This is the last of the general pregnancy books that I had on my list to read. I probably didn't need to read it. Not because I didn't learn anything — I did, and there were several areas where this book was better than the others I read — but I think three general pregnancy books reaches the points of diminishing returns. So now you know =)

But on to judging this book on its own merits! In many ways this was my favorite of the three books. I still prefer the tone of the Our Bodies, Ourselves pregnancy book, but I feel like in content this book combined the best of that book and the Mayo guide. This was, to some degree, at the expense of being about 30% longer than the other two (including appendices).

This book contained good information about alternatives, like the Our Bodies, Ourselves guide and detailed information about things like exercise like the Mayo guide. As far as I can recall, the chapters on breastfeeding and self comfort techniques during birth were more detailed than either.

The book did have a rather strong bias toward a lower intervention birth, so if that's not of interest to you, the book may bug you. If that book is of interest, you'll likely find it very supportive. I enjoyed it, but if you want a more balanced look at the alternatives, I recommend the Our Bodies, Ourselves guide; it's attitude is more "we want you to know that the low intervention route is a viable option, but that it's also perfectly OK to choose interventions. Either way, just make sure you know what you're choosing."

So my end recommendation of books for the pregnant or wanting to conceive couple?
- If you want more insight into how your menstrual cycle works and ways to track fertility, read Taking Charge of Your Fertility
- If you're not sure how you feel about different birth options, read Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth for a balanced overview of options
- Read Expecting Better to understand the data behind many of the standard recommendations and get the data to decide for yourself which recommendations are more or less relevant to you.
- If you feel the Our Bodies, Ourselves guide didn't give you enough info about pregnancy itself,
-- If you decide you prefer the more standard hospital birth, read the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
-- If you prefer the lower intervention approach (whatever setting), go with Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn (and, for the philosophical/emotional side of things, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth)
-- But note that either will give you lots of substantially different information, including about the alternatives. The difference is mainly a matter of tone. ( )

Este libro es una joya!! Totalmente recomendado para aquel que quiera ser padre, la que esta embarazada o quien tenga un bebe recien nacido. Es un libro sin desperdicios, abarca todas las etapas del emabarazo, detalle a detalle y lo primero meses de vida del recien nacido.

Incluye consejos de dieta y ejercicio (con fotos) para mujeres embarazadas. Hay un capítulo sobre las complicaciones durante el embarazo, así como uno sobre cómo planificarte para un parto. Los planes de nacimiento son discutidos en buen detalle, así como preguntas de la entrevista para su obstetra / partera / Doula.

Los capítulos finales revisan qué hacer una vez que el bebé entra en el mundo. ¿Cómo se da pecho?, ¿Cómo posicionar tu hijo? ¿Cuántas veces debe alimentar cada día y cuántos pañales mojados / sucios debe esperar? ¿Cuáles son algunas de las causas comunes de preocupación? Las respuestas a todas estas preguntas se proporcionan en este libro, así como ilustraciones para la lactancia, la celebración de su recién nacido, etc. ( )

Title of the book: Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn The Complete Guide

Author:Penny Simkin

Publisher: Meadowbrook Press

Publishing Date: 2016

ISBN: 978-1-501-11270-6

Summary:

If you only buy one pregnancy book, this should be the one! It’s the most complete. It covers all aspects of childbearing, from conception through early infancy, and tells you what to expect. It offers detailed information, suggestions on decisions to make, and advice on steps to take to have a safe and satisfying experience.

The Award-Winning Resource Recommended by Experts & Loved by Parents

Parents love this book because it puts them in control by explaining a wide range of options, information, and questions to ask, so parents can find what works best for their health situation, personal goals, and priorities.

Experts love this book because it’s based on the latest medical research and recommendations from leading health organizations. It’s practical—rooted in the real-life experiences of new families. The five authors bring a combined total of 150 years of experience working with expectant and new families as educators, nurses, counselors, doulas, physical therapists, and lactation consultants. They have attended hundreds of births, heard thousands of birth stories, and assisted innumerable new parents in adapting to their new lives. Not only that, the authors have a combined total of 12 children and 12 grandchildren. All of this experience allows them to write with compassion, understanding, and wisdom based on what really works in the real-world of parenting.

The companion website offers even more details on select subjects, including lists of all the best resources on each topic and worksheets to guide parents’ decision-making process. The website also includes a bonus chapter on pre-conception, which provides ways to improve your health and fertility before pregnancy begins.

Author Info:

Penny Simkin, a physical therapist, has been a childbirth educator and doula since 1968. She trains childbirth educators, doulas, and doula trainers and frequently conducts workshops for doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals

Personal Opinion:

I got this book on March 9th, 2016, a few weeks short of finishing up my first pregnancy. Having literally read this book cover to cover, I honest to gods wish I had known of it from the start of my pregnancy. Its very helpful, and something I found myself referring to even after my own son was born for various tips. I do regret that I didn't stick to some of the guns I should have, and that after the child's birth, I didn't read this fully for post-partum information which would have been very helpful, especially almost two months later when I had to go back to the hospital again. What I didn't like when it comes to this book is that its an ARC which means no page numbers throughout the copy I have and no index at the end which will make things easier to look up. Also, if you're looking for a book that focuses heavily on baby's growth, I would still focus on either what to expect when you're expecting or pregnancy weekly guide or the the pregnancy journal because the information about baby development is very scant in the book.

This is for Librarything Early Reviewer program

5 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.) ( )

This is the fifth edition of a book I read, reviewed, and loved many years ago, when I was first starting out as a childbirth educator. Penny Simkin is an authority I respect and admire, and her involvement as author and contributor to this volume adds credence to the content that other books do not have. When I was newly expecting for the first time, I picked up the usual books at Waldenbooks and B. Dalton, that is, commercial offerings like "What To Expect When You're Expecting". It was terrifying. To those books, I say, "If you taken what you're always given, you'll get what you've always gotten." If you choose a book like "Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn", you'll get accurate information and a standpoint from which to make informed decisions. Always advocate for yourself. Inform yourself, and make good decisions for you and your baby. Scorn books like WTEWYE, because those books pander to the medical community, making things convenient for them, not best for you and your baby.

"Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn" is well-organized, easy to read, and guides the eye throughout. It does not bore the reader with long text passages, nor does it overwhelm with too much color and graphics making the eye jump around on the page. It is well-designed and chock full of information. If you have a specific question, the answer is easy to locate, and there aren't gaps with chunks of information left out. Yet one does not have to be a consummate medical professional to understand what is being presented. Anything included is also explained in the book. Although the information could be alarming, it is also put in a way that is reassuring ("Yes, this can happen, but the chances are very low. Here is what you'll notice if it is happening, and here is what you can do if it should happen to you.")

This comprehensive guide to the year of having a baby is a worthwhile read, and I recommend it for expectant parents, professionals, and anyone interested in the birth process. ( )

There are so many Pregnancy books on the market, and from what I can tell, they all have the same information. The main thing I look for when purchasing a pregnancy book is the layout and presentation of the information. One of the main things I like about this book in particular is that it includes a good amount of information about taking care of your newborn. Most books are either dedicated to Pregnancy and childbirth or Newborn care, but not always both. Another thing I love about this book is that is is easy to read, not dry as some others I have read. When I first received the book, I knew I would like it just by looking at the Table of Contents because everything was arranged and grouped in a way that makes sense to me. Instead having a separate section for each trimester, there were sections for exercises, changes in your body, complicated situations, etc and the trimesters were discussed within those sections. Works for me, but maybe not for others! ( )