PART 1 Enjoying a Healthy Pregnancy
Chapter 1 Preparing to become pregnant
Is the time right?
Questions to ask
Is your body ready?
Contraception • Immunization • Medical conditions • Medications and supplements • Prenatal vitamins • Sexually transmitted infections • Family history • Previous pregnancies • Lifestyle • Additional nutrients
How to get pregnant
When you’re most fertile • Maximizing your fertility • Healthy sperm • If you’re having trouble
Are you pregnant?
Early symptoms • Home pregnancy tests
Choosing a care provider
Obstetricians-gynecologists • Nurse midwives • Family physicians • Maternal-fetal medicine specialists • Choosing a birth location • How to decide
Delayed pregnancy and fertility
Issues to consider • Making healthy choices
Chapter 2 Healthy choices during pregnancy
Pregnancy diet
Making every bite count • Foods to avoid • Vegetarian tips • The good stuff • Taking supplements • Folate and folic acid • Calcium • Protein • Iron • Getting your D
Gaining weight
What’s healthy? • If you’re overweight • If you’re underweight • Slow and steady • Your weight goal • Determining your BMI • Where the weight goes
Staying active
Baby, let’s move! • When to use caution • Listen to your body • Working in workouts • Sports and pregnancy • Activities to approach with care • Pregnancy exercises
Playing it smart
Caffeine • Caffeine counter • Alcohol • Tobacco • Illicit drugs
Making sense of medications
What’s safe? • What’s not safe? • A medication guide • What about herbal products? • Birth control pills and pregnancy
Working while pregnant
Handling fatigue • Bending, lifting and standing • Proper way to lift • Avoiding harmful substances
Traveling wisely
Airplane travel • Destinations to avoid • Sea travel • Car travel • Proper seat belt use
Common questions
Falls • Flu shot and other vaccinations • Colds and allergies • Acne Lactose intolerance • Hair coloring • Hot tubs and saunas • X-rays Cell phones, computers and microwaves • Mosquito bites • Household cleaners •Paint fumes • Litter boxes • Pregnancy and cavities • Water parks
Chapter 3 For dads and partners
How to take part
Getting through the first trimester together
Minimize nausea triggers • Your symptoms (you get them too) • Help combat fatigue • Ride out the mood swings • Remember it will pass
Sex during pregnancy
Staying intimate
Labor and delivery worries
Educate yourself about childbirth • Map your route • Install an infant car seat • Keep a copy of the birth plan • Pack your bags • Manage communications
Common anxieties
Take action • Stay involved
PART 2 Pregnancy Month by Month
Introduction
Why 10 months?
Pregnancy calendar
A week-by-week checklist
How to respond
A guide to troublesome signs and symptoms
Chapter 4 Month 1: Weeks 1 to 4
Baby’s growth
Week by week • X and Y
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Estimating your due date • Baby’s sex: Can parents choose?
Your emotions
Mixed feelings • Mood swings • Your partner’s reaction • Your relationship with your partner
Scheduling a prenatal checkup
Getting yourself prepped • Exercise of the month
Chapter 5 Month 2: Weeks 5 to 8
Baby’s growth
Week by week • Can stress cause miscarriage? • What to avoid
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Spotting • Exercise of the month
Coping with morning sickness
Hormones and more • How to ease the queasiness • The ‘warmed up’ effect
Your emotions
Anticipation • Worries and concerns
Prenatal checkup
What’s going to happen? • First appointment checklist
Twins, triplets, quads and more
How multiples are made • Fraternal vs. identical • What it means for mom • Possible complications
Chapter 6 Month 3: Weeks 9 to 12
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • That pregnancy glow
Your emotions
Dealing with body image
Prenatal checkup
Prenatal tests: Yes, no, not sure? • Boy or girl: Do you want to know? • Exercise of the month • Sex during pregnancy
Chapter 7 Month 4: Weeks 13 to 16
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • ‘Congestion’ problems • Exercise of the month
Your emotions
Feeling productive
Time to go shopping
Prenatal checkup
Thinking ahead to child care
Child care options • Making your decision • Work and family balance
Chapter 8 Month 5: Weeks 17 to 20
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Exercise of the month
Your emotions
Baby on the move! • ‘Baby brain’
Prenatal checkup
What is centering pregnancy?
Cord blood banking
Public vs. private • Should you consider it?
