Pregnancy Books

This book is truly excellent. When my husband and I wanted to conceive a child, using basal body temperature charting as explained in this book let us know very quickly that I wasn't ovulating, even though my periods were fairly regular at the time. That led us to a diagnosis of PCOS. I tracked my ovulation signals, took metformin, and we conceived our daughter in only a few months. This is particularly significant when you consider that not only did I have PCOS, I was 39 and extremely overweight.

This book should be required reading for every woman of childbearing age. If you want help getting pregnant, staying pregnant, or avoiding pregnancy, you need this book.

I bought this book 2 1/2 years ago while I was still trying to conceive. It had taken us a long time and I decided to "get serious" about it. This book was jammed full of information that I never knew. I credit it completely to my getting pregnant the first month after I read it. I also joined the support website at ovusoft.com. I spent over 2 years on this website and considered myself a supportive member of their community. The website was recently done for 10 days with no advance notice and when it was brought back on-line many members were banned from the website for no specific reason. It offers lots of support when you are TTC and pregnant but nothing for the average woman looking for a supportive on-line community.

I use this book a lot. I use it for Birth control and it works great for me. It's easy to use and very acurate when done correctly

This book should be given to every 13 year old girl. It is a comprehensive guide to knowing how the body works and how to manage your fertility regardless of what stage you are at. I got it as a natural birth control guide and it is so much more....and it works!! Be your own obgyn, empower yourself!!!!!

Three years ago, I picked this book up, intrigued by the title. I had been struggling to find an acceptable form of birth control, as well as a proactive solution to some chronic health problems. This book taught me everything I needed to know to practice safe, effective pregnancy prevention. Furthermore, since quitting hormonal birth control, my health problems have evaporated. The techniques taught in this book will also help you achieve pregnancy quickly (it really works!) and troubleshoot any fertility issues you may have. I continue to use this book as a resource for questions of health and wellness nearly every day. It is by far the most useful book I have ever purchased, and it changed my life. It will change yours too!

My best friend wanted me to be her coach during the birth of her first child and suggested this book for me to read before the birth, so I could be prepared for the type of birth she was having. She was having an unmedicated birth and was using a midwife. I loved this book so much. I took notes all throughout so I could remember things to say during the birth...positive, uplifting, helpful things to say like "rushes" instead of "contractions". I felt so prepared and helpful when I was in the delivery room. My friend said I really got her through it and I thank Ina May's book for that. Now, I'm pregnant and I'm having my mom read this book and having my friend go through it again for a refresher!

Makes me that much more certain that a natural, drug-free, homebirth is the right choice for us. I am not dreading labor, I am not scared of labor - I'm looking forward to the experience. I can't wait.

This is one of the nicest books I've read about childbirth. It's full of wonderful, POSITIVE birth stories. Usually we only hear the horror birth stories which scares so many mums-to-be. This book can make you realise that natural birthing can be achieved by YOU!! All you need is a good, experienced midwife, a calm environment and people around you that make you feel relaxed. The joyful stories certainly sound familiar to my own homebirth experience. Recommended reading to anyone considering home birth.

This book is amazing, empowering and well written! I recommend this book to doula's, mother-to-be or mother's who are thinking of having a baby.

Another must read for pregnant women to know all their options about birth. Gives you a beautiful outlook on the birthing experience.

This book is so awesome. Concise, informative, and very well organized. It helped us make many decisions regarding our pregnancy and delivery, and really made me feel informed and empowered. Highly recommend this book!!!

Well-organized, week by week updates in clear, understandable language. Simple guides for when to be worried, without the fear-mongering of that "what to expect" book. A great, comprehensive reference that allows you to look up all of your questions, follow along as your baby develops, and feel good about your pregnancy. This is the best guide for all mothers.

I bought this when I was unexpectedly having my first child! I had a million questions and this book was very thorough starting from conception and ending a few weeks after birth. If you read this book from cover to cover, you will be very prepared (well, as much as you can be with a first!).

We believe it's one of the best (if not the best) guides available for pregnant women.

It's a great book and will answer all your questions and doubts.

In case your are pregnant for the 1st time, it's a must read.

