PART 1 Enjoying a healthy pregnancy
Chapter 1 Preparing to become pregnant
Is the time right?
Questions to ask
Is your body ready?
Contraception · Immunizations · Chronic medical condition · Medications and supplements · Prenatal vitamins · Sexually transmitted infections · Family history · Previous pregnancies · Lifestyle · Additional nutrients
How to get pregnant
When you’re most fertile · Maximizing your fertility · Healthy sperm · If you’re having trouble
Are you pregnant?
Early symptoms · Home pregnancy tests
Choosing a care provider
Obstetrician-gynecologists · Midwives · Giving birth in a hospital · Family physicians · Considering an out-of-hospital birth · Maternal-fetal medicine specialists · How to decide
Delayed pregnancy and fertility
Issues to consider · Making healthy choices
Chapter 2 Healthy choices during pregnancy
Pregnancy diet
Making every bite count · Foods to avoid · Vegetarian tips · The good stuff · Taking supplements · Folate and folic acid · Calcium · Protein · Iron · Getting your D
Gaining weight
What’s healthy? · If you’re overweight · If you’re underweight · If you’ve had an eating disorder · Slow and steady · Your weight goal · Determining your BMI · Where the weight goes
Staying active
Baby, let’s move! · Working in workouts · When extra caution is needed · Listen to your body · Athletes and pregnancy · Activities to approach with care · Pregnancy exercises
Playing it smart
Caffeine counter · Caffeine · Alcohol · Tobacco · Illicit drugs
Making sense of medications
What’s safe? · What’s not safe? · A medication guide · Birth control pills and pregnancy · Opioid use during pregnancy · What about herbal products?
Working while pregnant
Proper way to lift · Handling fatigue · Sitting, standing, bending and lifting · Avoiding harmful substances
Travelling wisely
Airplane travel · Destinations to avoid · Proper seat belt use · A few travel tips · Sea travel · Car travel
Common questions
Falls · Flu shot and other vaccinations · Colds and allergies · Acne · lactose intolerance · Hair coloring · Hot tubs and saunas · X-rays · Cellphones, computers and microwaves · Airport scanners · Mosquito bites · Household cleaners · Paint fumes · Litter boxes · Pregnancy and cavities · Water parks and theme park rides
Chapter 3 For dads and partners
How to take part
Getting through the first trimester together
Minimize nausea triggers · Your symptoms (you get ’em too) · Help combat fatigue · Ride out the mood swings · Remember it will pass
Sex during pregnancy
Staying intimate
Labor and delivery worries
Educate yourself about childbirth · Map your route · Install an infant car seat · Keep a copy of the birth plan · Pack your bags · Manage communications
Helping during labor
After the delivery
Common anxiety
Take action · Stay involved
PART 2 Pregnancy month by month
Introduction
Why 10 months?
Pregnancy calendar
A week-by-week checklist
How to respond
A guide to troublesome signs and symptoms
Chapter 4 Month 1: Weeks 1 to 4
Baby’s growth
Week by week · X and Y
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Estimating your due dates · Baby’s sex: Can parents choose?
Your emotions
Mixed feelings · Mood swings · Your partner’s reaction · Your relationship with your partner
Scheduling a prenatal checkup
Getting yourself prepped · Exercise of the month
Chapter 5 Month 2: Weeks 5 to 8
Baby’s growth
Week by week · Can stress cause miscarriage? · What to avoid
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Spotting
Coping with morning sickness
Exercise of the month · Hormones and more · How to ease the queasiness · The ‘warmed up’ effect
Your emotions
Anticipation · Worries and concerns
Prenatal checkup
What’s going to happen? · First appointment checklist
Twins, triplets and more
How multiple are made · Fraternal vs. identical · What it means for you · Possible complications
Chapter 6 Month 3: Weeks 9 to 12
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · That pregnancy glow
Your emotions
Dealing with body image
Prenatal checkup
Prenatal tests: Yes, no, not sure? · Boy or girl: Do you want to know? · Exercise of the month · Sex during pregnancy
Alternative prenatal care models
Chapter 7 Month 4: Weeks 13 to 16
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Congestion problems · Exercise of the month
Your emotions
Feeling productive
Time to go shopping
Prenatal checkup
Thinking ahead to child care
Child care options · Making your decision · Work and family balance
Chapter 8 Month 5: Weeks 17 to 20
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Exercise of the month
Your motions
Baby on the move! · ‘Baby brain’
Prenatal checkup
Chapter 9 Month 6: Weeks 21 to 24
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Is it false labor or true labor? · Exercise of the month
Your emotions
Confronting your fears · Being intimate
Prenatal checkup
Childbirth classes
Different types · What to look for · Thinking ahead: Finding a care provider for your baby
Chapter 10 Month 7: Weeks 25 to 28
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where
Your emotions
Enjoy a little break
Prenatal checkup
Exercise of the month · Losing your personal space · Glucose challenge testing · Rh antibodies testing · Tdap vaccine
The breast or bottle question
A tough decision for some women · Sagging breasts
Chapter 11 Month 8: Weeks 29 to 32
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Changes in baby’s movement · Exercise of the month · Watching out for preterm labor · Finding a comfortable sleep position
Your emotions
Handling anxiety
Prenatal checkup
Cord blood banking
Public vs. private · Should you consider it?
