This book presents the theory that positional obstruction of the inferior vena cava by the gravid uterus might contribute to the causation of preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, dysfunctional labor and uterine atony. Investigating this possibility is timely, since non-invasive technology now exists which detects hemodynamically significant obstruction of the inferior vena cava in real time, by relying on the fact that such obstruction causes an immediate decrease in maternal cardiac output. If further research shows that obstruction of uterine venous return at the...