The book is very well organized. The first few chapters go over your pregnancy week to week and discusses fetal development and what kind of changes your body is going through. The other chapters in the second half of the book go over everything from breast feeding over bottle feeding, when to call your doctor (bleeding, cramps, etc), and how to change diapers. I would totally recommend this book to a friend.

My only issue with Baby Catcher was that it was too long and a bit rambling (and I could have done without the Bible quotes that preceded each section). Other than that, it's a lovely memoir of a midwife's life in the (sometimes supportive) (sometimes horrifyingly not) Bay Area.

I think it would be a great book for mothers to read, so that the black box of labour and birth can be demystified a bit (from the sheer number of diverse births she describes), and also presented in a light that isn't clinical or or gross or horrible or dangerous or like an illness or condition -- in the same way that the fabulous documentary "The Business of Being Born" should be required viewing for all moms and those who love them.

I also think it's fascinating (and depressing) to learn about the history and state of midwifery in the US and the challenges that both hospitals and midwives face today.

It didn't make me want to have an epidural free home birth, but it certainly made the possibility of a more natural birth (maybe in a birthing centre attached to a hospital) more appealing. And I'm definitely all for midwives. Every pregnant woman should have one. They're phenomenal human beings.

Peggy Vincent is a licensed midwife who specializes in home births. In "Baby Catcher" she shares some of her most memorable experiences as a midwife. This is the second book about midwifery that I have read -the first one being "Labor of Love" by Cara Muhlhahn. And this one was even better than the first.

Peggy writes in a very entertaining and honest way. The chapters give glimpses into her daily midwifery practice, and help you realize what kind of dedication and compassion it takes to be successful in the business of home births. Some of her stories made me laugh out loud and some brought tears to my eyes. Vincent manages to relay the importance of seeing giving birth as something normal and not a disease that necessarily needs to be medically treated. Nevertheless she doesn't pass any judgement on women that choose to go the medical route. But she does shed some light on how doctors and hospitals view giving birth and how their interventions can negatively affect women.
I also found it very interesting to read about her experience with malpractice insurance and how one unjust settlement ended her private practice.

In the final pages Vincent included a summary with some words of wisdom, an overview of the contents of a well stocked home birth kit, a recommended reading list, as well as midwifery economics and safety studies.

I loved every page of this book and it certainly got me motivated to pursue this career path some more!

I loved this book. It should be required reading for all pregnant women when they are making decisions about their care and the ultimate delivery of their child.

Midwives have been villainized by society and the medical establishment. I hope books like this one and others by such authors as Ina May Gaskin, Henci Goer, Pam England, Rob Horowitz, Sheri L. Menelli, Breck Hawk become common reading for all couples planning on having children.

I've experienced an out of hospital, midwife delivery and it was life changing for me as a woman and mother.

Peggy Vincent is a wonderful author and this book will entertain and educate you as you are drawn into Peggy's experiences and life lessons. I highly, highly recommend it.

What I love about this book is that she favors natural childbirth. I have had two babies with no epidural and I don't personally know anyone else that has done that with a difficult labor like mine. It was nice to hear about other woman's stories. It is full of many different birth stories. It is amazing how many different ways there are to labor and give birth. This is a real page turner!

I started this book when I was pregnant with my second child, ended up miscarrying, but continued to read and finish it because of the respect and insight Peggy Vincent ignited in me for my own body. The learning and playful love I felt as I turned the pages outweighed my pangs of hurt and loss - I am so happy I stumbled upon this great book. Highly recommended, and although I'd wished I had found it before my first pregnancy, some women (and men) may want to wait until they have one birth under their belt as the images Ms. Vincent creates will definitly churn the emotions. Turned my western-culture hospital attitude on its head.

We have witnessed first hand many examples detailed in this book, it is as if Dr. Warshak is in our home. This book provides us with insight of what to do while the target parent still has a fighting chance.

We got this book two days ago and I could not put it down. Divorced parents have an obligation to their kids to enable and provide them with easy access to both parents.