Baby gear essentials
Buying a car seat · Buying a crib · Buying a baby carrier
Chapter 12 Month 9: Weeks 33 to 36
Baby’s growth
Week by week
Your body changes
What’s happening and where · Exercise of the month
Preparing your body for labor
Kegel exercises · Perineal massage
Your emotions
Preparing yourself for labor
Prenatal checkup
Strep test · Checking baby’s position
Your birth plan
Birth plan checklist · Pain management
Chapter 13 Month 10: Weeks 37 to 40
Baby’s growth
Week by week · How baby comes out
Your body changes
What’s happening and where
Your emotions
Time to relax
Techniques to keep you calm
Prenatal checkup
When to call · Exercise of the month · What to do when baby’s overdue · Placentophagy
Chapter 14 Labor and childbirth
While you wait
Review your birth plan · Preregister at the hospital · Pack your bag · Try to relax · Common questions
How your body prepares
Early signals · Signs you’re in labor · Presentation, position and station · Can you kick-start labor?
It’s time! – Or is it?
Ready; set; not yet! · What’s that for?
Sages of labor and childbirth
What does labor feel like? · Stage 1 · Cervix dilation · Labor positions · Factors that can speed or slow labor · Back labor · How baby comes out · What exactly triggers labor? · Stage 2 · Stage 3
If you’re the labor coach
During early labor · During active labor · During transition · During pushing and delivery
Chapter 15 Cesarean birth
When is a C-section done?
Reasons why · What about elective C-sections?
The risks
Risks for you · Is there a limit? · Risks for your baby · Dealing with the unexpected
What you can expect
Preparation · The operating room · The recovery room
After surgery
Vaginal seeding · Recovery · Your partner’s involvement · Restrictions · Possible complications · Welcome, little one
PART 3 Baby is finally here
Chapter 16 Your newborn
Your baby’s appearance
Head · Jennifer’s story · Skin · Hair · Eyes
Newborn care
Examinations · Treatments and vaccinations · Screening tests
Circumcision
Issues to consider · How it’s done · Circumcision care
Newborn issues
Jaundice · Infection · Learning to eat
The premature newborn
The setting · The neonatal intensive care until team · What baby may look like · Getting involved · Complications of prematurity · When your baby is hospitalized
Chapter 17 Taking baby home
Your baby’s world
Reflexes · Senses · Crying · Swaddling baby · Eating and sleeping · Coping with colic · Developing good sleep habits · Safe sleep · Peeing and pooping · First bowel movements
Baby care basics
Holding your baby · Changing diapers · Diaper rash · Cradle cap · Bathing · Umbilical cord care · Skin care · Nail care · Clothing
Twins, triplets or more
Getting through the first weeks
Chapter 18 Postpartum issues for mom
Breast care
Engorgement · Leaking milk · Score or cracked nipples · Breast self-awareness · Blocked ducts
Bowel and urination problems
Bowel movements · Hemorrhoids · Urine leakage · Difficulty urinating
Healing
Uterine cramping · Episiotomies and tears · Vaginal discharge
Getting back into shape
Fatigue · Hair and skin · Weight loss · Exercise
The baby blues
Dealing with the blues · Causes · Signs and symptoms · Is it more than the blues?
Baby bonding
Give it time
Chapter 19 Managing as parents
Early survival tips
Tackling transitional stress · Getting enough sleep · When sleep becomes a struggle · Negotiating household chores · Paying for baby · Introducing your pet to a new baby
Parenting as a team
The transition to parenthood · The importance of support · Setting the tone · What makes a strong, healthy family?
Finding time for yourself and each other
Getting away on your own · Getting away together · Sex after pregnancy
Single parenthood
Hang in there
PART 4 Important decisions of pregnancy
Chapter 20 Genetic screening
What is it?
Different types of genetic tests
Issues to consider
9 key questions
Types of genetic disorders
Family history screening
Ethnic-based screening · Genetic diseases
Expanded carrier screening
How it’s done
Understanding the results
Chapter 21 Prenatal testing
Issues to consider
6 key questions
Ultrasound imaging
Prenatal screening
First trimester combines screening · Second trimester quadruple screening · Screening tests combines across first and second trimesters · Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening
Prenatal diagnostic tests
Chorionic villus sampling · Amniocentesis · When the results indicate a problem · Genetic studies after CVS or amniocentesis · Fetal blood sampling
Fetal surveillance or late pregnancy tests
Fetal nonstress and stress tests · Biophysical profile testing · Doppler ultrasound
Chapter 22 Breast-feeding
Breast-feeding
Milk production · Benefits for baby · Benefits for you · Pros vs. cons · When breast-feeding may not be an option · Vitamin D · Getting started · Feeding positions · Nursing basics · Keeping yourself healthy · Breast care · Pumping your breasts · Storing breast milk · Breast-feeding multiples · Going back to work · Introducing a bottle · Donor milk
Bottle-feeding
Breast of bottle: Feeding tips · Pros vs. cons · Bottle-feeding basics · Be flexible · Getting started · Preparing formula · Getting into position
Chapter 23 Pain relief during childbirth
Issues to consider
Your options
Pain medications · Natural methods · What’s a doula?
