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Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (4th Edition): The Complete Guide Paperback – July 27, 2010
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Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide is already one of the bestselling pregnancy books on the market, with more than one million copies in print! Now newly revised and redesigned, this comprehensive, authoritative “bible” provides expectant couples with abundant, valuable information about pregnancy, labor, birth, the postpartum period, and newborn care.
This award-winning book presents the latest research-based information on pregnancy, birth, and early parenthood, including:
• New information on complementary-medicine approaches such as acupuncture
• Updated information on interventions during childbirth
• Revised statistics and discussions on cesarean birth and vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC)
• New advice on informed decision-making, one of the hottest topics in maternity care today
• Plus much, much more!
The book has been redesigned so it’s more accessible and reader-friendly, with more photos, illustrations, and boxed features that allow for important information to be highlighted. Also included in the new design are fun and informative sidebars, such as “Common Q&As” about pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care; “In Their Own Words,” in which parents describe their pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting experiences from their point of view; and “Fact or Fiction?” in which the authors present common misinformation and the facts. New to this edition is an accompanying website, www.PCNGuide.com, where readers can find additional maternity care information as well as helpful forms and worksheets.
Mom’s Choice Awards Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (2010) – GOLD AWARD: Pregnancy & Childbirth; iParenting Media Awards Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn (2009) – Best Products Winner: Book; Living Now Book Awards Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide (2009) – Family (Parenting/Health/Safety): BRONZE AWARD; National Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA) Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn (2009) – GOLD AWARD: Parenting Resources; USABookNews.com Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn (2009) – WINNER: Parenting/Family: Pregnancy & Childbirth; ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Awards Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn (2008) – FINALIST: Parenting
- Print length512 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherMeadowbrook
- Publication dateJuly 27, 2010
- Dimensions7 x 1 x 9 inches
- ISBN-10143917511X
- ISBN-13978-1439175118
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Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, 2nd Edition: 2nd Edition: Fully Revised and UpdatedDr. Myra J. Wick M.D. Ph.D.Paperback
Editorial Reviews
Review
—Christiane Northrup, MD, Author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause
“Women can only make informed choices when they’re able to get comprehensive information on the many decisions that come up during pregnancy, labor, birth, and the postpartum period. This book provides such information. I heartily recommend it to all pregnant women!”
—Ina May Gaskin, Author of Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth, Ina May’s Guide to Breastfeeding, and Spiritual Midwifery
“Current research, wisdom, and women’s voices together create the most comprehensive book on understanding your options. It will educate, inspire, and nurture you to make informed decisions as you welcome your baby into the world.”
—Debra Pascali-Bonaro LCCE, CD (DONA), PCD (DONA), Coauthor of Orgasmic Birth: Your Guide to a Safe, Satisfying and Pleasurable Birth Experience; director, Orgasmic Birth: The Best-Kept Secret
“Once again the authors have provided the right information, at the right time, and have delivered it with the kind of reassuring expertise that helps expectant parents prepare for the most meaningful moment of their lives.”
—Bernie Dorsey, Founder of Conscious Fathering
“This is the revision we have been waiting for! It is the best book for parents…and a wonderful resource.”
—Kathleen A. Lindstrom, CD (DONA), LCCE, FACCE, Perinatal Program Manager, Douglas College, Coquitlam, BC
“This book is authoritative without feeling overwhelming. It keeps the woman and her family in focus and provides a range of options. If expectant parents could have one book, this would be the one.”
—Trish Booth, MA, LCCE, FACCE, Childbirth education consultant, Manlius, NY
“A truly wonderful book for expectant families. It’s informative, thorough, and helpful. We give it to all our patients, and they think it’s great, too!”
—Carolyn Kline, MD, MPH, Perinatologist Eastside Maternal Fetal Medicine, Kirkland and Bellevue, WA
“The material is beautifully organized and the presentation is crystal clear.”
—Sheila Kitzinger, Author of The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth
“For the most part, pregnancy books are written for and read by women, but if you’re a caring father (or father-to-be), this is an outstanding book. It gives the fairest and most complete descriptions of the myriad medical options available during childbirth. It is the best of the many books available.”
—Tom Seager, father of three, Potsdam, NY
"Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn has been a standard guide for expecting parents since the first edition in 1979. With the 4th edition, the book has undergone some amazing changes. The pages are more graphical in design and easier to search, with each chapter broken into smaller sections. Sidebars break up the text so important information can be pointed out easily to the reader. Lots of sketches and black and white photographs adorn the pages. Easy-to-read charts describe trimester changes, sample fetal movement counts, newborn tests, procedures and much more.