Parental warfare needs to stop. As a child custody attorney, I have said it a thousand times. As a custody battle survivor I have lived it too. Too often people simply complain and complain about all the terrible things the ex does to interfere with their parent-child relationships. An overall theme of Dr. Warshak's book is to TAKE ACTION. The difference between this book and say Alec Baldwin's, A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey through Fatherhood and Divorce, for example, is that it is completely solution oriented. Baldwin's book and the hundreds like it generally just point out how unfair the "system" and the participants of the "divorce industry" have been to them. While Baldwin's book is good, Divorce Poison addresses the best ways to help and protect the children of separation and divorce. Divorce Poison is well written and easy to follow. Almost right out of the gate the author goes into detail about some of the most common situations involving Bad-Mouthing, Bashing and Brainwashing. The chapter on alienated children is a real eye opener. This book covers it all,from the most subtle poison to the most toxic situations involving contrived abuse allegations.There are too many sick and distorted parents out there that ruin their children by dishonoring the child's other parent. In his chapter on "Poison Control" Warshak reminds us that sometimes love is not enough. Yes, you love your child, but that alone won't dilute divorce poison. This book gives the reader the ammunition to fight back. I thought so much of Divorce Poison that I referred to it in my new book, Stop Fighting Over the Kids: Resolving Day-to-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations. Stop Fighting Over The Kids: Resolving Day-to-Day Custody Conflict in Divorce Situations (Mike Mastracci's Divorce Without Dishonor)

I am a mother who is also the target parent of severe divorce poisoning for the past eleven years. I only wish I'd come by this book much sooner! I made many crucial mistakes because I tried to play by the wrong rules!

Divorce Poison is "the Bible" for any and every difficult or tense custody divorce. It's a good reminder to all parents of the psychological devastation caused in the minds of children for any poisoning, intentional or not. And it's incredibly validating and helpful for parents who are the target of poisoning, whether mild or systematic character assassination. It is eye-opening in understanding how to combat poisoning, which is counter-intuitive to traditional methods.

Though written by a psychologist, this book is very easy to read and understand. Dr. Warshak is a good writer--very organized and user friendly in language and writing style. He is also thorough. I felt as if he touched on every angle, but it is done in such a balanced and thoughtful manner. There were some places where he could have sensationalized to try to sway readers this way or that, but he doesn't take the opportunity to do that, he just presents information very objectively.

If you or someone you know is the target (or the assailant) of divorce poison, make sure to read this book right away. The sooner the better in preventing the devastating effects of psychological poisoning! I believe this book will prevent the loss of relationship for many parents who would otherwise be clueless on how to fight this war where kids and crucial parent-child relationships are the casualties.

I left my husband almost 4 years ago when my daughter was 14 months. I chose to leave when she was so young in hopes that she'd miss some of the warring that goes on in divorce. I read this book in the first months of the separation to gain knowledge about how to help my daughter in coming years. And I'm glad I did. I credit this book with giving me the tools to keep our relationship strong and healthy in the face of some vitrolic divorce poison from her father. 4 years later, her father is actively bashing me to her - some of the things she tells me he says are infuriating. Not because I care what he says about me - but because my daughter has to hear them - they trouble her. But because I've put into practice the advice in Dr. Warshak's book, she still trusts and love me and we have a very close bond. I have just read the book again to reinforce the skills. While it's not an easy way to live...fairly stressful to constantly maintain the defenses and tools - our relationship is safe so far. And it gets easier over time. I am fairly surprised that he continues the effort but he does. I'm her mother - I have sole legal and physical custody and she spends about 85% of her time with me...his poison is strong. But thanks to this book and my love for my daughter - my love is stronger. If you're a parent - mother or father - facing this type of situation - read the book. Get it now.

I ordered this book when I was going through the worst of my parental alienation scenarios with my ex. My situation was somewhat atypical because I'm the mom and my daughter's dad and stepmother were doing the alienating. There was no court involvement because their badmouthing was done in a very subtle way and was so successful that she chose to live with them, not me. My daughter is emotionally disturbed and wound up in a psychiatric hospital as a result of our divorce. I wound up being unable to care for her alone. Eventually she refused to visit with me at all. It was a mess. This book was extremely helpful in explaining that what I was undergoing was an actual syndrome that happened to a lot of parents in co-parenting situations--and that it had a name. I sent my ex an email accusing him of parental alienation, instead of just complaining about what he said to my daughter, and it helped. I believe I scared him with the use of the actual legal term for what he was doing. I've heard from my daughter's therapist that her stepmother, who was the major alienator, has stopped badmouthing me, and as a result my daughter has started visiting with me again and seems less angry at me. Thank you for this book. It really helped.

