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I have been using this second edition of Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) for Midwives for this current teaching period and I am pleased with it overall as it is an advance on the previous book which I also liked. I now see it as essential reading for midwifery students and practising midwives who need an A&P update. The book presents research-based evidence and makes good links between theory and midwifery practice. Areas that are critical to midwifery practice are given in-depth treatment when compared to what is included in a standard A&P text for Bachelor of Nursing students, for example. There are plenty of illustrations that are clear and well labelled which is really essential in an A&P text. One continuous case study is used throughout the book to illustrate various aspects of A&P at different stages of pregnancy.

Whilst I do recommend this book I have some suggestions for improvements for future editions. A significant omission is that the diameters of the female pelvis are not described nor is a detailed mechanism of labour given. This is essential A&P for midwives. I have had to write my own multiple-choice questions for students who are using this book. It would be good in future to develop teaching resources such as a multi-choice item bank and some colour PowerPoint slides of the most important illustrations in the book.

Like other A&P and nutrition texts this one is written in a standard, non-holistic way. This means that whole body responses are usually not explained or not well explained when a book limits itself to a body systems approach. Additionally the effects of the environment tend to be ignored by the approach that only focuses on the body as if it existed separately from other people, from society and from the natural world.

The chapter on maternal nutrition and health is one area that would be improved by taking a more holistic stance. Maternal and fetal health is strongly related to issues of current poverty and intergenerational poverty. These issues, which have profound effects on maternal and baby anatomy and physiology, are only touched on lightly and not given the importance they deserve. On the other hand contamination of the food supply by industrial and farming toxic chemicals and the depletion of our soils should also be more fully included in the text since they exert effects on maternal health, genetic expression and embryological development.

The chapters on endocrinology and reproductive cycles are clear and well written. The chapters on genetics, embryology, the placenta and physiological adaptations in pregnancy are strong and up to date. What is missing is the systematic linking together of neuro-hormonal effects of stress and environmental factors in pregnancy, labour and birth. The chapter on the physiology of parturition, for instance, does not discuss the importance of emotions and environment for promoting optimal oxytocin and endorphin release. The role of fear in creating maternal stress response and how that impacts on the physiology is also not discussed yet these matters are of central importance to midwifery practice. The role that maternal emotions and stress in pregnancy plays on genetic expression and fetal growth and development could be more fully addressed and this would help midwives when counselling women.

Chapter one is the only chapter to provide a general introduction to physiology which is fine for RNs who are becoming midwives or for existing midwives. A single chapter on general physiology is insufficient for Bachelor of Midwifery students who would also need a good general A&P textbook.

The criticisms that I have made are not unique to this book. Indeed to my knowledge although there is a lot published in the scientific literature concerning whole body responses, emotional and environmental impacts on human A&P somehow it does not seem to get included in standard texts. That is a pity that I hope Code and Dunstall will address with the next edition of their book. I see this text as the best available to midwives and I set it as essential reading for midwifery students.