Introduction (continued)
Table of Contents | 1 | 2
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 that there's a lot of valuable information packed in between the two 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)
- 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 Canadian fertility treatment maze
- useful tips on choosing a caregiver and a place to 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 both during pregnancy or after the birth
- a sneak peak 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 loss
- a glossary of pregnancy- and birth-related terms
- a sample birth plan
- emergency childbirth instructions
- a directory of Canadian organizations of interest to new or expectant parents
- a directory of Internet resources of interest to Canadian parents
- a summary of important pregnancy-related statistics
- a prenatal record
- a list of recommended readings for parents-to-be who are eager to do some 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 Canadian 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 conceive! It's this "real world" perspective that makes The Mother of All Pregnancy Books such a fun book to read. After all, who better talk about the ins and outs of conception, pregnancy, and birth that 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 Canadian-style!
- 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!
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 "made in Canada."
I hope you enjoy the book.
Ann Douglas
