan, Clare Davison, Michelle Gray, Kirsten Small
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 7 2 9 5 - 4 4 6 0 - 3
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 7 2 9 5 - 9 8 3 2 - 3
Essential knowledge for safe medication management Pharmacology in Midwifery has been written specifically for midwives in Australia and New Zealand and focuses on medications… Read more

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Pharmacology in Midwifery has been written specifically for midwives in Australia and New Zealand and focuses on medications and their management – a core subject of the nursing curriculum and an integral part of practice.
Written by highly respected experts in both pharmacology and midwifery, the textbook takes the reader through essential information about drugs and their therapeutic effects. It then explores pharmacology in the midwifery scope of practice, considering pregnancy, labour, birth, the postpartum period and neonatal care, both for normal and low risk pregnancies and women with complex needs.
This book is a useful foundation text for midwifery students as well as for practising midwives wishing to refresh or augment their skills as prescribers.
- Relevant for midwifery students and midwives in Australia and New Zealand
Draws on trusted content from the highly respected Pharmacology for Health Professionals (Knights et al)
Covers pharmacological considerations across pregnancy, labour, birth, the postpartum period and neonatal care
Case studies and accompanying review questions in each chapter relate theory to real life
Supports midwives to refine and apply critical thinking, clinical judgement and decision-making skills
Covers adverse drug reactions and interactions
Includes pharmacological considerations for women with complex needs throughout the childbearing continuum, such as diabetes, thyroid, mental health, epilepsy, drugs of addiction and substance dependence
Aligns with ANMAC Standards, National Prescribing Framework and NSQHSS
An eBook is included in all print purchases
Student and Instructor resources on Evolve:
Additional case studies
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- About the authors
- Foreword from Australian college of midwives (ACM)
- Reviewers
- Acknowledgements
- About this resource
- Guide to text
- List of Illustrations
- List of Tables
- Part 1. Introduction to pharmacology
- 1. Drugs and medicines
- Introduction
- 1.1 Drugs and medicines
- 1.2 Drug discovery and development
- 1.3 Drug names and classifications
- 1.4 Drug information
- References
- Online resources
- 2. Clinical, ethical and legal foundations of pharmacotherapy
- 2.1 Clinical aspects of pharmacotherapy
- 2.2 Ethical aspects of pharmacotherapy
- 2.3 Legal aspects of pharmacotherapy
- References
- Online resources
- Part 2. Principles of pharmacology
- 3. Molecular drug targets and pharmacodynamics
- Introduction
- 3.1 Drug specificity, selectivity, and affinity
- 3.2 Molecular drug targets
- 3.3 Pharmacodynamics
- References
- 4. Drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion
- Introduction
- 4.1 Drug absorption
- 4.2 Distribution
- 4.3 Drug elimination (metabolism and excretion)
- 4.4 Excretion of drugs and drug metabolites
- 4.5 Pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and early life
- References
- Additional resources
- 5. Pharmacokinetics and dosing regimen
- Introduction
- 5.1 Plasma concentration–time profile of a drug
- 5.2 Key pharmacokinetic concept: Clearance
- 5.3 Key pharmacokinetic concept: Volume of distribution
- 5.4 Key pharmacokinetic concept: Half-life
- 5.5 Dosage measurements and calculations
- References
- Additional resources
- 6. Adverse drug reactions and drug interactions
- Introduction
- 6.1 Adverse drug reactions
- 6.2 Drug interactions
- References
- Part 3. Pharmacology across the childbearing continuum
- 7. Pregnancy
- 7.1 Overview of the female reproductive system controls and hormones
- 7.2 Female infertility
- 7.3 Pregnancy
- 7.4 Common conditions in pregnancy
- 7.5 Complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs)
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 8. Labour and birth
- Introduction
- 8.1 Physiology of labour and birth
- 8.2 Overview of drugs used during labour
- 8.3 Uterotonics
