Conception, Pregnancy and Birth: The Childbirth Bible for Today's Parents Book

Introduction     8
Preparing for pregnancy     14
Fit for parenthood     16
Miriam's casebook: The importance of folic acid     20
What is a gene?     22
Genetic counseling     26
Conceiving a baby     28
The man's role     30
Fertilization     32
Having problems?     34
Seeking advice     36
Male infertility     38
Male tests     40
Female infertility     42
Female tests     44
Treatments for female infertility     46
ART (assisted reproduction technology)     48
The typical pattern of an IVF treatment     50
Advanced ART     52
Using donors     54
Miriam's casebook: Infertility     56
You and your developing baby     58
Pregnant!     60
Your rights     64
First trimester     66
Second trimester     68
Third trimester     70
First six weeks     72
Up to ten weeks     74
Up to 14 weeks     76
Up to 18 weeks     78
Up to 22 weeks     80
Up to 26 weeks     82
Up to 30 weeks     84
Up to 34 weeks     86
Up to 40 weeks     88
Preparing for fatherhood     90
Becoming a dad     92
The expectant father     94
Dads at the birth     96
Getting to know your new baby     100
The birth of your choice     104
The choices for childbirth     106
Childbirth philosophers     112
Birthing centers     114
Hospital birth     116
Professional attendants     120
Birth plan     122
Childbirth classes     124
Food and eating in pregnancy     126
Food in pregnancy     128
Miriam's casebook: The vegetarian mother     136
Miriam's casebook: The diabetic mother     140
A healthy pregnancy     142
Stay active for a fit pregnancy     144
Massage for relaxation     152
Emotional changes     154
Body care     158
Avoiding problems     160
What to wear     162
A working pregnancy     164
Miriam's casebook: Choosing single parenthood     166
Avoiding hazards     168
Your prenatal care     172
Prenatal care     174
Ultrasound scan     180
Miriam's casebook: Twins     182
Special tests     184
Miriam's casebook: Testing for abnormalities     188
Caring for your unborn baby     190
In touch with your baby     192
Fetal problems     196
Fetal surgery     200
Miriam's casebook: Rhesusnegative mother     202
Complaints in pregnancy     204
Common complaints     206
Miriam's casebook: Mother with MS     214
Emergencies in pregnancy     216
Medical emergencies     218
Miriam's casebook: After a miscarriage     220
Miriam's casebook: A mother with preeclampsia     226
A sensual pregnancy     228
Your relationship     230
Sensual massage     232
Making love     234
Sexual problems     236
Getting ready for your baby     238
Preparing for your baby     240
Choosing equipment     242
Your baby's clothes     244
Breast or bottle?     246
Choosing a name     248
Preparing siblings for a new baby     252
Arranging for help     254
Miriam's casebook: A working pregnancy     256
The late stages of pregnancy     258
Are you overdue?     260
Managing your labor     262
Getting ready for the birthing center     264
Going to the hospital     266
Comfort aids for labor     268
Pre-labor and labor     270
The first stage     272
Hospital procedures     274
Partner's role in labor     276
First stage positions     278
Pain relief     280
The second stage: delivery     284
Giving birth     286
Partner's role at the birth     288
The third stage     290
Baby's first hours     292
Special deliveries     294
Special labors     296
Induction of labor     300
Miriam's casebook: An induced birth     302
Sudden birth     304
Complications at delivery     306
Cesarean section     308
Miriam's casebook: An emergency cesarean      310
If a baby dies     312
Getting to know your newborn baby     314
Your new baby     316
What your new baby can do     320
Your hospital stay     322
Holding and handling     324
Beginning to breast-feed     326
Breast-feeding your baby     328
Bottle-feeding     332
Giving the bottle     334
Choosing diapers     336
Changing a diaper     338
Washing your baby     340
Newborn health     342
Special care baby     344
Special care unit     346
Miriam's casebook: Premature baby     348
Adjusting to parenthood     350
The first weeks     352
Postpartum health     354
Your changing emotions     360
Miriam's casebook: The depressed mother     362
Making love again     364
Changes to your lifestyle     366
Miriam's casebook: First-time dad     368
Useful addresses     370
Index     371
Acknowledgments     376