As an ecologist, Sandra Steingraber spent her professional life observing how living things interact with their environments.  Now, 38 and pregnant, she had become a habitat—for a population of one.

Having Faith is Steingraber's exploration of the intimate ecology of motherhood. Using her scientist's eye to study the biological drama of new life being knit from the molecules of air, food, and water flowing into her body, she looks at the environmental hazards that now threaten pregnant and breastfeeding women, and examines the effects these toxins can have on a child. Having Faith makes the metamorphosis of a few cells into a baby astonishingly vivid, and the dangers to human reproduction urgently real. 

NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHY PREGNANCY is a reliable reference for women who want more than just a "how to eat" guide. Fully revised in a smaller trim size, this edition features new menus and recipes as well as the latest findings on how a mother's nutrition during pregnancy determines her child's risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and other diseases later in life. You'll find clear explanations of: * What foods to avoid and why * The role of vitamins and minerals and how to choose the right supplements * How what you eat affects your labour and delivery * Dietary guidelines for pregnant women over thirty-five, as well as for pregnant teens * How diet prevents common problems from morning sickness and food cravings to heartburn and muscle cramps * Which foods and nutrients speed recovery after the baby is born.

Parenthood is full of secrets. The pregnant body, labor, the mysteries of a new child, the transformation of relationships--men and women are themselves reborn as they become parents. Birth: A Literary Companion collects the work of fifty accomplished writers to guide new parents through this complex emotional terrain. Arranged chronologically--from early pregnancy to late infancy--Birth can be read solidly or dipped into in the middle of the night. Here, a curious reader can find a frank, funny essay about breastfeeding, a vividly accurate story about labor, or a tender poem about the terror of holding a newborn child. Birth covers the huge emotional spectrum that new parents pass through--from fear and loathing to uncontainable joy. Embracing all kinds of parents--gay and straight, mothers and fathers, married and single, adoptive and biological--the book unlocks, through literature, the secrets of parenthood that science and society rarely reveal. An enduring guide to the emotional and spiritual changes of parenthood, Birth will be an important addition to both parenting and literature bookshelves.

Placenta Wit is an interdisciplinary anthology of stories, rituals, and research that explores mothers' contemporary and traditional uses of the human afterbirth. Authors inspire, provoke and highlight diverse understandings of the placenta and its role in mothers' creative life-giving. Through medicalization of childbirth, many North American mothers do not have access to their babies' placentas, nor would many think to. Placentas are often considered to be medical property, and/ or viewed as the refuse of birth. Yet there is now greater understanding of motherand baby-centred birth care, in which careful treatment of the placenta and cord can play an integral role. In reclaiming birth at home and in clinical settings, mothers are choosing to keep their placentas. There is a revival, and survival, of family and community rituals with the placenta and umbilical cord, including burying, art making, and consuming for therapeutic use. Claiming and honouring the placenta may play a vital role in understanding the sacredness of birth and the gift of life that mothers bring. Placenta Wit gathers narrative accounts, scholarly essays, creative pieces and artwork from this emergence of placental interests and uses. This collection includes understandings from birth cultures and communities such as home-birth, hospital-birth, midwifery, doula, Indigenous, and feminist perspectives. Once lost, now found, Placenta Wit authors capably handle and care for this wise organ at the roots of motherhood, and life itself.

Baby-naming has become an art form with parents today, but where do parents go to find names and their meanings? The Name Book offers particular inspiration to those who want more than just a list of popular names. From Aaron to Zoe, this useful book includes the cultural origin, the literal meaning, and the spiritual significance of more than 10,000 names. An appropriate verse of Scripture accompanies each name, offering parents a special way to bless their children.

From the author of 40ish Weeks and Pleased to Meet You, this keepsake journal invites new parents to commemorate their baby's very own firsts and special favorites. Filled with colorful illustrations and prompts ranging from the classic (first step, favorite book) to the quirky (first diaper blow-out, favorite food to spit up)-plus a few "fill-in-your-own" pages-this cute little journal makes it simple for exhausted but well-meaning parents to capture all the sweet milestones and laughter-filled moments of life with their growing baby.

