A book to help women understand the biomechanics of the entire maternity cycle and the rationale for and against certain exercises. Noble shows how to recognize and remedy weakness and dysfunction that often plagues the average, sedentary woman during her childbearing year. As well as chapters explaining role of the key muscles (abdominal and pelvic floor) during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum, there are chapters on the principles of exercise, posture, comfort, bed rest, and Cesarean rehabilitation. Hands-on techniques for relieving some of the common joint discomforts are listed in the appendix and there are summary tear-sheets at the back of the bookfor the prenatal, postpartum and Cesarean recovery programs.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
.. a classic since 1976. Like good wine, it has become enriched with age... improves with each revision. -- BookMarks, International Childbirth Education Association, Minneapolis
An encyclopedia of information so well written...difficult to put down once started...it leaves no question unanswered. -- Family Journal
An encylopedia of information so well written that it is difficult to put it down ...leaves no question unanswered. -- Family Journal, Jan-Feb 1982
Elizabeth Noble is a writer and teacher extraordinaire. -- Jane Frahm, PT, Past-President: Section on Women's Health, American Physical Therapy Association
Essential Exercises undoubtedly presents the role of physical therapy during pregnancy and postpartum in the most complete fashion. -- Raul Art, MD, Author: ACOG Guidelines for Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period, Exercise in Pregnancy, and Pregnancy and Exercise
It has become a classic...like good wine... enriched with age, as Noble improves it with each revision. -- BookMarks, ICEA Bookcenter, Minneapolis
Noble stands out dramatically as one of the few women who have significantly improved the health of childearing women... -- Doris Haire, President; American Foundation for Maternal and Child Health
This book has faithfully served clinicians and lay persons by providing sound, practical information relating to the childbearing period. -- ADVANCE for Physical Therapists
An encyclopedia of information so well written...difficult to put down once started...it leaves no question unanswered. -- Family Journal
An encylopedia of information so well written that it is difficult to put it down ...leaves no question unanswered. -- Family Journal, Jan-Feb 1982
Elizabeth Noble is a writer and teacher extraordinaire. -- Jane Frahm, PT, Past-President: Section on Women's Health, American Physical Therapy Association
Essential Exercises undoubtedly presents the role of physical therapy during pregnancy and postpartum in the most complete fashion. -- Raul Art, MD, Author: ACOG Guidelines for Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period, Exercise in Pregnancy, and Pregnancy and Exercise
It has become a classic...like good wine... enriched with age, as Noble improves it with each revision. -- BookMarks, ICEA Bookcenter, Minneapolis
Noble stands out dramatically as one of the few women who have significantly improved the health of childearing women... -- Doris Haire, President; American Foundation for Maternal and Child Health
This book has faithfully served clinicians and lay persons by providing sound, practical information relating to the childbearing period. -- ADVANCE for Physical Therapists
From the Publisher
This classic, in print for 3 decades and regularly revised, has helped more than 200, 000 childbearing women understand the changes that their body undergoes during pregnancy, labor, birth and postpartum. The design of the book is unique, addressing the various muscles and functions of the body with detailed explanations of the appropriate exercises and their modifications and progressions. Noble has taught prenatal and postpartum exercise to women, and health care providers for 40 years. She is the "grande dame" of body awareness, remedial positions and movements during the childbearing year.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
I am a physical therapist who has used this book as a basis for my "Prenatal exercise and Body Mechanics" Class. I have recommended it to my patients and to other professionals who teach prenatal classes. The author adds a unique perspective by inviting women to "think outside of the box" and take responsibility for their bodies before, during and after their pregnancy. The partner exercises are very well received by my patients (our hospital averages 300 births per month). I am also the mother of 21 month old triplets and I used the book as a personal reference and guide throughout my pregnancy. The book helped me to understand and appreciate just how fortunate we are as women to be able to bear children. The author's detailed description about the pelvic floor and the emphasis on the importance of the exercises is information that should be shared with young women BEFORE their pregnancy. I have been surprised by the number of my patients who have never heard of Kegel exercises or who have no idea they have a pelvic floor! A great book to pass along to all women!
32 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
This book is an unfortunate mix of great information and important exercises combined with organization so poor it is difficult to read. I have found a lot of useful information on keeping my pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in shape, but it has been a real struggle to synthesize this information. The author jumps from prenatal to postnatal exercises within the same chapter, in a way that makes it difficult to figure out a systemtic exercise routine. She redeems herself somewhat with an appendix in the back that lists prenatal and postnatal exercises in order, with a reference to the page number. But it is still difficult to sit down and read this book from cover to cover. I haven't found a better book on exercise before and after childbirth, but I suspect there might be one out there.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Elizabeth's book is a classic in the childbirth field. Her book is the sourcebook for prenatal exercises. I also appreciate the introduction to holistic prenatal care that she provides. Hypnosis is highly effective during pregnancy as studies have shown, Her writing on communication with the unborn baby taps into the most modern research on this topic. Elizabeth Noble has her finger on the pulse of what will be really important in prenatal care for the 21st Century. I recommend this book most highly.
Lewis Mehl-Madrona, M,D, Ph.D. Medical Director Center for Complementary Medicine University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very helpful
This is a great book with useful pregnancy exercises, especially if you want to really strengthen those muscles and keep them in shape after the pregnancy. Read more
Published 3 months ago by blondlostime
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for newly expecting parents!
This was purchased for a couple who are looking forward to expecting soon.. Hopefully it will give the wife helpful tips on how to be healthy while she is pregnant..... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Pamela L. Oester
4.0 out of 5 stars
Use it in my practice
I purchased this book from a suggestion from a seminar I took. It is easy to understand and has simply written passages. Read more
Published 16 months ago by TW34
4.0 out of 5 stars
A great help for the beautiful experience of growing a baby!
This book has some great information to help with staying fit during pregnancy and being prepared for the remarkable experience of giving birth. Read more
Published 19 months ago by MangoMama
4.0 out of 5 stars
How to read this book
I find this book invaluable. These are things that a medical doctor will never take the time to teach you and yet it can increase the chances of a safe, healthy birth experience... Read more
Published on June 24, 2010 by Suca
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hard to read
This book was a disappointment. It is written SO poorly and the exercises are hard to isolate from all the information...that you don't really know what you're doing. Read more
Published on April 27, 2009 by M. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
nurse midwife reviews
A classic, this is the one and only book for pregnancy. Don't waste money on the others....real mind-body solid information. A must have!
Published on January 11, 2009 by Donna Ketcheson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential Reading for pregnant women
My favorite part of Elizabeth Noble's book is the appendix, which contains a list of common ailments and holistic treatments that can be performed on and by pregnant and postpartum... Read more
Published on January 9, 2009 by Callie Foulk
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great Read!
Every mom-to-be or woman trying to get pregnant should read this book, and do the exercises. It's got great exercises for pre and post partum, in addition to phsiological... Read more
Published on November 23, 2008 by Amazon Junkie
5.0 out of 5 stars
essentail exercises for the childbearing years
the book is a good book althought i was a little disappointed becasue there were about 6 pages that didn't print good and the material printed half on one page and the rest on the... Read more
Published on October 12, 2007 by G. Dubon
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