Even after reading countless pregnancy books I still didn't understand what my labour would be like. All I really knew was it would be painful and scary. Then my obstetrician suggested I take Juju Sundin's birth skills classes. Juju gave me the knowledge to understand my body during labour and taught me about the physiology of pain and how to use her techniques to deal with it. - Sarah MurdochIf you're like most women, you'll go into labour with little knowledge of exactly what your body is doing and why, and how you can actively manage the pain and stay in control while helping your body do what it's designed to.That's where Birth Skills comes in, a step-by-step guide packed with information plus easy-to-learn, proven pain management skills.In Birth Skills, obstetric physiotherapist Juju Sundin shares the techniques she has pioneered over her 30-year career, while Sarah Murdoch takes you on a personal journey of her own labour and birth, describing how she learned the skills in the class then applied them on the big day.Whether it's your first baby or lucky last, you will learn:* how your body works in labour and why* how to turn fear into positive action so you stay in control* how to use movement, breathing, vocalisation, visualisation, keywords and other handy techniques* what to wear, what to take, and what questions to ask* how your partner can help, and working as a team* other women's experiences using Juju's techniques. Birth is all about the bigger picture -- educating and empowering yourself, giving it a try, doing it your way, and a healthy mother and baby. - Juju Sundin

Postpartum depression has become a more recognized mental illness over the past decade as a result of education and increased awareness. Traumatic childbirth, however, is still often overlooked, resulting in a scarcity of information for health professionals. This is in spite of up to 34% of new mothers reporting experiencing a traumatic childbirth and prevalence rates rising for high risk mothers, such as those who experience stillbirth or who had very low birth weight infants.

This ground-breaking book brings together an academic, a clinician and a birth trauma activist. Each chapter discusses current research, women s stories, the common themes in the stories and the implications of these for practice, clinical case studies and a clinician s insights and recommendations for care. Topics covered include: mothers perspectives, fathers perspectives, the impact on breastfeeding, the impact on subsequent births, PTSD after childbirth and EMDR treatment for PTSD.

This book is a valuable resource for health professionals who come into contact with new mothers, providing the most current and accurate information on traumatic childbirth. It also presents mothers experiences in a manner that is accessible to women, their partners, and families.

Conversational and practical, After the Baby teaches couples about the natural progression of their marriage as it expands to include children. An essential guide for strengthening marriage while becoming parents, it offers both help and hope for building better families.

A wonderful gift you can give your child is healthy eating habits. Once your baby needs solids, you may be tempted to buy prepared baby foods. Resist that urge With tips from Jozi, you can make healthy and tasty baby food at home in less than three hours. The benefits of homemade baby food are endless. You know exactly what's included, you'll save money, you can go organic if you wish, and you'll be teaching your child to try and enjoy a variety of foods. Also, the convenience is unbeatable; once you make baby's purees, it is simple to transport frozen cubes and finger foods when the family is on the go. Using easy-to-understand techniques, I Want What Mamma Wants includes recipes for your baby's nutrition through the first year. The book also offers tips for gradually introducing foods, presented in a clear and uncomplicated way, and addresses issues you may encounter, such as allergies and baby's likes and dislikes. There's even a yummy teething cookie that will relieve upset tummy due to its special ingredient. After reading "I Want What Mamma Wants "you'll see how easy it is to make and preserve healthy food-food that your baby will enjoy and that you'll take comfort in serving.

Making a baby through love and science? Get the guidance you need to navigate the conception process with confidence and ease. "[A] a well-researched, deeply comprehensive (and readable!) guide to building a queer family in a way that works for you." -Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better The only evidence-based, up-to-date fertility guide for queer people from an experienced health care provider, this is also the first to be transgender inclusive and body-positive. Here, queer prospective parents will find sound advice for navigating complex medical, social and financial decisions. Trusted fertility midwife Kristin Kali walks you through the baby-making process: creating a timeline; fertile health for every body; preconception tests; identifying ovulation; donors, gamete banks, and surrogacy; methods of insemination including IUI, IVF and reciprocal IVF; navigating early pregnancy; and preparing for infant feeding, including lactation induction for trans women and nongestational parents. This book is for all LGBTQ+ readers interested in creating family through pregnancy: anyone who identifies as queer, lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, trans and nonbinary people, couples, single parents by choice, poly families, and coparents. It's an antidote to a culture and medical system that all too often centers heterosexual couples experiencing infertility while overlooking our unique needs. It also contains sidebars with guidance for reproductive healthcare professionals. "This life-changing book is equal parts practical handbook and sensitively written resource. Highly recommended!" -Toni Weschler, MPH, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility

