Varney's Midwifery

by Helen Varney Burst

Encompassing the entire scope of the practice of midwifery, this new edition has been extensively revised and updated to reflect the full scope of current midwifery practice.

Genres: Nursing, Nonfiction

1386 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Sandy Reenders · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read a majority of this massive book! Although it is a textbook, it is quite readable. I learned a massive amount, and I read the applicable sections when I was in those stages so it was doubly helpful. Particularly fascinating to me was the breakdown of each body system of the mother postpartum and how it must return to the pre-pregnant state. In many cases this takes up to 6 months and explains so much of the extended experience of recovering from birth.

I read the 5th edition

Notes

Really loved the chapter on the first stage of labor, where the flaw in “labor curves” is broken down in detail using the known research

Rate of pitocin use is inversely related to cervical dilation at admission- cesarean rate for early admission over 2x as high

Pitocin misuse is involved in half of all paid obstetric litigation claims

Continuous electronic fetal monitoring led to 50% increase in c section

[Pearl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only textbook I've ever read cover to cover, and it's brilliant! Does not read like a textbook but a way of life (pun intended). I was also fortunate enough to get mine signed, with the words "With all best wishes as you become an awesome midwife!" I heart you, Ms. Varney

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I wanted to add some more books to my list, but all I've been reading lately are midwifery books. :P This one isn't my favorite, but it's definitely the most important for the NARM exam.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book extremely informative when I was pregnant with my son, as I tried to determine what to expect from a birthing center experience as opposed to a hospital birth. It's all written for midwives, not mothers, obviously, but I wanted to know what to expect regarding how they operate and why.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Varney's is very much a traditional textbook. The plus side of this is that many vocabulary words are defined herein. It's a more western-medicine approach to midwifery, even while maintaining a devotion to midwifery care (which, I would argue, is not a western approach to care.) One star off because it's definitely dry textbook reading, even while covering a very wide range of fascinating birth-related topics.

[E · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I didn't read this thing from cover to cover, but since it is a text-book I have used extensively, I believe it counts! I like using Varney to study medical numbers such as Vital Signs information, normal procedure and so on - but for a midwife in training, I didn't get much of the 'hands off' approach of midwifery from Helen. But hey, 4 stars for the facts of normal procedure studies! :)

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This text sorely needs to be updated...I hear they're working on it.