Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

By Janet Walley, Penny Simkin, Ann Keppler and 2 more

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn is one of the bestselling and most comprehensive books about pregnancy, childbirth, and newborn care on the market. Now completely updated, expanded, and redesigned, this authoritative book is the “bible” for expectant parents and childbirth educators.

If you buy only pregnancy book, this is it because…  It's the most complete.  It covers all aspects of childbearing, from conception through early infancy, and tells you what to expect.  It offers detailed information, suggestions, and advice to help make pregnancy, childbirth, and new parenthood an enjoyable, healthy experience.  It's the most up-to-date.  It presents the latest research-based information on interventions during childbirth, revised statistics and discussion on cesarean birth, and new advice to help you make informed decisions about your care.  It's the most authoritative, yet easy to use.  A completely new design makes the information accessible, well organized, and easy to read.  It includes engaging photos, illustrations, and boxed features that highlight important information.

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Meadowbrook
• Release date: Aug 31, 2010
• ISBN: 9781451616002

Reviews for Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn

[eo206 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

My OB recommended that I read this book while I was pregnant. I found it very helpful, especially right before I gave birth. It isn't a good guide for the week-by-week changes that a pregnant woman goes through. It is so much better at explaining labor, delivery, and the changes a body goes through afterwards. The authors also did a wonderful job of talking about the interventions and choices one can make during labor and delivery. I also found myself referring back to it once I came home with my newborn, both for explanations about my newborn and it helped answer some of the missing pieces from labor and delivery. This is one of the best pregnancy and childbirth books-- skip the popular What to Expect guides and get this instead.

[kschloss_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the fifth edition of a book I read, reviewed, and loved many years ago, when I was first starting out as a childbirth educator. Penny Simkin is an authority I respect and admire, and her involvement as author and contributor to this volume adds credence to the content that other books do not have. When I was newly expecting for the first time, I picked up the usual books at Waldenbooks and B. Dalton, that is, commercial offerings like "What To Expect When You're Expecting". It was terrifying. To those books, I say, "If you taken what you're always given, you'll get what you've always gotten." If you choose a book like "Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn", you'll get accurate information and a standpoint from which to make informed decisions. Always advocate for yourself. Inform yourself, and make good decisions for you and your baby. Scorn books like WTEWYE, because those books pander to the medical community, making things convenient for them, not best for you and your baby. "Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn" is well-organized, easy to read, and guides the eye throughout. It does not bore the reader with long text passages, nor does it overwhelm with too much color and graphics making the eye jump around on the page. It is well-designed and chock full of information. If you have a specific question, the answer is easy to locate, and there aren't gaps with chunks of information left out. Yet one does not have to be a consummate medical professional to understand what is being presented. Anything included is also explained in the book. Although the information could be alarming, it is also put in a way that is reassuring ("Yes, this can happen, but the chances are very low. Here is what you'll notice if it is happening, and here is what you can do if it should happen to you.")This comprehensive guide to the year of having a baby is a worthwhile read, and I recommend it for expectant parents, professionals, and anyone interested in the birth process.

[manderers · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There are so many Pregnancy books on the market, and from what I can tell, they all have the same information. The main thing I look for when purchasing a pregnancy book is the layout and presentation of the information. One of the main things I like about this book in particular is that it includes a good amount of information about taking care of your newborn. Most books are either dedicated to Pregnancy and childbirth or Newborn care, but not always both. Another thing I love about this book is that is is easy to read, not dry as some others I have read. When I first received the book, I knew I would like it just by looking at the Table of Contents because everything was arranged and grouped in a way that makes sense to me. Instead having a separate section for each trimester, there were sections for exercises, changes in your body, complicated situations, etc and the trimesters were discussed within those sections. Works for me, but maybe not for others!

[shabacus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A quick survey of the local bookstore, not to mention a search on the topic on Amazon, reveals a bewildering assortment of books on this subject. There are the top sellers with dozens of editions, and the less well known, sometimes very specialized volumes. My initial impression of this book is that it fell right in the middle.For one thing, I appreciated that the language did not read like an article from Cosmopolitan magazine. I never felt like I was being talked down to, or that the language was intended to try to brighten up a dull subject.However, it felt like this book had too broad of a scope. The same number of pages could be written about each of the three topics individually -- and of course, have been, many times over. As a result, this felt more like a survey of several related topics rather than an in-depth guide to any of them.As a resource for its subject matter, it seems like it would be a valuable voice, but should not be the only voice to the first time parent.

[kshelato-562904 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I don't know what I expected from this book, but it didn't deliver. I have not had a child and therefore have many questions. The book touches on many subjects, but does not give enough details or insight for me.

[mnegranza_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I can't say enough good about this book. As a mother of five and a former Certified Childbirth Educator, this is the most well-balanced treatment of pregnancy and birth that I've seen. Its assumption is that the mother is an active partner in the decisions surrounding her birth rather than someone on the receiving end of an expert's magic. It covers all options fully and fairly, using scientifically-supported conclusions as the safety and efficacy of different choices. It is inclusive of diverse family situations and supportive of whatever informed decisions you, as the mother, choose to make.