What happens to men when they become fathers? Why do some men get depressed, and how can we identify those who are? What does this mean for their children and their relationships? What can we do about it? Taking in many different perspectives, this book sheds light on the many aspects of postnatal depression in fathers - an unknown subject to many people. The book includes a review of recent studies and research in this area, looking at the effects of postnatal depression on children and relationships, and an investigation into the reasons behind male postnatal depression, including the social and psychoanalytic factors which go some way to explaining why men experience this depression as well as women. The author talks to Michel Odent, a renowned obstetrician, writer and birth expert. His controversial view that men should not be present at childbirth, and that their presence may indeed this may be a trigger for depression, are central to his discussion. She also talks to Adam Jukes, a psychoanalyst with a wealth of experience in working with violent and angry men, who gives fascinating insights into male behaviour. He claims that we simply don't give men the resources they need to deal with a new baby. The book opens up a discussion of diagnosis and treatment through personal stories from both men and women affected by a father's postnatal depression. It will increase awareness of this under-discussed subject and will challenge preconceptions. Postnatal depression in fathers has consequences for families worldwide, and so this is a book which has relevance for everyone.

The miracle of birth brings great joy to new parents, but it also raises many questions and concerns.

This new edition includes updated content and the latest information on COVID-19 and provides sensible answers to your questions - even answers to questions you have not yet thought of!

• Preparing for conception
• How to care for your baby and yourself during pregnancy
• Choosing the right caregivers
• How your partner can contribute during pregnancy, birth and in caring for your baby
• The latest information on tests during pregnancy
• Pain relief and birthing options
• Advantages of breastfeeding and practical tips for breastfeeding success
• Preparing to bring your baby home and how best to involve siblings
• How to care for your newborn (and yourself, your partner and your family)
• The latest South African shoppers' guide and support groups

Comprehensive Lactation Consultant Exam Review, Fifth Edition is an ideal resource to help prepare for the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) certification examination. Completely revised and updated, the Fifth Edition is mapped to the 2016 and 2023 Detailed Content Outlines and contains more than 1100 practice exam questions and answer rationales, more than 350 clinical photos, and 20 case studies with questions. Organized around the mother-baby dyad's development, it poses questions unique to key topics, including nutrition, pathology, psychology, clinical skills, and more. This review guide is perfect for beginning lactation consultants and those re-certifying, as well as dietitians, childbirth educators, nurses, and breastfeeding counselors.

'Beautiful, useful, tender.' - British Vogue 'Gorgeous' - The Green Parent 'More than just a yoga manual' - Harper's Bazaar A beautiful and nurturing yoga guide for new mothers. Motherhood is the most important job in the world, and it's also the most demanding. It calls upon your every resource - mental, physical, spiritual - and while it is frequently a source of unmatched joy, it is also often depleting like nothing else. Naomi Annand shows you how yoga can help you navigate its emotional highs and lows, how to tap into the creativity of motherhood and also how to nurture yourself so that you might nurture others. Using breath-led sequences and simple two-minute life hacks, this beautiful practical companion teaches you how to soothe rattled nervous systems and uplift tired bodies whatever your age and whatever your experience.

Are you intrigued by the idea of working out during pregnancy, but think it can't be safe? Are you unsure how the words "fit" and "pregnancy" actually make sense in the same sentence? If so, you've come to the right place. This easy-to-follow guide shows you how you can be fit "and" pregnant, whether you're new to exercise or have been working out for years, and whether you're in your second week of pregnancy or your 32nd.

