Maternity Books

This book is filled with pre-conception to postpartum chapters. There are a ton of pictures, but a few are dark. There are a lot of drawings and charts. The authors organized this book very well and included a lot of critical thinking problems and the chapter summaries are some of the best I've read. (Usually the chapter summaries in my textbooks are pretty vague.) I love this book, and learned a lot from it. It's very helpful, even for non-nurse mothers who want to read about their pregnancies and deliveries from a more professional standpoint. (Labor drugs are explained in great detail.) Great book!

Kitzinger has once again created a powerhouse (this time as an editor and contributor) with The Midwife Challenge. Midwifery practice around the globe is represented and what is "normal" in other countries often puts U.S. practices to shame with its scientification of the birth process. Other developed countries experience the same conflict between natural processes and the proliferation of technology that the U.S. has gone through, and with similar impact on women's health. Most interesting are the articles showing less developed countries experiencing the conflict of wanting to emulate the positive medical advances of the first world while still preserving their indigenous culture.

When it comes for midwifery research it's not very easy to find great books at this one. We have here contents to reflect and to research.

I cannot review this book for myself as it was a gift. However, I know my daughter placed it as a high priority on her wish list, and was thrilled upon it's receipt.

The definition of midwifery is "with woman". It is not "managing women" or "directing birth". It is about being a woman's equal, being up to date on the most evidence-based research, and providing women full informed choice and support for her decisions. This is the essence of midwifery.

Sara Wickham has collected a variety of articles and studies that demonstrate the true definition of being with woman. From ways to determine cervical dilation without intrustive vaginal exams to the physiological second stage, the information in this book is unique, of sound advice and speaks to the heart of all midwives.

Every midwife, whether practicing at home or in an institution, would benefit from this collection. If midwives could get back to the true meaning of midwifery and get away from the control of the medicolegal fear mongering, women everywhere would benefit. This book is a step in the right direction.

I'm a fitness instructor and I bought this book so I could be well versed on giving modifications to pregnant women that come to my classes. I found the book to be informative and contain a good amount of information beyond the typical "don't lay on your back" type of thing. The book addresses the pregnant athlete, eating well, posture, meditiation, stretching, getting in exercise while doing activities around the house, your skin, hormones, discomforts, etc. The book has some basic sketches/drawings in it which I thought were value added but this is not a picture book.

I found the book to be a great guide and it is recommended by the American Council on Exercise, which is who I have my group exercise certification through and how I originally found out about the book. I look forward to using the information for myself one day. In the meantime, I'm loaning it to one of my trusted newly pregnant students so she can keep fit while pregnant. I highly recommend this one especially if you're only buying one fitness book for pregnancy.

This book should be considered the "bible" of multi-fetal pregnancy issues. It is excellent. All issues related to multiples are discussed. I particularly focused on the nutrition component, but found the rest of the book to be helpful as well. Definitely aimed at professionals, as opposed to the pregnant woman or couple.

The collaborative effort of women's health experts Linda Lewis Alexander, Judith H. LaRosa, and Helaine Bader, and now in its second edition, New Dimensions In Women's Health covers a wide range of medical and health issues directly impacting female health including lifestyle, nutrition, and fitness, as well as diverse health issues and problems ranging from substance abuse and violence, sexual health, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, to hormone replacement therapy, mental health, and more. A scholarly but highly accessible resource for students of all backgrounds, New Dimensions In Women's Health presents straightforward medical information and advice, and is particularly suitable for a basic educational courses text or for independent personal study and informational enrichment.

The book is very helpful! Along with Maternal-Newborn Nursing: Reviews & Rationales, it is a great study aid for exams.

Excellent study and resource book. Text is easy to understand, and very informative. A must for those studying midwifery, or helpful to midwives as a resource book.