Erica Manfred
author
He's History, You're Not: Surviving Divorce After 40

This is a great book to read before you come home with your newborn if you are a first time parent. I would not call it comprehensive; it is more like a primer providing the essential information you will need as you head home with your baby. It is an easy, quick read...which you will need if you are already home with your newborn! I highly recommend The Happiest Baby on the Block, which is also recommended by these authors. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer

This book offers solid advice w/o any judgment for first time parents. I found it very helpful and plain spoken -- just what every first time parents need.

I bought three books and this one was by far the best. I hate to read books and I had no trouble keeping focus. Simple yet informative.

I am seven months pregnant and found this book a great resource in preparing for the baby. I am certain I will refer to the information in this book many times once the baby arrives. A must read for new moms & dads!

My husband and I found this book to be very helpful. We read it before the birth of our first child, and referred back to it when she was 0-3 mos old. Very practical, concise information. We both had experience with younger siblings and babysitting, but this book explains all the "day to day" questions a new parent will have.

I was emotionally overwhelmed by this book. It is a heartbreaking story - I had no idea that Cystic Fibrosis was such a completely devastating disease.

It was an honour to learn about Alex's life. Her selflessnes, courage and utter dignity and grace in the face of CF is truly inspiring. The fact that in all the photos in the book she is either laughing or smiling radiantly speaks to her powerful inner spirit.

No book has ever had a stronger impact on me. I'd like to think I'm going to lead my life a little differently because of what this book taught me.

excellent service. book received in excellent condition, just as described. would definitely order through bookrescue again.

As the father of an 8 year old daughter with CF (who even sorta looks like Alex), you can imagine that this is not an easy read for me. I read it once 8 years ago, when she was diagnosed, and it was bad....I have tried to re-read it again 8 years later and it's even harder to get through. Not a day goes by where I don't think about that I most likely will have to go thru what Frank did.
I"m not sure i'll be able to handle it. My optimism that there will be a cure in time has dwindled to stark reality that it's not likely to happen soon enough. Thank you Frank for writing this, at least I know i'm not alone.

I watched the excellent TV movie made of this book when I was around 8 and then read the book over and over, until it fell apart. It absolutely broke my heart. When I was in high school and I met my first husband, I found out that he had lost a stepbrother to cystic fibrosis, who made it to the age of 18 before he died. Years later, my first husband still had the things Scotty willed to him, a poster and all of his Weird Al tapes (the Make a Wish Foundation helped Scotty to meet Weird Al at a concert and got to go backstage, shortly before he died). His remaining stepbrother, shortly after we married, married a woman with three children. Her youngest, a daughter, had severe CF. We loved her dearly, and was devastated when she died, like Alex, at the age of 8.
This is a heartbreaking book, but it's worth it. After you're done reading the book, donate money to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Another heartbreaking story on their site explains why they use roses on a lot of their promotional materials. A mother on the Board of Directors who had several kids with cystic fibrosis, was overheard by her toddler son on a phone call. He was too young to understand what she was saying, and too young to know he had a fatal disease, so he asked his mother what "sixty-five roses" meant. Many children now call CF "sixty five roses" and that's why the CF Foundation uses rose imagery.

After supporting Cystic Fibrosis as one of my personal charities for many years, I saw this book in a used book store and bought it. I didn't read it for some time. In fact, it was after I met a family who had a son with CF. I became friends with him - and only a few months later, close to his 21st birthday, he was gone. Then I read the book.. I must say, this is a heartbreaker - but Alex is such an amazing young girl! Written from the experiences of a father watching this terrible disease take his little girl. I strongly recommend reading - and then reaching out to your local Cystic Fibrosis Chapter.

This book encourages a person to look at the gifts they received with their birth and decide how they will use them in life. I believe it also encourages parents to recognize the birth gifts their child/children received which they should encourage their child/children to develop.

