Description

Parents adore this book because it gives them power; experts adore it because it is based on the most recent findings in medicine and advice from the most respected healthcare organizations. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn gives you the knowledge and direction you need to make decisions that are in line with your preferences, priorities, and values in order to have a safe and fulfilling pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period. This book first covers normal, healthy processes, their typical variations, and the common care techniques for monitoring them, in contrast to pregnancy guides that can overwhelm and frighten by telling you up front all the things that can go wrong. The discussion of potential issues and how to handle them follows only after that. The voice is empowering, the tone is soothing, and the presentation is absolutely clear throughout. Additionally, the terminology is inclusive, reflecting the many different family structures that exist today, including open adoption or surrogate families, blended families created by second marriages, families with gay or lesbian parents, and single-parent households. This pregnancy guide speaks to today's expectant parents in a way that no other does, from practical nutrition advice to realistic birth plans, from birth doulas when wanted to cesareans when necessary, from minimizing stress during pregnancy to caring for yourself and your baby after birth.