YourBabyYourWay.com - Recently reviewed books

Recently reviewed books

Preconception:

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Postnatal and Parenting:

Is Your Body Baby-Friendly?: Unexplained Infertility, Miscarriage & IVF Failure - Explained

by Julia Kantecki, Alan E. Beer and Jane Reed

A unique book—the first of its kind. No longer do patients have to accept that their infertility is "just bad luck" and they just have to "keep on trying." No longer should women with recurrent miscarriages have to listen to their doctor telling them that their loss was "God's will" or that they ought to be thankful because their baby was probably chromosomally abnormal. The statistics simply do not support such claims—in fact, they show that repeated reproductive failure can be a symptom of wider health problems in the mother. Furthermore, the root cause can be treated—not only to promote the chances of a successful pregnancy, but to improve the mother's health long-term. (From the Publisher)

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The Complete Guide to IVF: An Inside View of Fertility Clinics and Treatment

by Kate Brien

The most recent studies show that approximately a million cycles of IVF are carried out worldwide. It is estimated that at least 200,000 IVF babies are born annually—and this figure is constantly rising. With assisted conception increasing year on year, The Complete Guide to IVF offers an invaluable and insightful approach to the process. Packed with first-hand accounts of patients who have been through it, and Kate Brian's own experience of IVF, this book will de-mystify the treatment and give a "behind-the-scenes" account of what really happens. Addressing the entire experience, right from the initial clinic visit through to the assisted conception cycle, The Complete Guide to IVF provides an accessible, down-to-earth, and reassuring account of using IVF to conceive. (From the Publisher)

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Real Food for Mother and Baby: The Fertility Diet, Eating for Two, and Baby's First Foods

by Nina Planck

Nina Planck, one of the great food activists, changed the way we view old-fashioned foods like butter with her groundbreaking Real Food. Then she got pregnant. Never one to accept conventional wisdom blindly, Nina found the usual advice about pregnancy and baby food riddled with myths and misunderstandings. In Real Food for Mother and Baby, Nina explains why many modern ideas about pregnancy and infant nutrition are wrongheaded and why traditional foods are best. While Nina can be controversial—her op-ed in the New York Times on vegan diets for infants was one of the paper’s most e-mailed articles— she’s no contrarian. Readers applaud her candor; they also trust her research and welcome her advice.

Nina’s basic premise hasn’t changed—whole foods are best—but some of the details are surprising. Pregnant women need meat and salt, not iron supplements. Nursing will be easier if you act like the mammal you are. Delaying the introduction of certain solid foods doesn’t prevent allergies. Cereals are not the best foods for tiny eaters; meat and egg yolks are better. From conception to two years, the body’s overwhelming needs are for quality fat and protein, not for carrots and low-fat dairy. Even as she casts a skeptical eye on the conventional wisdom, Nina is reassuring. She shows you how to keep your baby healthy on good, simple food. Real Food for Mother and Baby will be the new classic on eating for two. (From the Publisher)

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Your Practical Pregnancy Planner

by Brette McWhorter Sember

An indispensable legal guide, financial planner, and organizer for your journey through pregnancy and into parenthood.
There are dozens of good books telling you what you need to know about the physical and emotional aspects of having a baby. But until now there were none devoted to the many financial and legal concerns of expectant parents, issues such as: "What are my rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act?" "Can the hospital run tests on my newborn without my permission?" "Should I take out a life insurance policy on my newborn?"
Written by family law attorney Brette McWhorter Sember, this book answers all those questions and more. Your Practical Pregnancy Planner:

Fills you in on what you need to know about everything from maternity leave to estate planning, pregnancy discrimination to cord blood banking
Features a handy, month-by-month format that provides you with the answers you need, as you need them
Includes valuable links to organizations, agencies, and websites for expecting and new parents (From the Publisher)

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Overcoming Infertility: A Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant

by Gerard M Honore MD PhD and Jay Nemiro MD

Confronting a problem that affects one out of 10 American couples, this all-inclusive, question-and-answer guide offers insight and encouragement in the face of infertility. Addressing the deep disappointment and emotional distress that accompany a diagnosis, this resource emphasizes that there is still hope regarding this daunting condition. Penned by a reputable endocrinologist who has treated thousands of couples, this helpful reference provides a way to navigate through a confusing time, clearly illustrating the most suitable treatment options. Topics covered include the causes of both female and male infertility, how to cope emotionally with a diagnosis, and utilizing the new Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). From choosing a fertility specialist to taking advantage of the most recent developments, this exhaustive study provides practical guidance for couples facing this overwhelming syndrome. (From the Publisher)