"Fit Pregnancy For Dummies" is for you if you're pregnant, if you're thinking about becoming pregnant, and You want to be as fit and healthy as you can be -- whatever your current fitness level -- without in any way jeopardizing your health or the health of your baby. This guide gives you the straight facts on: Staying safe when you exerciseDeveloping a plan with your health providerChoosing the right equipmentModifying your routine for each trimesterEating well for nine months and beyond

From yoga and swimming to weight training, aerobics, and much more, you'll see how to get started with a fun, step-by-step fitness routine that will make your entire pregnancy easier to manage. Postpartum expert and prenatal fitness class instructor Catherine Cram and fitness expert Tere Stouffer Drenth give you the scoop on the activities that work best for pregnant women and how to set up a routine that works best for you. You'll understand how a fit pregnancy helps you with delivery and postpartum shape-up. Plus, you get expert advice on activities to avoid, eating well, and staying motivated during and after your pregnancy, as well as: Dressing comfortably for your workoutWarming up and stretching to increase flexibility and avoid injuryModifying your exercise routineStaying fit after giving birthFinding the time for exercise and motherhood

Complete with special tips on exercising indoors, staying motivated, getting your family hooked on fitness, and helping your child grow up healthy and fit, "Fit Pregnancy For Dummies" is the key to exercising safely and staying fit throughout your pregnancy and beyond

Make your pregnancy feel easier than ever with these 350 simple hacks to keep you comfortable and happy for nine months straight! Congratulations-you're pregnant! There's no doubt you're thrilled to meet your little bundle of joy...but you also might be feeling some stress and discomfort as you navigate your rapidly changing body. But why not make things a little easier for yourself with these simple hacks to get you through every step of the next nine months! With Pregnancy Hacks, you'll find tricks to simplify your daily routine so that everything seems just a bit more manageable. Feeling nauseous throughout the day? Stock up on ginger candles or make electrolyte popsicles for a quick, delicious fix. Dealing with tired, swollen feet? Try soaking them in tonic water to reduce the swelling. Or maybe you're struggling to reach things on the floor. Kitchen tongs can help! These are just a few of the tips and tricks that will make your pregnancy experience so much better! Pregnancy Hacks is here to help your expanding family (and belly) stay happy and healthy.

Do bottle fed babies sleep better and feed longer than breastfed babies? Are modern formula milks as good as breastmilk? Are breastfed babies woozies that want picking up all the time? And is it really easier and more convenient to bottle-feed? Many women thinking about breastfeeding their babies are put off by rumours and myths. In their award-winning, beautifully illustrated book infant feeding specialist Val Finigan and embroidery artist Lou Gardiner's tackle commonly held beliefs about breastfeeding with wisdom, warmth and wit.

"Parents and Family Planning Services" focuses on parents of a sample of newborns in twelve areas of England and Wales during the 1970s. The parents were asked about their contraceptive practices, attitudes toward different methods of birth control, and opinions of-and experience with-different types of services. General practitioners, health visitors, and doctors at family planning clinics were interviewed about their views and practices. This juxtaposition of the attitudes of parents and professionals highlights the reasons why people do not use effective methods of birth control, and leads to suggestions as to how they could be helped to do so.

Several chapters discuss fathers' attitudes and actions, the views of parents and professionals, and the influence of religion, social class, education, and geographic location. The final chapter is concerned with possible changes in contraceptive habits, and the ways in which services can develop to help more women avoid unwanted pregnancies. The work has ongoing policy implications, and also indicates how attitudes and change evolve over time.

"Parents and Family Planning Services" is predicated on the assumption that unwanted fertility is to be avoided. It underscores the need for a proliferation of different sorts of services: more clinics, an increase in the help and advice given at hospitals, the development of a supportive and integrated home service. This volume is a significant contribution to the literature in this vital field. It remains essential reading for both professionals and concerned policy personnel, particularly those interested in the evolution of policy and practice.

Nearly a million parents suffer a miscarriage or infant death each year. This collection of meditations interweaves the very real feelings of bereaved parents with Scripture passages that provide comfort, direction, and hope.

