Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR PREGNANCY AND THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD — FROM THE EDITORS OF THE CLASSIC "BIBLE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH"

Pregnancy and birth are as ordinary and extraordinary as breathing, thinking, or loving. But as soon as you announce you're expecting, you may be bombarded with advice from every angle — well-meaning friends, relatives, medical professionals, even strangers want to weigh in on what you should or shouldn't do, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by their conflicting recommendations.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth will help you sort fact from fiction, giving you the most accurate research, up-to-date information, and the firsthand experiences of numerous women who have been exactly where you are today. You'll get the tools you need to take care of yourself and your baby during and after your pregnancy, from tips on eating well during pregnancy to strategies for coping with stress and depression. Learn everything you need to know about:

CHOOSING A GOOD HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

SELECTING A PLACE OF BIRTH

UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL TESTING

COPING WITH LABOR PAIN

SPEEDING YOUR PHYSICAL RECOVERY

ADJUSTING TO LIFE AS A NEW MOTHER

OUR BODIES, OURSELVES: PREGNANCY AND BIRTH IS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR WOMEN THAT WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE MANY DECISIONS AHEAD.

"In this third spin-off of Our Bodies, Ourselves, the self-described women's health 'bible' first published in the 1970s, the Boston Women's Health Book Collective focuses on pregnancy, birth and recovery. This book will help women make confident and informed choices about the birth process as they negotiate the healthcare system and balance their options. The chapters are arranged chronologically along the journey into motherhood, with useful sections on the physical and emotional changes of each trimester, fetal development and prenatal testing. Other topics include choosing a healthcare provider, prenatal testing, labor, pain management, recovery, breastfeeding, emotional ups and downs and many other issues. The text is interspersed with pertinent personal narratives, as well as with more than 70 black and white photos and illustrations; the emphasis is on up-to-date information, probing the use-and overuse-of various practices and medical interventions. 'Informing yourself about these practices and their alternatives,' the editors write, 'is an essential step toward creating a better birth experience for yourself and your baby.' This comprehensive guide is sure to take its rightful place among its sister titles, empowering a new generation of expectant mothers." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED TO MAKE WISE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR PREGNANCY AND THE BIRTH OF YOUR CHILD — FROM THE EDITORS OF THE CLASSIC "BIBLE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH"

Pregnancy and birth are as ordinary and extraordinary as breathing, thinking, or loving. But as soon as you announce you're expecting, you may be bombarded with advice from every angle — well-meaning friends, relatives, medical professionals, even strangers want to weigh in on what you should or shouldn't do, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by their conflicting recommendations.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth will help you sort fact from fiction, giving you the most accurate research, up-to-date information, and the firsthand experiences of numerous women who have been exactly where you are today. You'll get the tools you need to take care of yourself and your baby during and after your pregnancy, from tips on eating well during pregnancy to strategies for coping with stress and depression. Learn everything you need to know about:

CHOOSING A GOOD HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

SELECTING A PLACE OF BIRTH

UNDERSTANDING PRENATAL TESTING

COPING WITH LABOR PAIN

SPEEDING YOUR PHYSICAL RECOVERY

ADJUSTING TO LIFE AS A NEW MOTHER

OUR BODIES, OURSELVES: PREGNANCY AND BIRTH IS AN ESSENTIAL RESOURCE FOR WOMEN THAT WILL GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE MANY DECISIONS AHEAD.

FROM THE EDITORS OF THE CLASSIC BIBLE OF WOMEN'S HEALTH, A TRUSTWORTHY, UP-TO-DATE GUIDE TO HELP EVERY WOMAN NAVIGATE THE MENOPAUSE TRANSITION

For decades, millions of women have relied on Our Bodies, Ourselves to provide the most comprehensive, honest, and accurate information on women's health. Now, in Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause, the editors of the classic guide discuss the transition of menopause. With a preface by Vivian Pinn, M.D., the director of the Office of Research on Women's Health at the National Institutes of Health, Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause includes definitive information from the latest research and personal stories from a diverse group of women.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause provides an in-depth look at subjects such as hormone therapy and sexuality as well as proven strategies for coping with challenges like hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats. In clear, accessible language, the book dispels menopause myths and provides crucial information that women can use to take control of their own health and get the best care possible.

Our Bodies, Ourselves: Menopause is an essential resource for women who are experiencing — or expecting — menopause.

The Boston Women's Health Book Collective (now known as Our Bodies Ourselves) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include Teresa Heinz Kerry, Susan Love, and Gloria Steinem. Their mission is to empower women by providing information about health, sexuality, and reproduction. Our Bodies, Ourselves is the organization's core vehicle for driving their mission. While OBOS is famous for its voice in policy, advocacy, and educational efforts related to women's health, they see their role as a global content provider as paramount. Judy Norsigian is the Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves. The Boston Women's Health Book Collective (now known as Our Bodies Ourselves) is a non-profit organization founded in 1969 whose board members include Teresa Heinz Kerry, Susan Love, and Gloria Steinem. Their mission is to empower women by providing information about health, sexuality, and reproduction. Our Bodies, Ourselves is the organization's core vehicle for driving their mission. While OBOS is famous for its voice in policy, advocacy, and educational efforts related to women's health, they see their role as a global content provider as paramount. Judy Norsigian is the Executive Director of Our Bodies Ourselves.

Introduction

THE JOURNEY TO PARENTHOOD 1. Approaching Birth with Confidence

2. Choosing Your Health Care Provider and Birth Setting

3. Preparing for Childbirth

YOUR PREGNANCY

4. Your Developing Pregnancy and Prenatal Care

5. Taking Care of Yourself

6. Relationships, Sex, and Emotional Support

7. Prenatal Testing

8. Special Concerns During Pregnancy

9. Childbearing Loss

GIVING BIRTH

10. Labor and Birth

11. Coping with Pain

12. Special Concerns During Labor and Birth

13. Cesarean Births

BECOMING A MOTHER

14. Your Physical Recovery and Your Newborn

15. Feeding Your Baby

16. Life as a New Mother

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

17. Advocating for Better Maternity Care

18. Advocating for Mothers and Families

Resources

Authorship and Acknowledgments

About the Contributors

Disclosures

Index