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"The must-read pregnancy book! Ann Douglas has created the most comprehensive guide to pregnancy
we've ever seen."
- Denise and Alan Fields, authors, Baby Bargains
"At
long last, a new pregnancy bible for women of my generation and younger has
emerged in the form of The Mother of All Pregnancy Books. With humor,
sensitivity, an easy, no-jargon style and a million "extras" that the
leading pregnancy books on the shelves don't cover, Ann Douglas holds nothing
back. Not only do I love this book, but I will use it as a valuable tool in my
own work as a women's health author."
- M. Sara Rosenthal, author, The Pregnancy Sourcebook
"An extremely comprehensive and even-handed volume that provides just about everything but the baby!
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books is an amazing resource and Ann Douglas is a reassuring and savvy
guide."
- Cecelia A. Cancellaro, author of Pregnancy Stories: Real Women Share the Joys, Fears, Thrills, and
Anxieties of Pregnancy from Conception to Birth
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Introduction
Table of Contents | 1
The bookstore shelves are overflowing with books on conception, pregnancy, and birth. In fact, the last time I was in one of the big chain superstores, there were no fewer than four bookcases devoted to the business of making babies. (Clearly, the pregnancy book world is experiencing a population explosion of its own!)
While some folks might argue that the last thing the world needs is another pregnancy book, I beg to differ. You see, what's been missing from bookstore shelves (at least until now) is a fun yet informative guide to pregnancy that's both fun to read and packed with nitty gritty information on that amazing rollercoaster ride called pregnancy.
That's why I decided to write this book.
A One-of-a-Kind Pregnancy Book
As you've no doubt noticed by now, pregnancy books tend to fall into one of two distinct categories: bossy books that treat pregnancy as a nine-month exercise in deprivation and that leave you feeling like a bad person if you ingest so much as a single Tylenol® during your entire pregnancy; and humorous books that treat pregnancy and birth as one big joke. (Hey, I enjoy a laugh as much as the next gal, but there are times when I'd prefer a hefty serving of hard medical facts!)
The Mother of All Pregnancy Books doesn't fall into either of these classic pregnancy book traps. It doesn't pretend to know what's best for you (like preaching to you about the evils of eating junk food during pregnancy, as one bestselling pregnancy book likes to do). Nor does it waste pages and pages discussing such inane topics as your fantasies about your obstetrician (the type of subject that another bestselling pregnancy book takes particular delight in talking about). Instead, The Mother of All Pregnancy Books arms you with the facts so that you can make up your own mind about such important issues as nutrition during pregnancy, prenatal testing, pain relief during labor, circumcision, and breastfeeding.
Why The Mother of All Pregnancy Books?
It isn't difficult to figure out why we chose to call this book The Mother of All Pregnancy Books This is one comprehensive book, after all! If you take a quick flip through its pages, you'll discover a lot of valuable information packed between the covers, including
- a frank discussion of what it's really like to have a baby, the emotional and physical challenges of pregnancy, the career and financial costs of starting a family, and other important issues that most pregnancy books don't touch upon
- a concise summary of what you need to know about preparing your body for pregnancy (including a discussion of the latest research about the father's role in ensuring a healthy conception)
- helpful tips on deciding whether or not you and your partner are good candidates for genetic counseling
- practical advice on what you can do to increase your chances of conceiving quickly
- the latest news about treatments for infertility and what it takes to successfully make your way through the fertility treatment maze (including tips on arm-wrestling with your insurance company, if necessary)
- up-to-date information on the costs and success rates for various high-tech methods of treating infertility
- useful tips on choosing a caregiver and a place to give birth (assuming, of course, that you have the luxury of choice)
- detailed information about making the healthiest possible choices for your baby
- the top ten worries for each trimester served up with a hefty side dish of reassurance
- the inside scoop on coping with a smorgasbord of pregnancy-related aches and pains
- fascinating facts about fetal development and how your body changes during pregnancy
- helpful advice on coping with a high-risk pregnancy
- detailed information on what it's like to give birth vaginally and through cesarean section
- the facts you need to make up your mind about such important issues as circumcision and breastfeeding
- practical advice on weathering the highs and lows of the postpartum period
- helpful insights on how your relationship with your partner may change during pregnancy and after the birth
- a sneak peek at "life after baby"
- a frank discussion of the joys and challenges of welcoming a baby who has special needs
- a detailed look at the latest research concerning miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death
- a glossary of pregnancy and birth-related terms
- a sample birth plan
- emergency childbirth instructions
- a directory of organizations of interest to new or expectant parents
- a directory of Internet resources of interest to parents-to-be
- a summary of important pregnancy-related statistics
- a prenatal record
- a list of recommended readings for parents-to-be who are eager to do more cramming before it's time for "the final exam."
What makes this book really special, however, is the fact that it's based on interviews with more than 100 parents and parents-to-be. These folks passed on their best advice on a variety of different pregnancy-related topics-everything from keeping the romance in your relationship while you're trying to conceive to keeping your breakfast down after you manage to get pregnant. It's this real-world perspective that makes The Mother of All Pregnancy Books such a fun book to read. After all, who better to talk about the ins and outs of conception, pregnancy, and birth than real people who've been there, done that, and lived to tell.
You'll also find a few other bells and whistles as you make your way through the book:
- Mom's the Word: insights and advice from new and expectant parents.
- Mother Wisdom: little-known facts about pregnancy including some really fun pop culture tidbits about giving birth
- Facts and Figures: medical breakthroughs and noteworthy statistics related to pregnancy
- From Here to Maternity: leads on a variety of pregnancy—related resources that you and your partner will definitely want to know about 1-800 numbers, Web sites, freebies, and more!
Please note that throughout the book, measurements are provided in imperial. And please consult the glossary section at the end of the book for a comprehensive listing of medical and technical terms used in the text.
As you've no doubt gathered by now, The Mother of All Pregnancy Books is unlike any other pregnancy book you've ever read. It's comprehensive, it's fun to read, and, best of all, it's packed with useful information you won't find anywhere else."
I hope you enjoy the book.
Ann Douglas
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