Chapter 9 Month 6: Weeks 21 to 24
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Is it false or true labor? • Exercise of the month
Your emotions
Confronting your fears • Being intimate
Prenatal checkup
Childbirth classes
Different types • What to look for • Thinking ahead: Finding a care provider for your baby
Chapter 10 Month 7: Weeks 25 to 28
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where
Your emotions
Enjoy a little break
Prenatal checkup
Exercise of the month • Losing your personal space • Glucose challenge testing • Rh antibodies testing
The breast or bottle question
A tough decision for some women • Sagging breasts
Chapter 11 Month 8: Weeks 29 to 32
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Changes in baby’s movement • Exercise of the month • Watching out for preterm labor
Your emotions
Handling anxiety • Finding a comfortable sleep position
Prenatal checkup
Baby gear essentials
Buying a car seat • Buying a crib • Buying a baby carrier
Chapter 12 Month 9: Weeks 33 to 36
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Exercise of the month
Preparing your body for labor
Kegel exercises • Perineal massage
Your emotions
Preparing yourself for labor
Prenatal checkup
Strep test • Checking baby’s position
Your birth plan
Birth plan checklist • Pain control
Chapter 13 Month 10: Weeks 37 to 40
Baby’s growth
Week by week • How baby comes out
Your body changes
What’s happening and where • Where the weight is going
Your emotions
Time to relax
Techniques to keep you calm
Prenatal checkup
Exercise of the month • When to call • What to do when baby’s overdue
Chapter 14 Labor and childbirth
While you wait
Review your plan • Preregister at the hospital • Pack your bag Try to relax
How your body prepares
Common questions • Labor signals • Position and station • Signs you’re in labor • Can you kick-start labor?
It’s time! — or is it?
False alarms • What’s that for?
Stages of labor and childbirth
What does labor feel like? • Stage 1 • Labor positions • Factors that can speed or slow labor • Back labor • How baby comes out • Stage 2 • Stage 3
If you’re the labor coach
During early labor • During active labor • During transition and delivery • During pushing and delivery
Chapter 15 Cesarean birth
When is a C-section done?
Reasons why • What about elective C-sections?
The risks
Risks for you • Risks for your baby • Is there a limit? • Dealing with the unexpected
What you can expect
Preparation • The operating room • The recovery room
After surgery
Recovery • Your partner’s involvement • Restrictions • Possible complications
PART 3 Baby Is Finally Here
Chapter 16 Your newborn
Your baby’s appearance
Head • Skin • Hair • Eyes • Jennifer’s story
Newborn care
Examinations • Treatments and vaccinations • Screening tests
Circumcision
Issues to consider • How it’s done • Circumcision care
Newborn issues
Jaundice • Infection • Learning to eat
The premature newborn
The setting • The neonatal intensive care unit team • What baby may look like • Getting involved • Complications of prematurity • When your baby is hospitalized
Chapter 17 Taking baby home
Your baby’s world
Reflexes and senses • Crying • Swaddling baby • Coping with colic • Eating and sleeping • Developing good sleep habits • ‘Back’ to sleep • Peeing and pooping • First bowel movements
Baby-care basics
Holding your baby • Changing diapers • Diaper rash • Bathing Skin care • Cradle cap • Umbilical cord care • Nail care • Clothing
Twins, triplets or more
Getting through the first weeks
Chapter 18 Issues for mom
Breast care
Engorgement • Leaking milk • Sore or cracked nipples • Blocked ducts
Bowel and urination problems
Hemorrhoids • Bowel movements • Urine leakage • Difficulty urinating
Healing
Afterpains • Episiotomies and tears • Vaginal discharge
Getting back into shape
Fatigue • Hair and skin • Weight loss • Exercise
The baby blues
Causes • Dealing with the blues • Signs and symptoms • Is it more than the blues?
Baby bonding
Give it time
Chapter 19 Managing as parents
Early survival tips
Tackling transitional stress • Getting enough sleep • When sleep becomes a struggle • Negotiating household chores • Paying for baby
Parenting as a team
Common feelings after childbirth • The importance of support • Setting the tone • What makes a strong, healthy family?
Finding time for yourself and each other
Getting away on your own • Getting away together • Sex after pregnancy
Single parenthood
Hang in here
PART 4 Important Decisions of Pregnancy
Chapter 20 Genetic screening
What is it?
