Table of Contents
Introduction xi
Chapter 1 You're Having a Baby! 1
Pregnancy: A Time for Change and Preparation 2
Birth as a Long-Term Memory 3
Your Mother's Memories of Giving Birth 3
Making Decisions for a Satisfying Pregnancy and Birth 4
More than the Birth of a Baby 5
Chapter 2 So Many Choices 6
Informed Decision Making 8
Health-Care Coverage 10
Choosing a Birthplace 11
Choosing Your Caregiver 14
Choosing Childbirth Classes 19
All about Birth Doulas 20
Your Baby's Health Care 21
Finding Help after Your Baby's Birth 23
Ten Steps to Improve Your Chances of Having a Safe and Satisfying Birth 26
Chapter 3 Common Changes and Concerns in Pregnancy 28
Your Body's Preparation for Pregnancy 30
Conceiving Your Baby 31
Now That You're Pregnant 32
First Trimester Changes for You and Your Baby 35
Second Trimester Changes for You and Your Baby 39
Third Trimester Changes for You and Your Baby 42
Common Concerns and Considerations in Pregnancy 47
A Note to Expectant Fathers 51
Nontraditional Families 54
Special Challenges in Pregnancy 56
Chapter 4 Having a Healthy Pregnancy 58
Caring for Yourself and Your Baby during Pregnancy 60
Prenatal Care 61
Treating Illness and Discomforts during Pregnancy 70
Substances and Hazards to Avoid during Pregnancy 72
Traveling during Pregnancy 78
Chapter 5 Feeling Good and Staying Fit 80
Maintaining Good Posture and Moving with Care 82
Exercise in Pregnancy 85
Core Exercises to Prepare You for Labor 89
Postural Exercises to Align Your Body 93
Yoga Poses to Align Your Body, Mind, and Spirit 95
Comfort Measures for Common Discomforts in Pregnancy 98
Chapter 6 Eating Well 102
Good Nutrition during Pregnancy 104
Nutrients 107
Weight Gain during Pregnancy 111
Common Concerns 113
Food Safety 114
Nutrition for Special Circumstances 116
Chapter 7 When Pregnancy Becomes Complicated 118
Chronic Conditions That May Affect Your Pregnancy 120
Complications That Arise in Pregnancy 121
Preterm Labor 129
Complications with the Placenta 132
High Blood Pressure and Gestational Hypertension 133
Breech and Other Difficult Presentations 136
Diagnostic Tests 139
Chapter 8 Planning for Birth and Postpartum 142
The Importance of Planning for Birth 144
Your Birth Plan 145
Preparing Your Birth Plan 147
Your Postpartum Plan 152
Preparations for Your Baby's Birth 154
Chapter 9 When and How Labor Begins 156
The Last Weeks of Your Pregnancy 158
Key Vocabulary for Late Pregnancy and Labor 159
How to Distinguish between Prelabor and Early Labor 162
Early Labor Record 167
Chapter 10 What Childbirth Is Really Like 168
Stages and Phases of Labor 170
First Stage of Labor: Dilation 171
First Phase: Early Labor 172
Second Phase: Active Labor 178
Third Phase: Transition 184
Short, Fast Labor 187
Second Stage of Labor: Birth of Your Baby 188
Your Baby's Birth 195
Third Stage of Labor: Delivery of the Placenta 196
Fourth Stage of Labor: Recovery and Family Bonding 198
Chapter 11 Labor Pain and Options for Pain Relief 202
Why Labor Is Painful 204
Your Perception of Pain 204
Options for Pain Relief 209
Determining Your Preferences for Pain Relief 213
Preparing to Labor without Pain Medications 217
Preparing to Labor with Pain Medications 221
Chapter 12 Comfort Techniques for Pain Relief and Labor Progress 222
Finding Your Own Way to Cope with Labor Pain: The Three Rs 224
Comfort Techniques for Labor 226
Relaxation and Tension Release 232
Relaxation Techniques 234
Movement and Positions for Labor 238
Breathing Techniques as Comfort Measures 241
Comfort Techniques for Back Pain, Slow Labor, or an Extra-challenging Labor 247
Comfort Techniques for the Second Stage of Labor (Pushing) 250
Practice Time as a Rehearsal for Labor 254
Chapter 13 Medications for Pain Relief during Labor 256
Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Pain Medications 258
Key Vocabulary of Pain Medications 259
Systemic Medications 260
IV or IM Narcotics or Narcotic-Like Medications 261
Local and Regional Anesthetics 262
Regional (Neuraxial) Analgesia: Epidurals and Spinals 265
Chapter 14 When Childbirth Becomes Complicated 270
Labor Complications and Interventions 272
Pregnancy Complications That Affect Labor 273
Problems during Transition from Pregnancy to Labor 274
Challenges That Arise in Labor 284
Prolonged Second Stage of Labor 290
Problems after the Birth 293
Chapter 15 All about Cesarean Birth 298
Cesarean Birth Trends 300
Risks and Benefits of Cesarean Birth 301
The Cesarean Procedure 306
Recovery 311
Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC) 315
Having the Best Possible Cesarean Birth 320
Chapter 16 What Life Is Like for a New Parent 322
Your Care in the Days Following the Birth 324
Your Physical Recovery: Early Postpartum Period 325
Your Physical Recovery: Later Postpartum Period 330
Caring for Yourself after the Birth 330
Postpartum Fitness 332
Adapting to Postpartum Life 337
Factors That Influence Your Adjustment to Postpartum Life 340
Postpartum Emotional Challenges 341
Putting Parenthood into Perspective 342
Chapter 17 When Postpartum Becomes Complicated 344
Physical Challenges after the Birth 346
Traumatic Birth Experience 350
Emotional and Mental Health Challenges 351
Relationship Challenges 355
Returning to Work 357
Chapter 18 Caring for Your Baby 358
Meeting Your Baby 360
What Happens after the Birth 363
Caring for Your Baby at Home 367
Your Baby's Communication 372
Your Baby's Sleeping and Waking Patterns 375
Your Baby's Growth and Development 378
Medical Care for Your Baby 381
Babies with Special Circumstances 386
Chapter 19 Feeding Your Baby 388
What to Feed Your Baby 390
When to Feed Your Baby 393
Breastfeeding 396
Common Breastfeeding Concerns 410
Expressing and Storing Breast Milk 412
Feeding Your Baby Expressed Breast Milk or Supplemental Formula 414
Formula-Feeding 418
Chapter 20 When Breastfeeding Becomes Challenging 420
Breastfeeding Problems and Solutions 422
Situations That May Make Breastfeeding Challenging 427
Working Outside the Home 430
Relactation 431
Sometimes, It's Okay to Quit 431
Chapter 21 When You're Pregnant Again 432
What to Expect with This Pregnancy and Birth 434
Your Emotional Reactions to Having Another Baby 435
Including Your Child in Your Pregnancy 435
Including Your Child at the Birth 438
Helping Your Child Adjust to the New Baby 440
Appendixes 443
Road Map of Labor 444
Summary of Normal Labor 446
Recommended Resources 451
Notes 455
Glossary 469
Index 479