'Intelligent, sensitive, and utterly candid ... It's the sort of book that women have long been searching for, and it feels like real progress. I'm so thankful she wrote it' Meaghan O'Connell, author of AND NOW WE HAVE EVERYTHING It estimated that one in four pregnancies end in miscarriage and yet it persists as taboo. In THE BRINK OF BEING, a groundbreaking and essential book, psychotherapist Julia Bueno encourages us to talk about, think more, and reflect upon this often misunderstood, and little discussed event. Drawing on her personal experience of miscarriage, stories from her consulting room, and interviews with medical professionals and researchers, Bueno provides history, context and consolation for anyone who has been through pregnancy loss, or wants to know how to help someone who has. Bueno also investigates miscarriage in terms of how we respond to women's bodies and reproductive health, our attitudes to birth and death, and how we can - and should - encourage more curiosity and candid conversations, in order to better support the many affected by this loss.

A laugh-out-loud memoir about a free-spirited, commitment-phobic Brooklyn girl who, after a whirlwind romance, finds herself living in a rickety farmhouse, pregnant, and faced with five months of doctor-prescribed bed rest because of unusually large fibroids. Aileen Weintraub has been running away from commitment her entire life, hopping from one job and one relationship to the next. When her father suddenly dies, she flees her Jewish Brooklyn community for the wilds of the country, where she unexpectedly falls in love with a man who knows a lot about produce, tractors, and how to take a person down in one jiu-jitsu move. Within months of saying "I do" she's pregnant, life is on track, and then wham! Her doctor slaps a high-risk label on her uterus and sends her to bed for five months. As her husband's bucolic (and possibly haunted) farmhouse begins to collapse and her marriage starts to do the same, Weintraub finally confronts her grief for her father while fighting for the survival of her unborn baby. In her precarious situation, will she stay or will she once again run away from it all? Knocked Down is an emotionally charged, laugh-out-loud roller-coaster ride of survival and growth. It is a story about marriage, motherhood, and the risks we take.

If you work hard enough, if you want it enough, if you're smart and talented and "good enough," you can do anything. Except get pregnant. Her whole life, Lucy Knisley wanted to be a mother. But when it was finally the perfect time, conceiving turned out to be harder than anything she'd ever attempted. Fertility problems were followed by miscarriages, and her eventual successful pregnancy was plagued by health issues, up to a dramatic, near-death experience in labour and delivery. Kid Gloves follows Lucy's personal transition into motherhood, and it also illustrates the history and science of reproductive health from all angles, full of curious facts and inspiring (and notorious) figures in medicine and midwifery.

Women are over four times more likely to have a caesarean birth now than they were thirty years ago and eight times more likely than they were fifty years ago. One of the main reasons that the rate is so high is that women are not encouraged to give birth vaginally once they have had a caesarean despite there being no evidence of the benefit of repeat caesareans for mother or child. Aimed at women who have had a caesarean or repeat caesareans, "Vaginal Birth After Caesarean (VBAC)" provides suggestions for constructive ways to achieve vaginal birth when this is the right option for mother and baby. As well as detailed explanations of all the pros and cons of VBAC, the book contains several real-life birth stories, a comprehensive glossary of terms and essential information for parents-to-be.

Yoga for Happy Mums focuses on the real issues that mums of young children face: lack of sleep, low energy levels, stress, negative emotions (anxiety, guilt, depression, anger and irritability), fluctuating hormones, a weakened immune system, issues with body confidence and difficulties with addictions and relationships. Each chapter includes a discussion about how the particular issue applies to mums, a questionnaire so you can identify which are particularly relevant to you, some suggested points for reflection, guidance from the Kundalini Yoga tradition (including Top Tips such as dietary suggestions), a breathing practice, a physical Yoga set and a meditation. The book is fully illustrated, with easy-to-understand instructions so that you can practise at home. You do not need any previous experience, or to be particularly flexible or physically fit in order to practise these sets. Kundalini Yoga is a comprehensive form of Yoga that uses the breath, sound (mantra), postures and meditation. It is an ancient tradition which can empower you to meet the challenges of modern life with grace and equanimity. Unlike other forms of Yoga which were originally practiced in isolation, Kundalini Yoga has always been a householder's yoga, designed for people with the commitments of family and work.