Perhaps you had a difficult birth. Hopefully, you have a healthy baby. That, after all, is the most important thing. Or is it? So why are you struggling to move on? Why do you keep thinking about the birth or replaying it in your mind? Why do you feel guilty when other people say "at least you have a healthy baby"? In Birth Shock, perinatal clinical psychologist Mia Scotland explains clearly what can be harmful about birth, how birth trauma can affect mothers, fathers and health professionals, and why it seems to be on the rise. If you are suffering from the effects of a difficult birth, even if the birth doesn't sound bad to others, then this book is for you. Perhaps the birth was really bad and your baby isn't okay. Perhaps you are a partner who feels traumatised, or you are a midwife or a doctor. In these pages you will find: a clear, concise, psychological explanation of what birth trauma actually is discussion of what causes birth trauma clear tips and advice on how to put yourself on the path to recovery Birth Shock draws on what we know about trauma, PTSD and the nature of birth and maternity systems to show how you can take steps toward letting go of any guilt, self-blame or confusion that you may be feeling.

Breastfeeding. The mere mention of it has many mothers wracked with anxiety (how will I manage with work, other kids, what if I don't make enough milk?) or guilt about not doing it (will I be hurting my child ifl choose not to breastfeed? what will people think of me if I choose not to?). This hot-button issue is one we've talked about repeatedly in the media and in celebrity culture. Remember when Angelina Jolie posed for the cover of W nursing her new-born? Oh, the controversy! And when Barbara Walters complained about the woman breastfeeding next to her on a plane? She was forced to issue a public apology. Or what about when supermodel Gisele Bunchen declared that there should be worldwide law that mothers be required to breastfeed their babies for the first six months of life? All hell broke loose. This topic gets people riled up, and there has never been a narrative account that explores the breastfeeding big picture for parents and their children in today's world. THE BIG LETDOWN by author, journalist, and breastfeeding advocate Kimberly Seals Allers will change that for the better and open up a candid conversation about the cultural, sociological, and economic forces that shape the breastfeeding culture and how it undermines women in the process.

An important analysis of the difference class makes in reproductive health choices Can you run a marathon, drink coffee, eat fish, or fly on a plane while pregnant? Such questions are just the tip of the iceberg for how most pregnant women’s bodies are managed, surveilled, and scrutinized during pregnancy. The Reproduction of Inequality examines the intense social pressure that expectant and new mothers face when it comes to their health and body-care choices. Drawing on interviews with dozens of pregnant women and new mothers from poor, middle-class, and mixed-class backgrounds, Katherine Mason paints a vivid picture of the immense weight of expectation that comes with the early stages of motherhood. The women in Mason’s study universally sought to give their children a healthy start in life; however, their chosen approaches varied based on their socio-economic class. Whereas middle-class mothers attempted a complete lifestyle change and absolute devotion to the achievement and maintenance of “the healthy pregnant body,” poorer women made strategic choices about which health goals to prioritize on a limited budget, lacking the economic and cultural capital required to speak and perfectly adhere to the language of “good health.” The unfortunate result is that middle-class mothers are more likely to be seen by others and by themselves as “good” parents, whereas the efforts of working-class mothers are often misread as displaying inadequate concern about their health and that of their child. This in turn contributes to longstanding stereotypes about poor families and communities, and limits their children's chances for upward mobility. The Reproduction of Inequality is a compelling analysis of the impact of class on new mothers’ approaches to health and wellness, and a sobering examination of how inequality shapes mothers’ efforts to maximize their own health and that of their children.

'An absolute treasure trove on women's physical and mental postnatal health' Milli Hill, author of Give Birth Like A Feminist and The Positive Birth Book 'Brilliant' Clover Stroud 'Essential reading for all parents to be' Marina Fogle 'Helpful, honest and humorous - which is exactly what we all need after birth' Ross J. Barr, acupuncturist and women's health expert While there is a wealth of advice for new mums on caring for their babies the same is not true for postpartum health. Fulfilling this vital need, After Birth is the ultimate postnatal primer for women facing changes to their bodies after having a baby. Addressing issues great and small - from hair loss and stretch marks, to bladder and bowel leaks, painful sex, diastasis recti and mental health - researcher and writer Jessica Hatcher-Moore brings together straight-talking advice on preparation for childbirth, healing, and recovery in the weeks, months and even years that follow. She also offers insights for partners, whose role is often overlooked at this critical time. Blending knowledge from the full spectrum of modern and traditional therapies with honest experiences from mothers, here is balanced advice with no agenda. Taking a broad look at what we can do for ourselves at home, and also when to seek expert help, After Birth will reassure, inform and empower women to reclaim their post-birth bodies.

