Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth

In this third spin-off of Our Bodies, Ourselves, the self-described women's health ""bible"" first published in the 1970s, the Boston Women's Health Book Collective focuses on pregnancy, birth and recovery. This book will help women make confident and informed choices about the birth process as they negotiate the healthcare system and balance their options. The chapters are arranged chronologically along the journey into motherhood, with useful sections on the physical and emotional changes of each trimester, fetal development and prenatal testing. Other topics include choosing a healthcare provider, prenatal testing, labor, pain management, recovery, breastfeeding, emotional ups and downs and many other issues. The text is interspersed with pertinent personal narratives, as well as with more than 70 black and white photos and illustrations; the emphasis is on up-to-date information, probing the use-and overuse-of various practices and medical interventions. ""Informing yourself about these practices and their alternatives,"" the editors write, ""is an essential step toward creating a better birth experience for yourself and your baby."" This comprehensive guide is sure to take its rightful place among its sister titles, empowering a new generation of expectant mothers.