Pregnancy For Dummies

From conception to breast–feeding, your guide to a healthy pregnancy Pregnancy is an exciting, occasionally worrisome time,especially for first–time mums. This updated edition of the bestselling guide offers comfort and reassurance while arming you with practical advice and guidance on every stage of your pregnancy. The authors draw upon their years of experience caring for pregnant women, as well as the latest medical research, to help you to prepare for pregnancy, take care of yourself during and after birth, look after your newborn, and much more. From here to maternity – find out how to prepare for getting pregnant and learn about the physical changes you′ll undergo during your pregnancy A drama in three acts – discover what you can expect as each trimester unfolds and the kinds of care you′ll need at each stage A labour of love – get a blow–by–blow account of a typical labour, delivery and recovery, as well as the possible variations The fun begins – get up to speed on a wide range of post–birth considerations, including breast versus bottle feeding, returning to work, buying a car seat, sleep issues and baby health issues Open the book and find: Guidance on preparing for pregnancy The mystery of antenatal testing unravelled Tips on taking care of your body before and after giving birth How to follow your baby′s development, trimester by trimester Ways to survive labour pains Pointers on preparing home, family and siblings for the new baby Information about your state benefits, during and after pregnancy Learn to: Follow your baby′s development during pregnancy Take care of yourself before and after delivery Care for your newborn baby

Introduction 1 Part I: The Game Plan 7 Chapter 1: From Here to Maternity 9 Chapter 2: I Think I′m Pregnant! 23 Chapter 3: Preparing for Life during Pregnancy 31 Chapter 4: Checking Out Your Rights and Welfare Benefits 51 Chapter 5: Diet and Exercise for the Expectant Mother 57 Part II: Pregnancy: A Drama in Three Acts 75 Chapter 6: The First Trimester 77 Chapter 7: The Second Trimester 99 Chapter 8: The Third Trimester 111 Chapter 9: Understanding Antenatal Testing 135 Part III: The Big Event: Labour, Delivery and Recovery 147 Chapter 10: I Think I′m in Labour! 149 Chapter 11: Special Delivery: Bringing Your Baby into the World 169 Chapter 12: Hello, World! Your Newborn 185 Chapter 13: Taking Care of Yourself after Delivery 205 Chapter 14 : Feeding Your Baby 225 Part IV: Special Concerns 245 Chapter 15: Pregnancies with Special Considerations 247 Chapter 16: When Things Get Complicated 267 Chapter 17: Pregnancy in Sickness and in Health 283 Chapter 18: Coping with the Unexpected 297 Part V: The Part of Tens 303 Chapter 19: Ten Things Nobody Tells You 305 Chapter 20: Ten (Or So) Old Wives′ Tales 309 Chapter 21: Ten Landmarks in Foetal Development 313 Chapter 22: Ten Key Things You Can See on Ultrasound 317 Appendix: The Pregnant Man: Having a Baby from a Dad′s Perspective 325 Index 331

Dr Sarah Jarvis has been a GP for 20 years. She is the resident doctor on the BBC′s The One Show , and a regular columnist for Good Housekeeping and My Weekly . Dr Roger Henderson has also been a GP for 20 years, and writes for The Sunday Times and the Sunday Mirror . He is also the medical consultant to the health website NetDoctor. Joanne Stone , MD, and Keith Eddleman , MD, are obstetrician–gynaecologists. Mary Duenwald is a veteran journalist.