The Whole Pregnancy Handbook: An Obstetrician's Guide to Integrating Conventional and Alternative Medicine Before, During, and After Pregnancy (Paperback)

~ Joel Evans (Author), Robin Aronson (Author)
Key Phrases: call your caregiver, contact your caregiver, call your care provider, Braxton Hicks, United States, Jacques Depardieu (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

As any pregnant woman knows, there are an overwhelming number of books on the pregnancy resource shelves, and choosing the right one can be trying. Two forces are at work: one conventional, one alternative. Which road to take? Evans has found a solution to the problem by offering a volume that nicely combines both approaches. The author, founder and director of an integrative holistic health center in Fairfield County, Conn., has written a thorough, supportive and comforting pregnancy book that covers preconceptions about health, mind-body medicine and fertility options; the emotional and physical impacts of pregnancy; nutritional needs, exercise, prenatal testing; medical complications, labor and birth (including vaginal births and cesareans); and postpartum. Appendixes suggest books for further reading and music for relaxation and meditation, list Web sites that sell nutritional supplements and botanical medications, explain terms like acupressure and vinyasa, give yoga poses for pregnant women and present readers with the opportunity to record their "food, beverage, physical activity and symptoms" during pregnancy. This thoughtful book lays out the numerous options available to pregnant women, and is essential reading for those who want to thoroughly savor one of the most "fulfilling and transforming" phases of life as a parent. Agent, Janis Donnaud. (Apr.)
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Review

At last! A grounded and highly readable scientific guide to pregnancy that combines the best of both worlds—conventional and alternative -- Christiane Northrup, MD, author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

Every OB/GYN and pregnant woman should use this book as their reference for all aspects of pregnancy. -- Judith Balk, MD MPH, Magee-Womens Hospital

I'll recommend it to pregnant women and health professionals as well. -- Michel Odent, MD, author of Birth Reborn and The Caesarean

On behalf of the many doctors and their patients that will value from this book I applaud Dr. Evan’s efforts. -- Jeffrey Bland, Ph.D., Chairman, Institute for Functional Medicine

Readers of Evans' book can learn from his wisdom and the extensive information his book contains. -- Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Help Me To Heal and 365 Prescriptions For The Soul

The Whole Pregnancy Handbook is one of the best prenatal guides available ... This is integrative healthcare at its best. -- Larry Dossey, MD, author of Healing Beyond the Body, Reinventing Medicine, and Healing Words

[Joel Evans] is a leader in combining the best of modern medicine with safe and effective holistic practices. -- Irwin R. Merkatz, MD

…Effective integration of conventional and natural medicine provides comprehensive, authoritative guidance. -- Joe Pizzorno, ND, Co-Author, Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine

…a wonderful gift for women. Dr. Evans has created a goldmine of information, practical and comprehensive. -- Leo Galland, MD, author of Superimmunity for Kids

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 576 pages
• Publisher: Gotham; 1 edition (April 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592401112
• ISBN-13: 978-1592401116
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #26,296 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Pregnancy Handbook, April 29, 2005

By	E. Stern (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am currently pregnant with my second child and thought I did not need any more pregnancy books. However, I was recently browsing in a bookstore and came across the Whole Pregnancy Handbook and quickly found myself engrossed in its clear explanations of pregnancy and birth and the conventional and alternative approaches to both routine and more unusual pregnancy and birth situations. In the past, I have been put off by "over-zealous" pregnancy books so I loved the way that this book offers clear, non-alarmist and non-judgmental information on a wide range of ways to promote healthy pregnancy, babies and birth. The anecdotes from real women are particularly great--- they give you a sense of how many different women experience pregnancy and birth. I also loved the yoga section and the timeline that describes what is happening in the mother's body and in the fetus month-by-month throughout the pregnancy. I recommend this book highly for anyone who is looking for "one-stop shopping" that brings together a wide range of approaches to conception, pregnancy and birth that, until now, have been isolated from one another in "conventional" and "alternative" pregnancy books.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I would have had this sooner, July 11, 2005

By	A. M. Kreidle - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a mother of 2 little ones, I found this book right on target for my needs as an educated professional pregnant woman though I only wish I could have had it about 9 months ago! It provided me with just enough medical knowledge so that I could have had a professional conversation with my OB during my pregnancy. I also found it quite comprehensive about my choices of caring for myself and my baby.

I hope that the word gets out that this book is available.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best pregnancy book ever, December 17, 2005

By	April (Frederick, MD) - See all my reviews

Burning the evil "What to Expect when You're Expecting," I bought this book and I was amazed and how thorough this book was. It cover all the bases. All the natural remedies for common ailments, yoga poses, pregnancy diet, and everything you need to know. No scary stuff here. It's all straight forward and very comforting to read. If you want a pregnancy book, buy this book!