Most doctors are trained to think of a “good” birth only in terms of its medical success. But Dr. Anne Lyerly knows firsthand that there are many other important elements that often get overlooked. Her three-year study of a diverse group of over one hundred expectant moms asked what matters most to women during childbirth. The results, presented to the public for the first time in A Good Birth, show what really matters goes beyond the clinical outcome or even the usual questions of hospital versus birthing center, and reveal universal needs of women, like the importance of feeling connected, safe, and respected.Bringing a new perspective to childbirth, the book’s wisdom is drawn from in-depth interviews with women with a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, and whose birth stories range from quick and simple to complicated and frightening. Describing what went well, what didn’t, and what they’d do differently next time, these mothers give voice to the complete experience of childbirth, helping both women and their healthcare providers develop strategies to address the emotional needs of the mother, going beyond the standard birth plans and conversations. Transcending the “medical” versus “natural” childbirth debate, A Good Birth paves the entryway to motherhood, turning our attention to the deeper and more important question of what truly makes for the best birth possible.

    Look for The Vegan Pregnancy Survival Guide to hit the 'shelves' in early summer 2011!

    Judith Walzer Leavitt's study focuses on the traditional woman-centered home-birthing practices, their replacement by male doctors, and the movement from the home to the hospital. She explains that childbearing women and their physicians gradually changed birth places because they believed the increased medicalization would make giving birth safer and more comfortable. Ironically, because of infection, infant and maternal mortality did not immediately decline. She concludes that birthing women held considerable power in determining labor and delivery events as long as childbirth remained in the home. The move to the hospital in the twentieth century gave the medical profession the upper hand. Leavitt also discusses recent events in American obstetrics that illustrate how women have attempted to retrieve some of the traditional women--and family--centered aspects of childbirth.

    You deserve a calm, straightforward, no-nonsense pregnancy. It’s time to dial down the stress and dial up the common sense. Common Sense Pregnancy is a breath of fresh air: accessible, authoritative, funny, reassuring, and personable, while still chock-full of comprehensive, medically-sound advice. Women's health expert, labor nurse, mother of four, and Fit Pregnancy.com columnist Jeanne Faulkner has been at the bedside for thousands of deliveries and provides the honest insider advice you need during pregnancy, labor, birth, and beyond, including straight talk on:   ·      Which prenatal tests you actually need, and which you don’t. ·      Who’s on your labor team—and how to keep your labor room drama free. ·      What about sex? ·      How to deal with feeling lousy. ·      What works and what doesn’t for starting labor naturally. ·      How to avoid unneces­sary and risky medical interventions.   Whether you want your pregnancy and birth to be all natural, all medical, or something in between, Common Sense Pregnancy eliminates the fear and puts you in charge of your body and prenatal experience, and helps you make the right choices for you and your baby.

    The true stories she tells of couples who share your hopes, fears, frustrations, and the comfort only God can bring will encourage your heart.Infertility strikes at the core of what it means to be a woman or man, tests marriages, and shakes faith. The honest, open, and emotionally resonant first-person stories in Empty Womb, Aching Heart will touch your life--as you "cry in the diaper aisle," wonder if you "are less of a woman," ask "How far should we go?" or whisper to God, "It's not fair."

    (Yes, it's possible!) In "The Mommy Diet, " she shares tons of straightforward tips, personal anecdotes, easy-to-follow exercises, fashion insight, nutrition advice, and even a few of her favorite quick, easy recipes. "The Mommy Diet "helps moms-to-be stay fit, positive, and pampered during pregnancy and then steers new moms to a healthy recovery and body confidence after the baby is born. It's a warm, accessible, funny guide to everything from prepregnancy through the first nine months postpartum--an especially crucial time for new moms who want to shed their baby weight safely and establish a fitness routine--and beyond.Sweeney, who is busy taking care of two children and juggling two jobs, breaks pregnancy down trimester by trimester, addressing everything from morning sickness and food cravings to sexy maternity style, all the while reminding readers to keep up with exercise as long as their doctors approve. After the baby arrives, she details the perils and pitfalls of carrying around postpregnancy weight and how to navigate the sleep deprivation, not to mention the shell-shocked stress of all the changes to daily life.You "can "eat healthfully, be physically fit, look great, and find time to take care of yourself while you learn to be a terrific new mom. The realistic, affordable, and doable advice in "The Mommy Diet "will show you how.

    The handy book culls the best of THE COMPLETE BOOK OF ESSENTIAL OILS and organizes every oil into accessible, alphabetical listings. It includes individual oil profiles, applications, and the physical and emotional conditions that warrant their use.Specific formulas for blending essential oils for a myriad of home and health applications are provided. Detailed treatment suggestions for such special circumstances as pregnancy, children and babies, chronic pain, terminal illness, and pre- and post-operative conditions are included. This is an easy-to use guide for every reader, or a handy reference for those who already use The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy.