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Mum Ultrapreneur: 8 essential secrets to starting, running and building a successful mum-based business

by Susan Odev

In this inspiring, informative and groundbreaking book for entrepreneurial mums, Susan Ödev and Mark Weeks share nuggets of wisdom from over 30 well known mumpreneurs who are running their own successful businesses. As well as discovering the SPARKLES system for setting up and succeeding in business, you'll follow Gemma on her own journey to success and gain business insights from this savvy panel of successful and well-known female entrepreneurs. Featured Mum Ultrapreneurs include: Alli Price (Motivating Mum), Anna Hayward & Jennifer Liston-Smith (Managing Maternity Ltd), Anne Ryan (Handbag Heaven), Birgitte Lydum (Baby Beamers), Claire Wilson (Send a Thought), Darina Loakman (I am a WAHM), Debra McVicker (Hampton Blue), Hannah Young (Scot Mum), Helen Wooldridge (CuddleDry), Jill Barker (Green Baby), Joanna Pearce (Nappy Valley), Karen Muxworthy (Freedom Events), Karen Sherr (Musical Minis), Karen Simmonds (Travel Matters), Martine Brennan (Contented Living), Melissa Talago (Peekaboo Communications), Monic Joint (Mummy Must Have), Natalie Lue (Bambino Goodies), Naz Lewis (Back2work Mum), Rita D. Nagy (Ming-Cha Tea), Rita Kobrak (Mums to Italy), Sarah Tremellen (Bravissimo) Sarah Sherrington (Illustrator), Sian Maloney (Gifts and Vouchers), Sophie Devonshire (Babes with Babies), Tara McCormack, (CardMagical), Vicki Knights (Photographer), Victoria Dixon (Enhance Me), Wendy Shand (Tots To Travel) Mums in business are the largest growing sector of our economy and this book will provide you with all the role models, inspiration and information you need to join the party! (From the publisher)

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Half the Mother, Twice the Love: My Journey to Better Health with Diabetes

by Mother Love

As a talk-show host and inspirational speaker, Mother Love used to have to just grin and bear it -- all that extra weight and the poor health that went along with it. Today she can truly smile as she serves up sound advice with big portions of humor in her new book about better living and good health that can turn your life around just like it did hers. Half the Mother, Twice the Love tells about the major weight loss Mother Love achieved over the last three years to reverse the decline in her health and regain control over her life. She went from size 22 to size 10 using a multitiered approach that included exercise, diet, and other lifestyle adjustments, and all her secrets are here in this informative and uplifting book.

Half the Mother, Twice the Love speaks to everyone who wants the good life without the bad habits that can make us tired, overweight, and eventually ruin our health. Part memoir and part self-help, this book teaches you how to learn from the mistakes which almost cost Mother Love her life. In the end, she may be half the woman she used to be, but she can give twice as much love as ever. (From the publisher)

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What to Expect Before You're Expecting

by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel

Pregnancy guru Murkoff (What to Expect When You're Expecting) explains that a healthy pregnancy actually begins long before sperm and egg meet. In fact, she suggests that couples add at least three months to the requisite nine in order to prepare both their bodies for the best outcome. Backed by research and expert advice, Murkoff and Mazel present a preconception program that includes tips on what to eat (and not eat), how to maintain a healthy weight and advice about preconception medical care, such as having a physical and dental checkup. The text points out that dads are vitally important to pre-pregnancy health, with warnings that heavy drinking and smoking can damage or reduce sperm, as can certain sports such as spinning, cycling or heavy workouts. (Shaded boxes throughout the text address the ways in which men can contribute to baby-to-be's successful arrival.) The text also covers fertility issues, clearly explaining the biology of baby making and outlining the options available to couples who are facing conception problems. Readers who like to think ahead will also benefit from a detailed fertility planner, which includes a fertility chart to track ovulation and space to record various pre-baby appointments and information. Couples who are trying to conceive will find plenty of useful ideas to consider and implement in the months preceding their baby's debut. (From Publishers Weekly)

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Baby File: All the Lists, Forms, and Practical Information You Need Before—And After—Baby's Arrival

by Catherine Jones and Rose Ann Hudson

For the Big Tasks that Come with Little People!

Many guides can advise women on what to expect during pregnancy, or counsel new parents on the ups-and-downs of baby's first year. But what about the real issues that other books overlook? The Baby File will be an ultra-practical reference that helps parents cope with all of the essentials of welcoming a baby into the world (and the true business of being a new parent).

