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A few years ago, a medical student who was working with me was struck
by a car while crossing the street during her lunch hour. Because she could
not walk after the accident, she was taken to the emergency department for
evaluation, which included an x-ray of her leg. I met her there just as the
radiologist was informing her that she was pregnant. Our radiology department
screens all women of childbearing age for pregnancy prior to radiological
imaging.
Among the many areas of medical care, few are as potentially joyful as
pregnancy. Ironically, it is also the area of medical care that produces more
anxiety than almost any other for both patients and providers. As obstetrical
care has become more complex and specialized, the care of pregnant women
has become an area of concern for an increasingly well-trained and specialized
group of providers. Anyone who cares for women, however, will eventually
discover the joys and challenges of caring for pregnant women, even
if only tangentially.
A significant number of providers are involved in the care of pregnant
patients: nurse midwives, nurse practitioners, family physicians, and obstetricians.
The list of those who will encounter pregnant patients in their practice
is even longer: pediatricians, internists, surgeons, almost any provider
who cares for women. An even larger number of future providers will spend
some portion of their training in obstetrical settings. Obstetrics in Family
Medicine: A Practical Guide is written for all providers who include women
in their practice. It is particularly focused on the needs of primary care providers
who provide preconception, prenatal, or labor and delivery care. It is
also designed to be a concise but reasonably comprehensive resource for
primary care providers who may not specifically provide such care but who
often have need of such information as their patients ask for it. |