Pain medications
Epidural block · Spinal block · Combined spinal epidural · Receiving an epidural block · Opioids · Local anesthetic · Nitrous oxide
Natural methods
Breathing techniques · Relaxation techniques · Other techniques
Chapter 24 Elective cesarean birth
Issues to consider
Benefits vs. risks
Maternal benefits · Maternal risks · Fetal risks
Making your decision
Chapter 25 Vaginal birth after a cesarean birth
Benefits of VBAC · Risks of VBAC
Issues to consider
Previous incision · Reason for previous C-section · Who might not be a candidate
Tips for planning a VBAC
Chapter 26 Contraception after delivery
Issues to consider
Breast-feeding and contraception
Fertility · Hormones and breast milk · Vaginal dryness
Options
Hormonal methods · Barrier methods · Intrauterine devices · Permanent methods · Natural family planning methods · Emergency methods
Making your decision
PART 5 Symptoms guide
Abdominal discomfort · Abdominal pressure · Abdominal tenderness · Acne · Allergies · Baby’s hiccups · Baby’s kicks · Backache · Blurry vision · Breast discharge · Breast enlargement · Breast tenderness · Buttock and leg pain · Carpal tunnel syndrome · Clumsiness · Constipation · Contractions · Cramping · Dizziness and faintness · Dreams · Enlarged veins · Excessive salivation · Eye changes · Facial skin darkening · Fatigue · Feeling warm · Fluid leakage · Food aversions · Food cravings · Forgetfulness · Gas and bloating · Gum disease and bleeding · Headaches · Heartburn · Hemorrhoids · Hip pain · Hunger · Increased heart rate · Insomnia · Irrational fears · Itchiness · Leg cramps · Linea nigra · Mood swings · Morning sickness · Mucous discharge · Navel soreness · Nesting · Nipple darkening · Nosebleeds · Pelvic pressure · Perineal aching · Perspiration · Public bone pain · Rashes · Rectal bleeding · Red palms and soles · Rib tenderness · Round ligament pain · Sensitivity to smells · Shortness of breath · Skin tags · Snoring · Stretch marks · Stuffy nose · Swelling · Swollen feet · Thirst · Urinary tract infections · Urinating frequently · Urine leakage · Vaginal bleeding · Vaginal discharge · Varicose veins · Vomiting · Yeast infections
PART 6 Complications of pregnancy and childbirth
Chapter 27 Issues during pregnancy
Blood concerns
Rhesus factor incompatibility · Iron deficiency anemia
Cervical incompetence
Depression
Early labor
Bed rest and activity restriction
Excessive vomiting
Fetal growth restriction
Gestational diabetes
Infection
Chickenpox · Cytomegalovirus · Fifth disease · Flu · German measles · Group B streptococcus · Listeriosis · Toxoplasmosis · Tuberculosis · Zika virus
Placental problems
Placental abruption · Placenta previa
Preeclampsia and hypertension
Chapter 28 Problems of labor and childbirth
Labor that fails to start
Inducing labor · Oxytocin
Labor that fails to progress
Prolonged early labor · Assisted birth · Prolonged active labor · Prolonged pushing
Baby in an abnormal position
Facing up · Abnormal angle · Head too big · Breech · Lying sideways
Intolerance of labor
Umbilical cord prolapse · Umbilical cord compression · Decreased fetal heart rate
Chapter 29 Managing mom’s health concerns
Pre-existing health issues
Asthma · Cancer · Depression · Diabetes · Epilepsy · Heart disease · Hepatitis B · High blood pressure · Immune thrombocytopenic purpura · Inflammatory bowel disease · Lupus · Phenylketonuria · Rheumatoid arthritis · Sexually transmitted infections · Sickle cell disease · Thyroid disease · Uterine fibroids
Postpartum concerns
Blood clots · Excessive bleeding · Infection · Postpartum depression · Self-care for postpartum depression
Chapter 30 Pregnancy loss
Miscarriage
Signs and symptoms · Causes · What doesn’t cause miscarriage? · Types of miscarriages · Seeing a doctor · Treatment · Recovery · Recurrent pregnancy loss
Ectopic pregnancy
Signs and symptoms · Treatment · Future pregnancies
Molar pregnancy
Signs and symptoms · Treatment · Future pregnancies
Stillbirth
Signs and symptoms · Causes · Treatment · Future pregnancies · Coping with pregnancy loss
Trying again
Emotional recovery · Your partner · Physical recovery · Tips for future pregnancies
Additional resources
Glossary
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