Preface:<br >How to Use This Book<br >Pregnancy is one of the most exciting， and<br >perhaps most doubt-ridden， periods for<br >any couple. The arrival of a baby sud-<br >denly transforms a couple into a family，<br >and overnight， the parents assume the<br >total responsibility for nurturing and<br >guiding a new being. Of course， you are<br >not alone in this monumental venture;<br >typically there are grandparents， aunts，<br >uncles， friends， colleagues， and many oth-<br >ers all too willing to give advice and per-<br >haps even lend a helping hand.<br > Your doctor and other health care<br >professionals are ready to provide medi-<br >cal treatment and answer questions. Still，<br >no matter how extensive the prospective<br >parents support system， there are bound<br >to be hundreds of questions. What do<br >these funny twinges mean? is it safe to<br >take my usual medication? What should I<br >be eating? Can I continue my daily jog-<br >ging? Obviously， your doctor is the best<br >person to answer these questions. But<br >there will be many times when you will<br >want to know more. This is why you<br >should keep this book close at hand<br >throughout the entire process--from plan-<br >ing your pregnancy until after delivery.<br > In compiling The Columbia University<br >College of Physicians and Surgeons Com-<br >plete Guide to Pregnancy， the editors have<br >enlisted more than a dozen of the most<br >experienced and knowledgeable special-<br >ists at the Columbia Presbyterian Medical<br >Center and Sloane Hospital for Women as<br >contributors. From their extensive expe-<br >rience both in treating patients and re-<br >search， they have special insight into the<br >concerns of prospective parents as well as<br >the problems that may arise.<br > The information in this book should<br >not be used to alter your own physician s<br >recommendationsByour doctor knows<br >and understands your own medical<br >needs. Instead， this book is intended to<br >help you understand what is going on as<br >your pregnancy progresses. If your doctor<br >has told you something you do not fully<br >understand， look it up in this book to get<br >a more detailed explanation. You also can<br >use this book as a basis for discussions<br >with your doctor about the aspects of<br >your pregnancy that may be troubling to<br >yOU.<br > We think you will find the informa-<br >tion in this book reassuring. Simply know-<br >ing that what you are experiencing is<br >normal and shared by millions of other pro-<br >spective parents can be very comforting.<br > Finally， this book is designed to be<br >used as a companion to The Columbia<br >University College of Physicians and Sur-<br >geons Complete Guide to Early Child Care.<br >That guide picks up where this one ends<br >and provides invaluable advice and infor-<br >mation on caring for your new baby<br >through early infancy until school age.<br >i<br >