Movement, play, and active exploration in the first five years of a child's life are essential to the development of his or her body and brain. Now "Active Baby, Healthy Brain" presents 135 massages, exercises, and activities that engage your child's love of play while also stimulating his or her brain development in multiple areas, including:
Balance
Cross-pattern movement
Visualization
Vestibular (inner ear) stimulation
Laterality
Fine and gross motor skills
Each activity is presented on its own page with step-by-step instructions, appealing illustrations, and illuminating sidebars. The detailed instructions tell you exactly how to do each activity, as well as how to incorporate toys, music, dance, and games. No single activity takes more than two minutes, and all that's required is ten minutes a day. More than thirty years in the making, "Active Baby, Healthy Brain" is an indispensable guide for everyone who is raising a child or who interacts with preschoolers.

You may have heard of some of the "joys" of being pregnant, but you will be glad you didn't know everything after reading "Are You KIDing Me?".
Here are 51, not so funny things that can happen during pregnancy, with a humorous spin.
Whether you experience all 51 problems or none, in the end it is all worth it. Try to laugh when your body throws you for a loop and just remember to say, "Are You KIDing Me?"

Raise young children with their well-being in mind, gaining the confidence to trust your instincts and live by the baby - not by the book. In this new edition of the best-selling guide to childcare, Penelope Leach combines her warmth, wisdom and child psychology expertise with new scientific research on the way that infants react to the world around them. Find guidance on sleeping, feeds, washing and playtime, as well as advice on your baby's physical, intellectual and emotional development through each stage of life, from birth to age five. Learn to respond to your child in a way that will create a happy and harmonious family environment as you communicate and grow together. More than just a guide to childcare, Penelope Leach's supportive approach, anchored in child psychology, is based on the idea that a child's well-being is just as important as any physical need. Explore pages or parenting tips as you explore: - A child's journey from the first few days as a newborn right through to the first days of school - Tips for sleeping, comforting, feeding and teething plus everyday care at each stage - Ideas for playing, learning, muscle power and making sounds Penelope Leach is highly regarded as one of the world's leading writers on parenting. In Your Baby and Child, she effortlessly offers practical childcare advice, perfect for a new generation of parents seeking parental guidance from a trusted child development psychologist, in a down-to-earth writing style.

The new mom's most trusted resource-now revised and updated to include the latest in nutrition and dietary concerns
This hands-on guide provides mothers with expert advice on losing weight and eating well, so you can feel good about your decision to nurse. Registered dietitian, professional nutritionist, and mother of two Eileen Behan shows you how to shed pounds safely and naturally while nourishing a happy, healthy baby. Learn what and how much to eat, what foods to avoid, the best exercises, plus ways to keep the pounds off after you stop breastfeeding. Get the latest on:
- vitamin and mineral recommendations from the frontlines of nutrition research
- the Glycemic Index-what it is and what it means to breastfeeding women
- fish safety-what you need to know about toxin levels to protect you and your baby
- low-carb diets-good or bad for breastfeeding moms?
- calcium-does it speed up weight loss?
- whole grains-the best ways to integrate this ultimate energy food into your diet
- nuts-high-protein food or fattening snack?
- childhood obesity-how to prevent harmful eating habits, from breastfeeding through toddler years
- sugar substitutes-which ones are best?
PLUS-All new crock-pot recipes, more Web-based resources, and a breakthrough eating plan that allows mothers to eat well, lose weight naturally, and have a happy nursing experience.

