The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth

Do you want to know what's going on inside that belly of yours, week by week, month by month? Are you looking for a more comprehensive, matter-of-fact book than the popular What to Expect When You're Expecting? Check out The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger.

This book outlines everything, literally everything, you may want to know about pregnancy and childbirth. Its title doesn't lie. Spanning 425 pages and featuring beautiful birth photography, you will be guided through the well-being of you and your baby, how your partner is affected by these life changes, how to be in tune with your laboring body, how to deal with labor pain, the medical control of birth, gentle birth, the first hours of your baby's life, and the weeks that follow.

Writes Kitzinger,

"The book describes the choices available to help you decide how you would like to have your baby, in what setting, and how you wish your baby to be welcomed into the world. I include suggestions on talking with your doctor, how to ask things that worry you and share in the decisions. The book offers a map of the route through pregnancy and labor and out the other side, explaining who does what and why, and what happens when things are not straightforward. I have used some of the words and phrases that you may see written on your medical chart or hear from doctors or midwives, so that you will understand them, but the main focus is on experiential aspects of birth — how it feels.

"Pregnancy and childbirth are normal life processes, not illnesses. You feel the surge of life moving inside you, the ripening of your body heavy with fruit, and then the flood of vitality as labor starts and your uterus contracts in wave after wave, bringing your baby into your arms. It is awe-inspiring and deeply satisfying. At the same time, you grow up a little and learn more about yourself and your partner. I hope this book will help you savor the intense reality of childbearing and enjoy it to the fullest."