Different types of genetic tests
Issues to consider
8 key questions
Family history screening
Population-based screening • Genetic diseases
How it’s done
Understanding the results
Chapter 21 Prenatal testing
Issues to consider
6 key questions
The tests
Ultrasound • First trimester screening • Second trimester screening, or quad screening • Amniocentesis • Speeding up test results • Chorionic villus sampling • Percutaneous umbilical cord sampling • When the results indicate a problem
Late pregnancy tests
Fetal nonstress and stress tests • Biophysical profile testing • Doppler ultrasound
Chapter 22 Breast-feeding
5 key questions
Breast-feeding
Milk production • Benefits for baby • Benefits for mother • Pros vs. cons • When breast-feeding may not be an option • Getting started • Feeding positions • Nursing basics • Breast care • Keeping yourself healthy •Breast-feeding multiples • Pumping your breasts • Storing breast milk • Going back to work • Introducing a bottle
Bottle-feeding
Pros vs. cons • Bottle-feeding basics • Be flexible • Getting started • Preparing formula • Feeding tips • Getting into position
Chapter 23 Pain relief during childbirth
Issues to consider
Your options
Pain medications • Natural methods
Pain medications
Epidural block • Spinal block • Combined spinal epidural • Receiving an epidural block • Narcotics • Local anesthetic • Pudendal block • Tranquilizers
Natural methods
Breathing techniques • Relaxation techniques • Other techniques
Chapter 24 Elective cesarean birth
Issues to consider
Benefits vs. risks
Maternal benefits • Maternal risks • Fetal risks
Making your decision
Chapter 25 Vaginal birth after a cesarean birth
Benefits vs. risks
Benefits of VBAC • Risks of VBAC
Issues to consider
Previous incision • Reason for previous C-section • Who might not be a candidate
Tips for planning a VBAC
Chapter 26 Contraception after delivery
Issues to consider
Breast-feeding and contraception
Fertility • Hormones and breast milk • Vaginal dryness
Options
Hormonal methods • Barrier methods • Intrauterine devices Permanent methods • Natural family planning methods • Emergency methods
Making your decision
PART 5 Symptoms Guide
Abdominal discomfort • Abdominal pressure • Abdominal tenderness • Acne • Allergies • Baby’s hiccups • Baby’s kicks • Backache • Black line • Bleeding gums • Blurry vision • Breast discharge • Breast enlargement •Breast tenderness • Buttock and leg pain • Carpal tunnel syndrome • Clumsiness • Constipation • Contractions Cramping • Dizziness and faintness • Dreams • Enlarged veins • Excessive salivation •Eye changes • Facial skin darkening • Fatigue • Feeling warm • Fluid leakage • Food aversions • Food cravings • Forgetfulness • Gas and bloating • Gum disease • Headaches • Heartburn • Hemorrhoids • Hip pain • Hunger • Increased heart rate • Insomnia • Irrational fears • Itchiness • Leg cramps • Mood swings • Morning sickness • Mucous discharge • Navel soreness • Nesting • Nipple darkening • Nosebleeds •Pelvic pressure • Perineal aching •Perspiration • Pubic bone pain • Rashes • Rectal bleeding • Red palms and soles • Rib tenderness • Round ligament pain • Sensitivity to smells • Shortness of breath • Skin tags •Snoring • Stretch marks • Stuffy nose •Swelling • Swollen feet • Thirst • Urinary tract infections • Urinating frequently • Urine leakage • Vaginal bleeding • Vaginal discharge • Varicose veins • Vomiting • Yeast infections
PART 6 Complications of Pregnancy and Childbirth
Chapter 27 Issues during pregnancy
Blood concerns
Rhesus factor incompatibility • Iron deficiency anemia
Depression
Early labor
Making the best of bed rest
Excessive vomiting
Gestational diabetes
Infection
Chickenpox • Cytomegalovirus • Fifth disease • German measles • Group B streptococcus • Herpes • HIV and AIDS • Listeriosis • Toxoplasmosis
Placental problems
Placental abruption • Placental previa
Preeclampsia
Slowed fetal growth
Chapter 28 Problems of labor and childbirth
Labor that fails to start
Inducing labor • Oxytocin
Labor that fails to progress
Prolonged early labor • Prolonged active labor • Assisted birth • Prolonged pushing
Baby in an abnormal position
Facing up • Awkward angle • Head too big • Breech • Lying sideways
Intolerance of labor
Umbilical cord prolapse • Umbilical cord compression • Decreased fetal heart rate
Chapter 29 Managing mom’s health concerns
Pre-existing health issues
Asthma • Cancer • Depression • Diabetes • Epilepsy • Heart disease • Hepatitis B • High blood pressure • Immune thrombocytopenic purpura • Inflammatory bowel disease • Lupus • Phenylketonuria •Rheumatoid arthritis • Sexually transmitted infections • Sickle cell disease • Thyroid disease • Uterine fibroids
Postpartum concerns
Blood clots • Excessive bleeding • Infection • Postpartum depression • Self-care for postpartum depression
Chapter 30 Pregnancy loss
Miscarriage
Signs and symptoms • Causes • What doesn’t cause miscarriage? • Types of miscarriages • Seeing a doctor • Treatment • Recovery • Recurrent pregnancy loss
Ectopic pregnancy
Signs and symptoms • Treatment • Future pregnancies
Molar pregnancy
Signs and symptoms • Treatment
Cervical incompetence
Signs and symptoms • Treatment • Coping with pregnancy loss
Trying again
Emotional recovery • Your partner • Physical recovery • Tips for future pregnancies
Additional resources
Glossary