New Well Pregnancy Book: Completely Revised and Updated (Paperback)

by Mike Samuels (Author), Nancy Samuels (Author) "It is with great joy and excitement that I write this second edition of The Well Pregnancy Book..." (more)
Key Phrases: pelvic basket, prepared childbirth techniques, cesarean mothers, United States, Marshall Klaus, Elizabeth Noble (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Now fully revised and updated to reflect the changing developments in obstetrics, The New Well Pregnancy Book is the best and most comprehensive book available for expectant parents. Written by Mike Samuels, M.D., and Nancy Samuels, authors of the bestselling Well Baby Book and Well Child Book, The New Well Pregnancy Book covers the physical and emotional stages of pregnancy, labor, and delivery, including information on:

* RELAXATION AND NATURAL CHILDBIRTH TECHNIQUES
* THE MOTHER'S EXPERIENCE OF LABOR AND DELIVERY
* CESAREAN SECTION, PREGNANCY IN WOMEN OVER 35, AND HIGH-RISK PREGNANCIES
* BREASTFEEDING -- HOW TO PREPARE AND HOW TO GET STARTED
* FULL INFORMATION ON THE EFFECTS OF NUTRITION, EXERCISE, SEX, SMOKING, CAFFEINE, DRUGS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUBSTANCES DURING PREGNANCY

The New Well Pregnancy Book also contains the latest information on the new prenatal tests and medical procedures, and the changing attitudes and preferences of new mothers, all in the down-to-earth, accessible style that the authors are known for. Their ultimate goal is to give parents a positive view of pregnancy and childbirth and help them experience the joys of this wonderful time.

About the Author
Mike and Nancy Samuels have long been committed to teaching people how to have control over their own health, and have been among the strongest advocates in the medical establishment for preventive medicine education and self-care. Mike Samuels, M.D., is a graduate of Brown University and the New York University College of Medicine. Nancy Harrison Samuels, who died in 1993, was a graduate of Brown University and the Bank Street College of Education. They are the authors of The Well Baby Book, The Well Child Book, and The Well Adult. Mike Samuels lives in Bolinas, California.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Fireside; Rev Upd Su edition (June 18, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684810573
• ISBN-13: 978-0684810577
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #399,763 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Women Who Need to Know WHY, November 16, 1999

By	R. Sobrato - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I bought this book after having read all the other more popular pregnancy books, and I found this one to be my favorite. Unlike the others, it includes lots of scientific data and discussion of various studies that answer all the "why" questions I had about pregnancy. Most books tell women to eat right, exercise, and maintain a low-stress lifestyle, but they offer little in the way of explanation of how such choices affect the baby. This book thoroughly explains it all! I'm so thrilled to have found it, I'll recommend it to any pregnant woman I know who is as frustrated as I was to have felt talked-down-to by other, more vague books.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the BEST pregnancy book!, October 24, 2002

By A Customer

I have bought a number of pregnancy books and looked at many more, and this one is definitely the best. I would say that if it is information you are after, don't bother buying any other book - just get this one. Like other reviewers have said, this one actually provides scientific evidence for the claims it makes, and it is well-written and easy to understand too.

Do you want to know about episiotomy (an incision made in the perineum between the vagina and the anus) and if and when it is a good thing? Here's the place to find out. And what about electronic monitoring of the fetus during labour? Sounds like a good thing, right? That's what our intuitions tell us - but what are the empirical facts about its use? This book gives you the evidence. Do you want to know exactly what is happening inside your body during conception, pregnancy, labour, delivery and breast-feeding? This book gives you the physiological details, not just vague, general descriptions.

Doctors, although well-meaning, are not necessarily being rationally guided by the scientific evidence when they perform episiotomies or c-sections and so on. So, in order to have the best chances of having the kind of birth you want, you have to find out the evidence for yourself - and this book helps you to do that. It is, of course, no replacement for a knowledgeable, helpful, sympathetic midwife or doctor (who can answer very specific questions that you have at 3am!) but it is an excellent supplement to their advice.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must-have book for every pregnant woman!, September 13, 1999

By A Customer

When after 6 years of trying I was finally pregnant, I remember the joy of the moment, but also the intense fear of now having to face labor and delivery. This book, like no other, "coached" me during the entire pregnancy, and helped me face labor and delivery without fear. I came to understand fully why my body was doing what it was doing, and I was able to work WITH my body instead of against it. As a result, I was able to have my son without any drugs -- natural childbirth at its best. For any skeptics out there, I always did keep my options open to make use of drugs, should I not be able to cope. No woman's childbirth experience is the same as another's, but understanding what was going on physically helped me deal with it psychologically. For the past 9 years, I have given this book to all my expecting friends. And, I just bought it again for my expecting sister-in-law!