It took longer than I had expected to receive the book but that was no problem. It was packaged very well and I was happy to get the book.
Nancy

I bought this book to mail to the 3 children I gave up for adoption 4 years ago. My mom bought it for me when I was in high school, but I lost it when I became homeless. When I was thinking about what to get for my kids that would reflect how I felt in my heart, this book came to mind. I cried as I read it, it was a perfect message of what I felt in my heart for them. I got a copy for me because I still needed to hear the message, and one for my children. I am so grateful I came across this beautiful book!

The book is amazing, beautiful written. It should be read every day to your child as a reminder of what is important. I have given this book at birth to all the childern in my life.

This is one of my top five children's books of all time. It is impossible to read it without getting goosebumps (at least the first 100 times).

I found this book to be so helpful in raising my grandson. It has been and is a refreshing way of dealing with childhood again.

I recently purchased the book "Kid Cooperation", ended up reading it in one night and feeling completely shocked and amazed - finally found an easy to read, easy to follow parenting book that covered every problem I had and that made it seem completely possible to make the changes necessary for my family. I cannot say enough positive things about the book, it will be life changing for me and my children.

Non-judgmental and very honest style of writing. The tools in the book brought immediate results.

It's about obedience, not about cooperation. It gives tips how to make kids obey your rules. The author is against spanking and yelling, but it's OK for she to use your authority over kids to force them to obey you She mostly recommends technics of punishments and rewards, although she mentioned such things like Natural Consequences, Anger Management, Active Listening, and such. The book is full of general words and phrases. It was not what I was searching for.

This book is wonderful. I have started recommending it to all of my friends. If you can read only one book on parenting, this is the one to read! When you read it you will learn about different parenting styles, their effectiveness or lack there of and a new way to create a happy loving and peaceful family life where you can get your children to cooperate and act as they should.

I am the mother of a 3 and 7 year old. My kids go to bed easily and on time, are polite and well behaved when outside of the house, but at home is another story. Overall my kids are pretty well behaved, but at home we have to ask them/tell them things multiple times until we ending up yelling at them, are plagued by emotional outbursts and temper tantrums, back talk, whining and have a hard time enforcing some key rules. Lately I have taken to watching those nanny shows to get tips on what to do. My kids are not at all like the kids in the shows but I had found a few tips that I have applied at home.

But when I read this book it was if I had an epiphany. This book was clearly written and easy to understand. It unravelled all of the mysteries of why my kids act the way they do and what to do differently to fix it. I learned that I was using at least two ineffective parenting styles and if I just adjusted what I was doing I would be much more effective. It gave tons of useful tips and approaches to use in all situations. The parenting style is kind, effective and helps your children grow and become self reliant to boot. I think it would work for all ages and the book addressed all ages needs and how to modify accordingly.

I have already started to see the effect in my kids behavior and it has even started to improve my marriage (partially thanks to the one chapter on the parental relationship). I can't wait to see where we are in a month or two, but I know the book has profoundly changed the way I parent and I have already seen some results and can't wait to see more!

A well-written, powerful look inside our broken US maternity health care system. All women should read this book so that they may better advocate for themselves, their sisters, or their daughters during pregnancy and birth.

This book is awesome. I've been a certified nurse midwife for 10 years and I teach maternity nursing and nurse midwifery in a university, and I was impressed again and again at the volume of accurate knowledge and interesting history provided by Block, a non-healthcare provider, on every page of this book. The book is also well-written, with great stories that illustrate situations facing those who seek to have an uncomplicated birth. I think that anyone who cares about the health of families should read this book and spread the word to help facilitate safe births for women and babies.

This book is incredible, frightening, empowering and a much-needed wake up call for parents, doctors, people who want to become parents, pregnant women and their partners...I love the way that Block weaves personal stories into scientific studies and history of maternity care and obstetrics. She brings the subject matter to life, and I'm so glad that I am armed with this knowledge for when I become pregnant.

Finally, a book that spells out the problems with modern maternity care. I am surprised this book hasn't gotten more attention in the media. Any person considering having children should read this book.

Jennifer Block's book is such an eye-opener. Her thorough research indicates that the typical U.S. hospital birth is not ideal for the health and long-term well-being of mothers or babies. In fact, the multitude of "standard" hospital interventions, chemicals and montitors actually expose mother and child to a host of unnecessary risks. This book is a must-read for anyone considering having children or working in childbirth.