Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

I really liked this book. I was planning on my first unmedicated birth and this book was phenomenal. It’s along the lines of an easy read informative text almost like a textbook. It is much easier to read and more interesting than a textbook though. It presents all aspects of pregnancy and birth from complications to normality. I found it to be comforting to get the information up front without a hidden agenda , just facts. It also addresses how a partner can be supportive and the things they may be going through. It covers pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum. I think this book is better than a lot on the market.

I ordered and read many books on pregnancy (including Mayo Clinic, Nurture, Bumpin, Expecting Better) and this was absolutely my favorite. I found it to be by far the most comprehensive, and even answered questions and gave tips and recommendations that my midwives, OB and doula couldn’t provide. By comparison, the other books had extremely limited information on breech babies, tips for turning breech babies, and on the facts and advice regarding c-sections. It also includes advice on making a necessary c-section more “family centered” or holistic/natural in its own way. I appreciate that this book pairs holistic and natural advice and approaches with the medical facts and information on the full range of options, without judgment. In addition to being a great resource on pregnancy and childbirth, it also includes a really useful amount of information on exercises and stretches to help with discomfort, post-partum recovery, breastfeeding and newborn care. It was really the only pregnancy/childbirth book I needed and I wish I had read it first!

While looking through pregnancy books, I got tired of reading about how you got a second line, got sick, got fat, and squeezed out your "bundle of joy." What about the reality of the situation and how exactly that "bundle of joy" finds its way out of me and into this world? I could not be happier with my purchase of this book. It starts with a few chapters on the typical progression of mother and baby during pregnancy. It includes exercise and diet tips (with pictures) for pregnant women. There is a chapter on complications during pregnancy as well as one on how to plan for a birth. Birth plans are discussed in good detail, as well as interview questions for your OB/Midwife/Doula. In fact, there are different lists for each of those. Although doulas are discussed, this book does not assume you will have either a medicated or a natural birth. Those decisions are left to you. There are several chapters on labor and delivery. It was extremely informational to learn about the different "stages" and how they progress, as well as positions and situations to help ease the pain during each of these stages. I feel like I'm much more informed about labor now than with any other resource I've come across. Does the phrase "perineal stretches" sound familiar? It does now! The final few chapters review what to do once the baby enters the world. How do you breastfeed? How do you position your child? How many times should you feed each day and how many wet/poopy diapers should you expect? What are some common causes for concern? Answers to all of these questions are provided, as well as illustrations for breastfeeding, holding your newborn, etc. There are a few paragraphs scattered throughout this book for Dads, but this book is not geared directly towards men. I'm sure they would find it very informative, although the squeamish ones might shy away. I give this book four thumbs up (two from me, two from my baby in utero). I finally feel like I am better informed. This book respects you as a mother and aims to give you information in a very easy readable format. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

While I was expecting my first, I read Penny Simkin's Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide. It was by far my favorite pregnancy book. I bought it at first in Nook format, but quickly decided I wanted the paper version. The diagrams and charts didn't show up well in digital format. This book is a great overview of pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn - just as you would expect from the title. This book begins with information on interviewing doctors, evaluating hospitals, and choosing a doula. I printed many of the handouts on http://www.pcnguide.com/ to help me with this process. The sections on pregnancy and fetal development were not as detailed as other books. I supplemented with reading from other books and pregnancy aps on my iphone. This book doesn't have a weekly summary of fetal changes, but instead features a more of an overview of developments each trimester. I found the exercises and stretches useful. The real value of this book lies in the labor and delivery section. Admittedly, it is a little biased toward natural delivery, but does include information on interventions. I was considering a natural birth when reading this book, but I was also open to intervention if I got in over my head. I printed the chart of coping techniques featured in this book, studied them, and included them in the documents I brought to the hospital. This book was also very helpful in writing my birth plan and featured a few examples of plans (from mothers with different goals). I used many of the strategies in this book to have the natural, in-hospital birth I wanted. Luckily for me, I had a normal, uncomplicated labor. Even if it had gone differently, this book gave an overview of interventions: why they might be recommended, what happens, and potential side effects. Overall, I highly recommend this book especially if you are considering a natural birth or if you want a different view than the typical hospital birthing class.

Excelente material. Muy buen regalo para una futura mama. Muy completo. Lo recomiendo.

Both me and my wife read this book as we prepared to the birth of our baby. What I liked most about this book ( that is besides being truly a complete guide filled with information on your options and preparing you for the possible reactions of all parties involved [ including family members and medical staff ], or containing many techniques and recommendations, or summarizing the labor process in the most detailed and instructive way [ including drawings and pictures ] --- besides being great at what the authors proposed to do ) is that all messages are written with strong ethics and scientific paper references are always included as a justification ( rather than "just because the authors say so" ). Truly a valiant effort and a success. I recommend this book to everyone thinking on having a baby.

good service. On time. Recommended seller.

This is the only book you’ll need for your first pregnancy. I bought and read 3 other popular pregnancy books— What to Expect When You’re Expecting, Ina Mays guide to Childbirth, and Mayo Clinic’s Guide to Healthy Pregnancy— and I found this book to be the BEST in all aspects of pregnancy and birth. It is the most realistic, detailed, comprehensive, and well organized. I highly recommend!

book is nice but no picture and only for USA market not for Europe u should have writen that! its like reading a tel directory...