Throughout history, people have named their children truly terrible things, and this book has the proof. Michael Sherrod and Matthew Rayback combed through U.S. federal census records to find the absolute worst names parents have given their children. The result is this hysterical new take on the baby name book. Here are some samples of the hilarious names inside: Fanny Pack, Fanny Whiffer, Post Office, Warren Peace, Rubella Graves, Nice Carr, and Hell Hellickson. And then there are the names we thought Bart Simpson was making up as he prank called Moe's Tavern: Hugh Jass, Al Caholic, Anita Bath, Amanda Hugginkiss, and Maya Buttreeks. This book is also filled with original illustrations and great photos that take a stab at what some of these babies may have looked like. Bad Baby Names is truly a one-of-a-kind book that makes a great gift for a friend, family member, or just yourself. Either way, Bad Baby Names is sure to make you laugh.

By the mid-twentieth century, two things appeared destined for extinction in the United States: the practice of home birth and the profession of midwifery. In 1940, close to half of all U.S. births took place in the hospital, and the trend was increasing. By 1970, the percentage of hospital births reached an all-time high of 99.4%, and the obstetrician, rather than the midwife, assumed nearly complete control over what had become an entirely medicalized procedure. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, an explosion of new alternative organizations, publications, and conferences cropped up, documenting a very different demographic trend; by 1977, the percentage of out-of-hospital births had more than doubled. Home birth was making a comeback, but why? The executive director of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists publicly noted in 1977 the "rising tide of demand for home delivery," describing it as an "anti-intellectual-anti-science revolt." A quiet revolution spread across cities and suburbs, towns and farms, as individuals challenged legal, institutional and medical protocols by choosing unlicensed midwives to catch their babies at home. Coming Home analyzes the ideas, values, and experiences that led to this quiet revolution and its long-term consequences for our understanding of birth, medicine, and culture. Who were these self-proclaimed midwives and how did they learn their trade? Because the United States had virtually eliminated midwifery in most areas by the mid-twentieth century, most of them had little knowledge of or exposure to the historic practice, drawing primarily on obstetrical texts, trial and error, and sometimes instruction from aging home birth physicians to learn their craft. While their constituents were primarily drawn from the educated white middle class, their model of care (which ultimately drew on the wisdom and practice of a more diverse, global pool of midwives) had the potential to transform birth practices for all women, both in and out of the hospital.

The Best Baby Names for Girls uses keyword information, our extensive catalog of baby names data, and metadata knowledge to create a perfect product for parents to be. Ideal for baby showers, gender reveals, and new moms and dads, this book will include extensive lists, trends, and ideas to find the right name for your little girl.

As confirmed by the American Academy of Pediatrics, infant sign language is a boon for enhancing communication between parents and babies, helping to forge an important bond early in a child's life. The Baby Signing Bible provides step-by-step instructions for parents and other caregivers, as well as insight into why baby sign language is useful for children of all ages. Kids with special needs can also benefit greatly from this program. Featuring 400 signs, the book covers essential nouns such as milk, verbs such as eat, and descriptors such as more. In addition, The Baby Signing Bible features real-life stories from parents who have successfully signed with their children, along with fun songs and games that help families learn to "sign and sing." Confidence-building illustrations enhance the basics for mastering vocabulary words.

This illustrated gift title is for expectant parents or frazzled new parents who might need a little support during their first year of parenthood. Featuring Helene the Illustrator's honest illustrations, each chapter looks at the different aspects of life with a new baby, from the first days of the newborn bubble through to the unbelievable milestone of their first birthday. Helene began illustrating her experiences of motherhood after the birth of her daughter. She found herself frequently scrolling through Instagram and finding she couldn't relate to the picture-perfect mothers who littered her feed. She started sharing her art and was stunned by the response she received, from new parents who felt just like she did. Helene's supportive, honest, empowering (and sometimes sweary) account of life with a new child unites parents from around the globe. While all parents, babies and births are different many of the emotions of new parenthood are universal. We are not alone, we're all in the same club and we've all got to do what we've got to do. We're all just making it up as we go along, hoping for the best! In The Club is the hug, hot cup of tea - or massive glass of wine - that new parents who feel overwhelmed and under-qualified need.