Obstetric anaesthesia is a specialized practice and covers the entire range of pain relief throughout normal labor as well as general anaesthesia for special procedures such as caesarian section. While there is a specialist group based at main teaching centers who practice obsteric anaesthesia exclusively, the majority of anaesthetists are based at smaller hospitals where there is no such specialist. Consequently, it is essential that all anaesthetists are familiar with the anaesthetic requirements of normal labor, and of all but the most extreme cases of abnormal labor. While this book is written for the specialist in obstetric anaesthesia, it is also ideal for trainee anaesthetists. It provides enough information for the final FRCA examination, but also contains sufficient detail on the various clinical problems that may present at any stage in their future career. The underlying principle is that the anaesthetist must understand the physiology of labor in normal and abnormal situations as well as the interventions of his obstetric colleagues in order to practice safely and effectively. The book will replace J. Selwyn Crawford's text, which presented a personal view, backed by his extensive research experience of obstetric anaesthesia.