The book covers everything from prenatal nutrition to making a birth plan. Doulas, pain relief options and homebirth are all presented in a fair, evenhanded manner, leaving the reader to decide what options may be best for herself and her baby. The authors have done an excellent job at outlining the many options available to pregnant and birthing women today. There is an entire chapter describing what labor may be like, as well as one about possible complications. I liked that these two were separate; moms-to-be can read about what normally happens, and then go on to learn about possible complications. The book does this with postpartum, too. There is a chapter on cesareans and one on breastfeeding.
The book also includes helpful appendices on common medications used in labor, a summary of normal labor without pain medications and recommended resources that readers may want to pursue. All in all, a wonderful book has been made even better. I would recommend all midwives keep this book in their lending library for new parents. It would also make an excellent baby shower gift."
Toni Rakestraw, Midwifery Today Issue 97
About the Author
Janet Whalley, a registered nurse and lactation consultant (IBCLC), has been a childbirth educator since 1975.
Ann Keppler, a registered nurse, parish nurse, and lactation specialist, has taught childbirth classes and new-parent classes since 1975.
Janelle Durham, a social worker, has worked with new parents since 1993. She is a birth doula, childbirth educator, and lactation educator.
April Bolding has a doctorate in physical therapy and is a childbirth educator, birth doula, water fitness instructor, and author.
Product details
- Publisher : Meadowbrook; 4th edition (July 27, 2010)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 512 pages
- ISBN-10 : 143917511X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1439175118
- Item Weight : 1.75 pounds
- Dimensions : 7 x 1 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,201,455 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #621 in Obstetrics & Gynecology (Books)
- #2,082 in Pregnancy & Childbirth (Books)
- #2,198 in Baby & Toddler Parenting
- Customer Reviews:
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About the author

Penny Simkin, PT, is a physical therapist who has specialized in childbirth education and labor support since 1968. She estimates she has prepared over 13,000 women, couples, and siblings for childbirth. She has assisted hundreds of women and couples through childbirth as a doula. She is author or co-author of books for both parents and professionals, including “The Labor Progress Handbook;” “Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide;” “When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women;” “The Birth Partner: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and All Other Labor Companions,” She has developed teaching materials for birth classes and produced several videos for educators, doulas, and families , the latest of which is for siblings-to-be, “There’s a Baby.” She is co-founder of DONA International (formerly Doulas of North America) and PATTCh (Prevention and Treatment of Traumatic Childbirth). Currently, she serves on the editorial board of the journal, Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care, and serves on the senior faculty of the Simkin Center for Allied Birth Vocations at Bastyr University, which was named in her honor. Today, her practice consists of childbirth education, birth counseling, combined with a busy schedule of conferences and workshops. Find out more about Penny at her website: www.pennysimkin.com.
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For full disclosure, I approached this first pregnancy considering a natural childbirth but open to using drugs if needed. Since I come from a family of physicians I was skeptical of going too far off the holistic deep-end. I wanted to stay within a comfort zone that balanced following my body and practicing the best evidence-based medicine. After reading many Amazon reviews, I bought this book and was very very happy in its approach to preparing for and giving birth. The book does a great job of showing the range of options. For example, The book provides at least 3 sample birth plans ranging from mothers who wanted and epidural to mothers who wanted to give birth in a birthing center.
A potential con is if you're interested in week by week drawings of your little fetus and getting updates on what fruit or vegetable s/he is, then you'll need to augment this book with the Mayo Clinic Pregnancy Book or sign up for Baby Center's week by week email. Penny Simkin's book will cover general fetus development and what you can expect in each phase of your pregnancy but invests much more in the types of proactive exercises you can be doing to prepare for the birthing process. There is also a section at the end on how to prepare for the newborn, breastfeed and other aspects of basic newborn care.
The book has simple pictures to illustrate techniques. My husband and I started about 2 months before our due date by spending 5-30 minutes each night practicing some of the suggested natural birthing management techniques. There were so many different techniques but the book did a great job of suggesting short routines so that we could work on a few techniques each night. It was great "us" time too!
In addition, there are also sections on possible interventions such as a c-section, different drug options, membrane stripping, etc. It was great to be exposed to these possibilities early on so that I could make the appropriate decision and refer back to the book as needed.
I highly recommend this book for people that are looking for a little more information on what you can do proactively as you're preparing for your childbirth. The book is supportive of both drug-assisted and drug-free deliveries. We lucked out and had a drug-free delivery - I really surprised myself! It was a fantastic experience and this book really helped me prepare.
Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2023
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2021
Truly a valiant effort and a success. I recommend this book to everyone thinking on having a baby.