    Move over Lamaze and Bradley! Already taking the west coast by storm, the McMoyler Method offers a modern, medically savvy approach to labor and delivery that addresses the hopes and fears of todays about helping moms cope, involving partners every step of the way, and working with doctors and nurses for the best birth-no matter how it happens.

    The complementary tools and practices of Ayurveda and yoga have been used together for thousands of years to support a healthy body, balanced mind, and higher consciousness. With Yoga Mama, Yoga Baby, Margo Shapiro Bachman brings readers the first book to show how these "sister sciences" can support the miraculous journey of pregnancy. This thoroughly detailed guidebook shares practical and easy-to-apply teachings and information to help women experience pregnancy with radiant health and abundant joy, including:The basics of Ayurveda, yoga, diet, and lifestyle—cornerstone principles, basic terms and concepts, essential self-assessments, and more• Month-by-month exercises and practices, including meditation, mantra, breathwork, asana, journaling, and massage• Practical tips to encourage natural labor and delivery• Guidance on staying healthy and happy in the precious first postpartum weeks with babyFor women everywhere, Yoga Mama, Yoga Baby is an indispensable resource for treasuring every moment of pregnancy and blessing the mother and child with health, happiness, consciousness, and love.

    Now they do!Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies is packed with practical, straightforward information for fathers-to-be, covering all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy from dad's point of view.What to expect at doctor's visits Tips for being a supportive partner during pregnancy and preparing for fatherhood Advice on birth plans, labor and delivery, and the first days and weeks of a baby's life Packed with helpful information on the typical struggles and feelings expectant fathers face, Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives first-time fathers and veteran dads alike a wealth of useful information.

    More than 4 million babies are born in the United States each year and that means there are more than 4 million expectant dads wondering what the next nine months of pregnancy will mean for them and their relationship with their spouse or partner.  What better way to prepare men for impending fatherhood than by giving them a step-by-step guide with advice, tips stories and pictures ranging from the positive pregnancy test to the delivery room.

    The Whole Pregnancy Handbook is an informative and reassuring guide that will empower you to choose your pre- and post-natal care with confidence. Topics include treatments for preconception health and fertility, massage and acupressure techniques, prenatal nutrition, preparing for labor, prenatal yoga for all three trimesters, best practices of doulas and midwives, candid recollections from other moms, and so much more. Written by Joel M. Evans, MD, OB/GYN, with Robin Aronson, the former editor in chief of Parents.com, the Web site for Parents magazine. Dr. Evans is also the founder of the Center for Women's Health, an integrative holistic health center located in Darien, Connecticut.

    Despite the fact that roughly one in four babies in the United States is delivered by c-section, very little information about the experience is included in typical pregnancy books and physicians and childbirth educators often gloss over the details.The Essential C-Section Guide is written not only for women to read in preparation for a scheduled c-section and for those considered “high risk” who know that a c-section may become necessary but also for women recovering from an unexpected surgical delivery. This book provides answers to important questions about what the surgery entails, what a woman can expect as she recovers, and what considerations should be made for future pregnancies and deliveries.With frank discussions about the physical and emotional aspects surrounding a c-section, the authors share comforting wisdom about early bonding, pain control, breastfeeding, infant care, healing from surgery, postpartum exercise, partner involvement, and much more, in detail not available anywhere else.Written by authors who have firsthand knowledge of birth by c-section, The Essential C-Section Guide is well-researched and addresses its unique concerns with intelligence and compassion.www.broadwaybooks.com

    Instead, Mayim got her PhD in neuroscience from UCLA, married her college sweetheart, and had two kids. Mayim then did what many new moms do—she read a lot of books, talked with other parents, and she soon started questioning a lot of the conventional wisdom she heard about the “right” way to raise a child. That’s when she turned to attachment parenting, a philosophy and lifestyle popularized by well-known physicians like Dr. William Sears and Dr. Jay Gordon. To Mayim, attachment parenting’s natural, child-led approach not only felt right emotionally, it made sense intellectually and instinctually. She found that when she followed her intuition and relaxed into her role as a mother instead of following some rigid parenting script, both she and her children thrived. Drawing on both her experience as a mother and her scientific background, Mayim presents the major tenets of attachment parenting, including: CO-SLEEPING How to avoid “sleep training” and get a great night’s sleep for the whole family. BREASTFEEDING Learn how to listen to your baby’s cues rather than sticking to a rigid schedule—and why people on airplanes love a nursing mother. BABY WEARING How to “wear” your baby in a sling or a wrap to develop a closer bond with your child—it’s possible even for mamas with bad backs (and with big babies)! GENTLE DISCIPLINE How to get your child to behave without yelling, threats, or time-outs—it really can be done. Mayim describes the beauty, simplicity, and purposefulness of attachment parenting, and how it has become the guiding principle for her family. Much more than a simple how-to parenting guide, Beyond the Sling shows us that the core principles underlying attachment parenting are universal and can be appreciated no matter how you decide to raise your child.

    A one-volume complete illustrated guide for mother and baby, this revised and updated edition includes a fully-photographic first-aid section.