Topics include:

How to hire a nanny and calculate the "nanny tax"
What to look for when researching and touring daycare centers (tell-tale clues to both good and bad facilities)
Finding a good pediatrician
Your rights upon returning to work
Making sense of the myriad "get baby to sleep" philosophies, and choosing a method that suits you and your baby
Life insurance, wills, and other important paperwork
A new (and effective) budgeting system for the growing family

More than just a book, this organizer is meant to be used. With tear-out worksheets, and easy-to-find tabs, parents are invited to scribble, record, and organize in one handy book. (From the Publisher)

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Eating for Pregnancy: The Essential Nutrition Guide and Cookbook for Today's Mothers-to-Be

by Catherine Jones and Rose Ann Hudson

Aiming to fill a gap in the market, Jones has collaborated with perinatal nutritionist Hudson to produce a volume that combines both recipes and nutritional advice aimed specifically at the mother-to-be. Delicately balancing optimum and unnecessary weight gain with the required dietary needs for a healthy lifestyle, Jones and Hudson also addresses the requirements of diabetic, vegetarian and vegan diets. After an introduction providing a summary of needs and goals, the authors start with breakfast and move through the usual soups, salads and mains before finishing with desserts. A full chapter is dedicated to the vegetarian diet, and at the beginning of each chapter recipes are highlighted to indicate that they conform to a vegan diet. Each section contains recommended pantry items for the recipes. Along the way Jones makes full use of convenience and semi-prepared ingredients to provide simple yet flavorful dishes, while Hudson doles out advice on vitamins, health hazards and goals. Each recipe is preceded with the nutritional goal for baby and mother-to-be and followed by tips for cooking, storage, health, special diets as well as complete meal ideas, variations and the approximate nutritional content. Appendixes on weight, sources of nutrition from calcium to iron and food safety round out the book. (From the Publisher)

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The Conception Chronicles: The Uncensored Truth About Sex, Love & Marriage When You're Trying to Get Pregnant

by Patty Doyle Debano, Courtney Menzel and Shelly Sutphen

When we first started down the baby-making path, we thought we'd be pregnant in no time. We'd just toss out our birth control pills and before we knew it, we'd be rocking our little one to sleep. Little did we know what was in store for us, or the energy it would take to face all of the crazy, unpredictable and (sometimes) irrational emotions we felt along the way. Neither did our husbands. Sound familiar?

If your idea of foreplay is screaming, "I'm ovulating; it's time!!!" to your oblivious husband...
If your ovulation schedule is ruling your life and every trip to the drug store includes a bulk purchase of pregnancy sticks...
If you're running out of answers to the chronic questioning from the pregnancy paparazzi about your plans for parenthood ...

Then this is the book for you. Whether it's been three months or three years since you've been trying, the more complicated and overwhelming the process becomes.

The Conception Chronicles shares candid humor, hold-nothing-back banter and practical advice on everything that goes along with trying to start a family: from dealing with your fertile friends to the battery of tests you may have to face; from surviving "sex on demand" to navigating the ins and outs of high-tech fertility treatments. This book will guide you through the emotional journey to motherhood, offering compassion and laughter like only your best girlfriends can. And we promise you'll never hear us say, "Relax and you'll be pregnant in no time." (From the Publisher)

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Your Pregnancy Quick Guide to Medical Tests and Procedures: What You Need to Know about Routine and Special Tests and Procedures During Your Pregnancy

by Clade B. Curtis

Everything you need to know about both routine and special check-ups during your pregnancy:

Guidance on what to expect at routine appointments and what each test mean
When and why your doctor might order a special procedure
What you need to know about tests in each trimester: ultrasound, amniocentesis, CVS testing, blood work, stress tests, glucose tolerance, and more (From the publisher)

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Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom: Creating Physical and Emotional Health and Healing

by Christiane Northrup

This guide goes far beyond standard self-help books, assessing women's health within the context of their work, families and society. The author, a holistic physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, seeks to illuminate the basic conditions of women's lives that lead to their health problems. A founder of Women to Women, a clinic that practices within the context of conventional medicine, Northrup, in 17 years of caring for women, was led to take a holistic view of women's health. She cites dramatic and affecting cases of women healing from long-term illnesses, through alternative medical methods such as herbal medicine, dietary changes and relaxation techniques. The book begins with an exploration of how society influences the way in which women think about and care for their bodies. Part two provides a comprehensive description of women's anatomy and includes a list of conditions and concerns from fibroids to hysterectomy. The book's third portion discusses what type of guidance to look for in a health care provider: it is essential, Northrup says, to develop a working partnership with a health care team. Her work is based on the belief that the cultural context of a woman's life affects her mental and physical health. And so, women must learn that their wounding, if any—physical, psychological and spiritual—is part of a larger cultural wound. Northrup's book is as accessible as it is empowering. (From the Publisher)

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The Big Book of Birth

by Erica Lyon

Childbirth is one of the most significant events of any woman’s life—and for many, also a source of enormous anxiety and fear. In The Big Book of Birth renowned childbirth educator and Realbirth Center founder Erica Lyon offers an antidote to that fear with a comprehensive and up- to-date guide to childbirth. Drawing from more than a decade of teaching expecting parents what really to expect, Lyon fills the void that currently exists in childbirth literature, offering clear, current, objective advice on everything from choosing your doctor or midwife, to the realities of assisted and cesarean births, to the many different pain-coping options you can use during delivery and proven techniques that can help you relax and often speed along your labor.