- 8.4 The pathophysiology of pain
- 8.5 Pharmacological relief of pain
- 8.6 Inhalation agents
- 8.7 Local anaesthetic
- 8.8 General anaesthetic
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 9. The postnatal period
- Introduction
- 9.1 Analgesia
- 9.2 Infection, bladder and bowel care
- 9.3 Postnatal contraception
- 9.4 Postnatal mental health
- 9.5 Complementary and alternative medicine
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 10. The newborn and lactation
- Introduction
- 10.1 Use of medicines while breastfeeding
- 10.2 Pharmacology and breastfeeding
- 10.3 Pharmacokinetics in infants
- 10.4 Online clinical protocols and classification systems
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 11. Vaccinations in pregnancy and recommended schedule for newborns
- Introduction
- 11.1 The immune system
- 11.2 Vaccines given during pregnancy
- 11.3 Vaccine schedules
- 11.4 Clinical considerations
- Conclusion: The future of vaccines
- References
- Online resources
- Part 4. Pharmacology for special considerations
- 12. Infection and sepsis – maternal and neonatal
- Introduction
- 12.1 Aetiology of infection
- 12.2 Pathogens
- 12.3 Infections during pregnancy
- 12.4 Treatments
- 12.5 The microbiome and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) considerations
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 13. Diabetes in pregnancy and its management
- Introduction
- 13.1 Pancreatic hormones and diabetes mellitus
- 13.2 Management of gestational diabetes
- 13.3 Management of type 2 diabetes
- References
- Online resources
- 14. The thyroid
- Introduction
- 14.1 Thyroid hormones
- 14.2 Thyroid physiology and pregnancy
- References
- Online resources
- 15. Drugs affecting the heart, vascular system and blood volume
- 15.1 Introduction: The heart
- 15.2 Hypertension in pregnancy
- References
- Online resources
- 16. Blood and blood clotting
- Introduction
- 16.1 Blood composition
- 16.2 Physiological changes in the haemopoietic system in pregnancy and the puerperium
- 16.3 Blood clotting
- 16.4 Physiological changes in the coagulation system in pregnancy and the puerperium
- 16.5 Anticoagulant drugs
- 16.6 Antiplatelet agents
- 16.7 Haemostatic and antifibrinolytic drugs
- References
- Online resources
- 17. Premature labour and birth
- Introduction
- 17.1 Prematurity definitions and causes
- 17.2 Diagnosis of premature labour
- 17.3 Medications in the management of preterm labour and premature birth
- 17.4 Complementary and alternative therapies
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 18. Asthma
- Introduction: The respiratory system, asthma and its treatment
- 18.1 Control of respiration
- 18.2 Asthma – an overview
- 18.3 Considerations for drug delivery to the airways
- 18.4 Bronchodilator drugs
- 18.5 Prophylactic antiasthma drugs (preventers)
- 18.6 Other drug groups
- 18.7 Therapies and management of asthma in pregnancy
- References
- Online resources
- 19. Mental health
- Introduction: Mental health and illness
- 19.1 Pathophysiology of mental health disorders
- 19.2 Approaches to therapy
- 19.3 Anxiety
- 19.4 Depression
- 19.5 Posttraumatic stress disorder
- 19.6 Postpartum psychosis
- References
- Online resources
- 20. Epilepsy
- Introduction
- 20.1 antiepileptic drug therapy
- 20.2 antiepileptic drugs
- 20.3 mechanisms of action of currently used antiepileptics
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- 21. Drugs of dependence
- Introduction
- 21.1 Drug abuse and misuse
- 21.2 Central nervous system stimulants
- 21.3 Dependence on opioids
- 21.4 Alcohol
- 21.5 Cannabis drugs (marijuana, hashish)
- References
- Online resources
- 22. Role of the midwife
- Introduction
- 22.1 Governance of midwifery prescribing
- 22.2 Educational preparation for prescribing
- 22.3 Legislation and regulations impacting prescribing and medication management
- 22.4 Quality and safety
- 22.5 Role of the midwife in prescribing
- 22.6 Additional professional obligations for midwives
- Conclusion
- References
- Online resources
- Index
- Edition: 1
- Published: June 1, 2024
- Imprint: Elsevier
- No. of pages: 456
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN: 9780729544603
- eBook ISBN: 9780729598323
RD
Roslyn Donnellan - Fernandez
MB
Maryam Bazargan
CD
Clare Davison
MG
Michelle Gray
KS