Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth [Paperback]

Paula Spencer (Author), Parenting Magazine Editors (Draft Writer)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 1998

THE ONLY PREGNANCY RESOURCE YOU'LL EVER NEED!

For the past decade, Parenting magazine has gained the loyal readership of smart, involved parents by getting to the heart of what moms and dads need to know about raising a child. Now Parenting, with an advisory board of leading experts, have created a comprehensive sourcebook to give parents-to-be--and their newborns--the best start possible. The Parenting Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth takes you from conception through the first weeks of a baby's life. Here is up-to-the minute information on:



What's Going on in Your Body: Common changes

Tips for a good night's sleep
When to call the doctor
Pregnancy and sex


What's Going on in Your Head: Mood swings
Miscarriage fears
Ways to feel your best


How Baby Grows: Trimester-by-trimester look at fetal development

First flutters and kicks
Prematurity


Checkups and Tests: Choosing a caregiver

All about prenatal tests
Genetic counseling
Eating and fitness: sensible weight gain
Sneaking in nutrients
Foods to avoid
Exercise basics
Getting your body back after pregnancy


Special Situations: Multiple births

Placenta problems
Gestational diabetes
Older mom
Bed rest
The breech baby


The Big Day: Why every labor is different

Pain management
Stage of labor
Epidural pros and cons
Cesarean birth


Plus: Work Concerns

Newborn basics
  Naming baby
Travel tips
Real moms' advice stories
Handy checklists
And much more!


* With illustrations throughout *

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Spencer, a contributing editor of Parenting magazine, has written what she hopes will be "a real person's guide to having a baby," drawing on recent medical research, old wives' tales, her own pregnancies (she wrote this during her third), and the experiences of many other mothers. Attempting to look at the whole person during pregnancy, she gives first-time mothers some idea of what to expect. Spencer covers each week of pregnancy and the common problems or issues that arise, also discussing labor, delivery, recovery, and newborn care. Spencer's writing style is very readable, and the chapters progress quite logically. This will be a complementary addition to such books as Nancy Evans's The A to Z of Pregnancy and Childbirth: A Concise Encyclopedia (Hunter House, 1993). For consumer health/patient education collections.?Mary J. Jarvis, Methodist Hosp. Medical Lib., Lubbock, Tex.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

No detail of the compelling story of human reproduction was too trivial to exclude from this upbeat, reassuring guide to the "four trimesters" of pregnancy, childbirth, and the first weeks of life. Organized to address "what real women really want to know," the sourcebook covers everything from fetal development, exercise, nutrition, bodily changes, emotional issues, labor, and special situations to maternity clothing, sex, leaves from work, and the basics of newborn care--all in a lively, down-to-earth, and savvy manner. Spencer, who was, appropriately, pregnant throughout the book's gestation, anticipates the questions that anxious first-time parents have and answers them with just the right amount of information, clearly presented. Photos and other illustrations and the personal accounts of new mothers add to the user-friendly handbook's appeal and help it compare favorably with Antonia Van der Meer's excellent Great Expectations (1993). Kathryn Carpenter

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books; 1 edition (March 3, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 034541179X
• ISBN-13: 978-0345411792
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,458,714 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Paula Spencer is the "Momfidence!" columnist for Woman's Day magazine and a longtime contributing editor to Parenting and Babytalk. She's collaborated on numerous books about parenting, pregnancy and women's health, including The Happiest Toddler on the Block, Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth, and The V Book. She's also a featured expert at ClubMom.com, an "un-advice columnist" at womansday.com, and a weekly guest on KSBJ radio.

See her daily momfidence-booster blog at www.momfidence.com.

She credits her unfashionable lack of paranoia about childrearing to having studied at the feet of the masters, both the tall (Spock, Brazelton, Leach, Sears, Ferber, Karp) and the small (Henry, Eleanor, Margaret, and Page'her own four children).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Thumbs Up!, March 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Paperback)

Having bought a lot of books during my first pregnancy, this book clearly came out as the 'winner' in all categories. First, it is written in plain and simple english that anyone can easily understand. It is well-organized, so creatively in fact using a real pregnant model in its "four trimesters" chapters also showing the changes in her body each trimester brings. The topics progressively expand to those in which an expectant mom currently faces and the variety of 'new things' she experiences, in that certain time frame. The real-life stories of pregnant mothers, their experiences, challenges and how they've handled their trying ordeals makes any apprehensive and excited expectant mom feel positive and enthusiastic about herself. Also,it is very informative and exhausts all its efforts to do outstanding research. It is medically-sound and contains little or no biases. It even answers questions to old wives tales many infancticipating moms hear lots about. It is the most up-to-date pregnancy book among all I've read. My husband too learned much of what I've went through through this book. My only regret is that its fourth trimester chapter ended too soon.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful for Dad too!, December 24, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Paperback)

I read sections of the book just ahead of what my wife was going through each week and found them very useful as they covered everything I needed to know. It helped me understand and as a result I became more patient with her. I found the "What if..." and "Is it true..." sections most enlightening as they clarify and debunk alot of the "myths" we in Asian culture believe in. The book is also based on updated medical research and practices. We are delighted to have received this as a gift.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great week by week book, April 4, 2000

By 

Kelly (Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Parenting Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth (Paperback)

I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to any one who is pregnant. This was my first pregnancy and it walked me threw week by week and I totally felt prepared. I loved know when to expect movements and the heart beat. I felt more prepared when I went to the Dr. and all in all I loved the book