The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth: New Edition: Amazon.ca: Sheila Kitzinger: Books

Product Description

From Library Journal

One of the most celebrated British authors on the sociological and anthropological aspects of birth, breast feeding, and early parenthood, Kitzinger has completely revised her classic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (LJ 3/1/81) to guide readers seeking a woman-centered birth experience through the newly researched alternatives now available. Organizing her book into five major sections (Early Weeks, Physical and Emotional Changes, Anticipating the Birth, the Experience of Birth, and You and Your Newborn), Kitzinger provides candid information about what mothers need to know, ranging from ways to navigate the technical landscape of hospital births to making the personal choices of a water home birth. Her "empowerment language" no longer assumes there is a marriage, replacing references to "a man" with "birthing partner." Discussing "birth rooms" rather than delivery rooms, she encourages readers to construct a birth plan, make their own space, and choose an effective birth companion. Other changes make the text more logical and accessible. The "Pregnancy Week by Week" section has been moved from the appendix to the introduction, and section dividers include tables of contents with page numbers. With revised appendixes and 300 updated photographs, drawings, and diagrams, this guide is a valuable resource for all health collections.?Rebecca Cress-Ingebo, Wright State Univ. Libs., Dayton, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

An updated edition (it's been seven years since the previous publication) of Kitzinger's must-have compendium for expectant mothers offers new insights into having a healthy pregnancy and what's happening in today's birthing rooms. Like other reliable sources, Kitzinger's book gives women (and their partners) an in-depth look at both the baby's and the mother's physical and emotional development during pregnancy. But no other source offers such a complete and educated look at childbirth choices for mothers-to-be. More than 500,000 copies of this title have been sold since 1980, but it is obvious that the author has not rested on her laurels; rather, she has thoroughly re-researched all aspects of childbirth, updating the reader on current trends in hospitals and women's health centers across the country--as well as in other countries, where appropriate. Along with Penelope Leach's Your Baby & Child (also published by Knopf and last updated in 1989), every library should be sure that its collection contains several copies of this exhaustive, thoughtful work. Mary Frances Wilkens

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index

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Customer Reviews

39 Reviews

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4.5 out of 5 stars (39 customer reviews)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing pro-birth book, Sep 19 2001

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Girl on the go! "Hello" (Northeast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth: New Edition (Hardcover)

There are two kind of women out there: Those who want a traditional doctor who will "take care of everything for them" along with a traditional hospital birth with lots of medication options and an episiotomy, and those who want something more personal--who want their own body to do the work, who want help from experienced women and who want an intimate, memorable experience they can share with their partner. This is a book for the second type of woman. Those who are a little more, ahem, "traditional" should get "What to Expect When You're Expecting" (a book that I happen to think treats women like morons). "The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" is an amazing, amazing book. It is so pro-family--talking about the importance of including husbands and even other family members if you should so choose. I am baffled by the anti-man comments in another review...this book is so incredibly pro-husband! In fact, it is my own husband's favorite pregnancy book. I'm also baffled by the criticism of waterbirth. Yes, the book does touch on waterbirth, which may sound strange to a middle-American, but is a very popular option in New York, San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, Seattle and other modern American cities--as well as a popular option in England, Canada, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, etc. That said, the book also objectively--Kintzinger does no bashing--discusses hospital-style procedures such as forcep deliver, episiotomy, epidurals, etc. Kitzinger is a big believer in having supportive, experienced, compassionate people around you, which is why she is such a fan of midwives, but she also discusses how to find such support in the hopsital among nurses and doctors.She even has pictures of a woman giving birth in a hospital using physical positions other than the flat-on-the-back position we all associate with hopsitals. As for the alcohol criticism, it's true. Kitzinger does say alcohol is okay in very small amounts. Before you get all hot and bothered, it's important to remember that Kitzinger is a European, a Brit. Having had personal, direct experience with French midwives, I know that not every country shares America's belief that women need completely abstain from alcohol during pregnancy. Most European midwives and doctors do say small amounts of alcohol are safe once you're past the first trimester. (In fact, I was told by a French doctor to have one two three glasses of red wine each week to "strengthen my blood" and "raise my iron levels." So go figure.) As for alcohol units, an earlier reviewer's translation isn't quite correct: In Britain a unit isn't an entire glass of wine, bottle of beer, etc. It's more akin to a half-filled small wine glass...what would only be a few ounces. Something to think about before everyone starts witch hunting! It's important to remember that not everyone wants the kind of hopsital births their American mothers had--and to appreciate that there are terrific options out there for us all. This book is a godsend for those of us who prefer options!

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best one out there..., May 17 2004

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"mommaneek" (Bradenton, FL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth (Revised) (Paperback)

This book makes "What To Expect When You're Expecting" look like a cookbook. During my first prenatal appointment, my midwife suggested this book to me and I thought it would be another pregnancy book in the library of childbirth; but it truly stands out. Oddly enough, I, my sister and 3 good friends are pregnant at the same time. I've looked through their books with lots of questions, they looked through this one and couldn't believe how informative it is! I found that other books are very scary when it comes to little things that happen during pregnancy, but this book helps you realize that EVERYTHING that is happening to you is natural, wondering, can be expected and what to do about it (except the truly serious subjects i.e. miscarriage). It conquers everything from conception to reinstating sex after birth, even grieving processes if you've lost a pregnancy or gone through still birth. If you truly want to have a pregnancy book that doesn't stir a panic with every symptom, a book that allows and encourages you to enjoy every minute of this wonderful time, this is the book for you.

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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have for expectant mothers ....... could save a life!, Nov 18 2003

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Streakblondie "streakblondie" (Lower Hutt, Wellington New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth: New Edition (Hardcover)

That is 5+++++++++ ......

I purchased this book as an informative book to help me with my first pregnancy .... it is a very detailed, thorough book and I felt it a great help during my pregnancy as my partner and I followed the week by week pictures and information so that we knew (how or rather) what our baby was up to!

Pregnancy should be a straightforward process but unfortunately it is not always that way and you definitely need to be able to refer to information that can help you in an emergency.

When I had spot bleeding in my 7 month of pregnancy I went straight to the section in the book that talks about spotting and what could be happening and it encouraged me to go to my local hospital which was very, very, very fortunate because I was actually in labour and my baby was coming!!!!!!!!!!

Without this book for guidance I may have had my 3 month premature baby at home and she would never have survived! I thank this book for it's existence and wonderful advice! For this very reason, I recommend this book to any first time mums .... or any expecting mums out there .... just so you know, I chose not to read the section on "things that can go wrong" in your pregnancy but thank goodness it was there because I really needed it in the end!

Goodluck in your pregnancy and good reading, Kristina

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars One-sided and leading
I haven' actually finished reading this book. I was caught by language this is blatently biased and a lack of information on comman, current, MEDICAL techniques and practices... Read more

Published on May 8 2008 by Loryn

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book for Expectant Moms-Very Informative and Complete
I loved reading this book as a mother and an in-training doula. I wish I would have had this book when I was pregnant with my first baby. Read more