Pregnancy and Birth Sourcebook, 5th Ed.

Although the months of anticipation before a woman becomes a parent can be joyous and fulfilling, they can also mark a time filled with uncertainty and worry over potential birth defects, pregnancy complications, and chronic health conditions. Women in the United States are more likely to die from childbirth than those in other developed countries. Some women have health problems that start during pregnancy, and others have health problems before they get pregnant that could lead to complications during pregnancy. Strategies to help women adopt healthy habits and get health care before and during pregnancy can help prevent pregnancy complications. In addition, interventions to prevent unintended pregnancies can help reduce negative outcomes for women and infants. Women’s health before, during, and after pregnancy can significantly impact infants’ health and well-being. Women who get recommended health-care services before they get pregnant are more likely to be healthy during pregnancy and to have healthy babies.

Pregnancy and Birth Sourcebook, Fifth Edition provides health information about the reproductive process—from preconception through the postpartum period. It provides information about fertility, infertility, and pregnancy prevention. The book’s chapters explain the physical and emotional changes that occur during pregnancy, and discuss topics related to staying healthy during pregnancy, including eating nutritiously, exercising regularly, obtaining prenatal care, and avoiding harmful substances. Facts about high-risk pregnancies—such as those in women with chronic medical conditions, advanced maternal age, or weight concerns—are included. Finally, the book answers common questions about labor and delivery, postpartum recovery, newborn screening, and infant care. A glossary of terms and a directory of resources for information and support are also provided.

Part I: Preconception Health: Preparing for Pregnancy provides information about health habits, screenings, and interventions women may need before conception. This part also addresses factors that influence fertility, details common causes of infertility, and identifies methods of preventing unintended pregnancies. Providing health insurance during pregnancy for an individual.

Part II: Understanding Pregnancy-Related Changes and Fetal Development provides trimester-by-trimester details about physical changes in the fetus. The part also identifies early signs of pregnancy, suggests strategies for determining conception and due dates, and discusses emotional concerns and physical changes that may occur during pregnancy, including depression, back pain, pelvic floor and bladder problems, and vision and oral changes. Answering the questions for first-time mothers and even for their worries by conducting parenting classes.

Part III: Healthy Choices during Pregnancy highlights strategies women can undertake to help promote a healthy pregnancy. These include getting prenatal care and related medical tests, using medication safely, eating nutritiously, exercising, preventing excessive weight gain, and avoiding toxic substances and other harmful exposures. This part also offers advice on how pregnant women can stay safe at work or during travel.

Part IV: High-Risk Pregnancies discusses pregnancies at high risk due to maternal age, multiple fetuses, or chronic health conditions, including allergies, asthma, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy, lupus, sickle cell disease, thyroid disease, eating disorders, alpha thalassemia, sickle cell disease and obesity.

Part V: Pregnancy Complications describes diseases and disorders that may influence a pregnancy’s outcome, such as amniotic fluid abnormalities, birth defects, bleeding, blood clots, gestational diabetes, hypertension, severe nausea and vomiting, placental complications, Rh incompatibility, umbilical cord abnormalities, sexually transmitted diseases, and other infections. This part also offers information about preterm labor and pregnancy loss, including ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

Part VI: Labor and Delivery includes information about planning for labor and delivery by choosing a birthing center or hospital, selecting a birth partner or doula, and preparing a birth plan This part also provides details on the pain relief during labor, vaginal and cesarean births, and emergency situations that may occur during childbirth.

Part VII: Postpartum and Newborn Care discusses common post-partum concerns, including recovery expectations for new mothers, newborn care and screening tests, breastfeeding and formula-feeding tips, strategies for bonding with a new baby, and considerations for working after a child’s birth.

Part VIII: Additional Help and Information includes a glossary of important terms and a directory of organizations that provide help, information, and assistance to low-income pregnant women and their partners.