The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices [Paperback]

Aviva Jill Romm M.D. (Author), Ina May Gaskin (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 21, 2003

Reading THE NATURAL PREGNANCY BOOK is like having your own personal herbalist and midwife at your side. Expertly written by Aviva Jill Romm, who has been providing family-centered natural health care for almost 20 years, it was one of the first books to explore botanical medicine and pregnancy. In this revised and updated edition, Ms. Romm thoughtfully follows the woman’s journey from conception to birth, focusing on natural health. She describes herbs that can promote and maintain a healthy pregnancy (along with those you should avoid during your term) and the basics of a healthy diet, with an emphasis on natural foods. THE NATURAL PREGNANCY BOOK is a complete guide for the woman who envisions a safe pregnancy without technological intervention, as nature intended.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

AVIVA JILL ROMM is a midwife and herbalist who has been the director of the LifeCycles Center for Midwifery and Botanical Medicine since 1985. Current president of the American Herbalists Guild, she is the author of several books and many articles on natural healing and pregnancy issues. Ms. Romm lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and four children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Celestial Arts (May 21, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587611783
• ISBN-13: 978-1587611780
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

77 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're only going to buy one pregnancy book, buy this one, October 17, 2000

By 

Laura B "laura-doula" (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices (Paperback)

This book is *much* more helpful than many others on the market, in my not always so humble opinion. Very sound advice, suggestions, great tone/approach overall. Because when it comes right down to it, nutrition is THE biggest thing we have control of, while pregnant. Even if one does not want to invest in or "do" all the herbs she suggests throughout the text, the basic pregnancy and nutritional advice is very sound, and ultimately, helpful throughout a woman's life. Funny... another reviewer mentioned pagan content. I've owned, referred to and personally used this book for two years, and have never noticed anything "pagan" about it. Does merely recognizing the spiritual aspects of birth count as pagan? If so, I guess I must be a pagan, too. Modern obstetrics would have us ignore the spiritual/emotional aspects of birth, seemingly entirely, but... the food we eat nourishes not only our unborn children, but our own souls, as well. Check out this wonderful book/approach to pregnancy, birth and life.

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Much better than the "Expecting" book, April 4, 2001

By 

"tlroot" (Drake, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices (Paperback)

After having read the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book, and hating it, a friend gave this book to me during my fourth month of pregnancy (with my first baby). I really like this book, even though Ms. Romm is kind of corny and extreme in some of her ideas. (What if I don't want to "wear my stretch marks like silver jewelry"?)

The book has great suggestions for alternative ways to deal with the discomforts of pregnancy. It also teaches you to love yourself, and to value yourself for what your body is able to do.

It doesn't have a detailed month-by-month account of what to expect. Rather, it lets you say what you're experiencing now, rather than on someone else's timeline, and gives you suggestions for dealing with it positively. I credit this book with helping me to find non-medication ways of dealing with depression, so I can actually enjoy being pregnant during my last trimester.

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing natural approach to pregnancy, July 31, 2000

By 

"amy_l" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices (Paperback)

Romm's book is refreshing and helpful for women seeking a more natural approach to the joys and discomforts of pregnancy. As a midwife, herbalist, and mother, the author offers wise and inspirational knowledge that she has culled over the years.

The book is divided into chapters and sections dealing with many aspects of pregnancy, including physical and emotional changes, nutrition, exercise, safe herbal remedies for common discomforts, and even a chapter written by her husband directed toward pregnancy partners. Though it may not have all the specific details of what is happening developmentally each and every week, as some books do, it does offer overall treatment of many common pregnancy topics and questions.

Romm believes that pregnancy and birth are natural parts of life, not illnesses to be dealt with medically. When common concerns do arise, she offers suggestions for dealing with the emotional and physical aspects of the concerns, through healthy thinking, healthy eating, and herbal remedies that are safe for pregnancy. She encourages a proactive approach toward excellent living, rather than a pill or shot that will temporarily relieve symptoms.

I enjoyed the positive, nurturing tone of the book, as the author's obvious love of pregnancy as a time of wonderful change is communicated in many ways. The book is nourishing, and encourages the reader to enjoy the splendors of pregnancy by communicating with the baby, finding creative outlets for the mother-to-be's questions and energy, and so on. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be more involved with the natural and emotional aspects of pregnancy, rather than just knowing what week the baby grew fingernails and how much weight guidelines say you should gain per week, on which many pregnancy guides tend to focus.