No matter how you birth your baby, feel calm and safe with hypnobirthing "This woman is a great healer and birth expert. This book will be brilliant." Russell Brand Your Baby, Your Birth is a truly modern hypnobirthing book for ALL births. In-demand hypnobirthing coach Hollie de Cruz provides you with the skills and tools to make any birth feel safe, calm, connected and empowering. Drawing on her experience working with new mums, including Fearne Cotton and Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie de Cruz helps you prepare for a positive (not 'perfect') birth experience and approach motherhood with confidence in yourself and your instincts. Your Baby, Your Birth will teach you: - That birth is safe - listen to your body, embrace the changes, prepare your mind and relax during pregnancy - Exercises and breathing techniques for labour and birth for you and your birth partner, along with guided meditations to keep you calm and engaged - How to trust your instincts, understand your body and baby, and make informed decisions throughout your pregnancy and beyond Hollie de Cruz, creator of the award-winning yesmum positive affirmation cards, is renowned for demystifying hypnobirthing and her down-to-earth, realistic approach is highly sought after. Whatever kind of birth you are planning, let Hollie de Cruz provide you with a set of deep relaxation, mindfulness and meditation tools for an empowering experience.

Traditionally, Euroamerican cultures have considered that human status was conferred at the conclusion to childbirth. However, in contemporary Euroamerican biomedicine, law and politics, the living subject is often claimed to pre-exist birth. In this fascinating book Lorna Weir argues that the displacement of birth as the threshold of the living subject began in the 1950s with the novel concept of 'perinatal mortality' referring to death of either the foetus or the newborn just prior to, during or after birth. Weir's book gives a new feminist approach to pregnancy in advanced modernity focusing on the governance of population. She traces the introduction of the perinatal threshold into child welfare and tort law through expert testimony on foetal risk, sketching the clash at law between the birth and perinatal thresholds of the living subject. Her book makes original empirical and theoretical contributions to the history of the present (Foucauldian research), feminism, and social studies of risk, and she conceptualizes a new historical focus for the history of the present: the threshold of the living subject. Calling attention to the significance of population politics, especially the reduction of infant mortality, for the unsettling of the birth threshold, this book argues that risk techniques are heterogeneous, contested with expertise, and plural in their political effects. Interview research with midwives shows their critical relation to using risk assessment in clinical practice. An original and accessible study, this book will be of great interest to students and researchers across many disciplines.

Traditionally, Euroamerican cultures have considered that human status was conferred at the conclusion to childbirth. However, in contemporary Euroamerican biomedicine, law and politics, the living subject is often claimed to pre-exist birth. In this fascinating book Lorna Weir argues that the displacement of birth as the threshold of the living subject began in the 1950s with the novel concept of 'perinatal mortality' referring to death of either the foetus or the newborn just prior to, during or after birth. Weir's book gives a new feminist approach to pregnancy in advanced modernity focusing on the governance of population. She traces the introduction of the perinatal threshold into child welfare and tort law through expert testimony on foetal risk, sketching the clash at law between the birth and perinatal thresholds of the living subject. Her book makes original empirical and theoretical contributions to the history of the present (Foucauldian research), feminism, and social studies of risk, and she conceptualizes a new historical focus for the history of the present: the threshold of the living subject. Calling attention to the significance of population politics, especially the reduction of infant mortality, for the unsettling of the birth threshold, this book argues that risk techniques are heterogeneous, contested with expertise, and plural in their political effects. Interview research with midwives shows their critical relation to using risk assessment in clinical practice. An original and accessible study, this book will be of great interest to students and researchers across many disciplines.