The Big Book of Birth guides women through the four stages of labor, dispelling misconceptions and providing a wealth of objective information in a warm, welcoming, and well- organized format. A long-overdue resource, The Big Book of Birth gives expectant mothers the knowledge they need to approach childbirth with confidence and joy. (From the Publisher)

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The Healthy Baby Book, A Parent's Guide to Preventing Birth Defects and Other Long-Term Medical Problems Before, During and After Pregnancy

by Carolyn Reuben

The fear of bearing a child with birth defects is a real one for many prospective parents. And though Reuben, a medical writer and a self-described "older" mother, does not want to scare her readers, she explains the many factors--medical, chemical, environmental--that can wreak havoc with our chromosomes or a developing fetus. Fortunately, the risks associated with many birth defects and genetic disorders can be prevented, so Reuben emphasizes the importance of genetic testing and counseling. She also makes numerous suggestions (some practical, others less so) for how to live as hazard-free a life as possible. For example, she advises pregnant women to test their drinking water and ask local bottled water companies to provide analyses of their own products, and then to compare the two. But some of her counsel, by her own admission, is controversial--as are some of the studies she cites. For example, one study asserts that the more negative a pregnant woman's attitude toward her job is, the greater her risk of giving birth to a low-birth-weight baby--regardless of the physical labor demanded by her job. Reuben also recommends that in order to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death, the new mother should breast-feed her infant whenever the baby demands it and take the child to bed with her. She provides an appendix of the most common birth defects; some readers may wonder why she chose to include lactose intolerance, which is prevalent in many ethnic groups and is not often viewed as a birth defect. (From Publishers Weekly)

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Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth

by Marsden Wagner and Stephanie Gunning

Designed to encourage collaboration between pregnant women and their caregivers, this resource includes information on what to expect when delivering in a hospital, birthing center, or home; the natural stages of labor in a problem-free birth; and natural alternatives to drugs, technology, and surgery.

Creating Your Birth Plan helps expectant mothers make informed decisions about the assistance they'll require for childbirth. Designed to encourage collaboration between pregnant women and their caregivers, it includes information on:

What to expect when delivering in a hospital, in a birthing center, or at home
How to select an advocate to ensure expectant mothers' wishes are honored by their caregiver
The natural stages of labor in a problem-free birth
Explanations of various medical or surgical interventions, and potential complications and benefits of each
Natural alternatives to drugs, technology, and surgery

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The Parenthood Decision: Discovering Whether You Are Ready and Willing to Become a Parent

by Beverly Engel M.F.C.C.

We are living in a time when baby showers are the most popular kind of party and when TV and movies abound with adorable babies and darling toddlers selling everything from soap to toilet paper. In this "baby-friendly" environment, is it any wonder that more and more people are considering becoming parents?

Most people realize, however, that just wanting a baby doesn't mean you are physically, mentally, or emotionally prepared to have one. Nor does the desire to have a baby necessarily mean you will be a good parent.
The Parenthood Decision will help potential parents resolve their conflicts about this major decision. Here, Beverly Engel helps readers find their own answers to questions such as: "Am I ready to be a parent?" "What should I do if I am ready and my partner is not?" "Will I be a better parent than my parents?" "How will having a baby affect my relationship?" "What are the mistakes I am most likely to make and how can I avoid them?" "Should I have a baby on my own?" By presenting important information, posing thought-provoking questions and providing exercises, Engel helps both those who are unclear whether this is the right time for them to become parents and those who are undecided about whether parenthood is right for them.

Armed with the self-knowledge The Parenthood Decision provides, readers will finish the book confident in their potential-parenthood decision.

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Preconception Plain & Simple: A Deliciously Smart and Sexy Guide in Preparing for Pregnancy

by Audrey Couto McClelland and Sharon K. Couto

Preconception Plain & Simple - A Deliciously Smart and Sexy Guide in Preparing for Pregnancy came to be born from my (Audrey’s) journey to have a baby! I wanted to nourish my body, mind, and soul with the proper steps to prepare myself, and my husband, to conceive a healthy child. I had seen too many women turn this wonderful time into a mechanical routine filled with stress and anxiety…I wanted to avoid that. I wanted to immerse myself in the magic and wonder of this time…to relax and have fun while letting nature take its course.

I asked my mother to share with me a few tidbits from her "time" – the mid-1970’s – but the quarter-century that had elapsed had brought so much more information and technology that she was as comically "clueless" as I was! So we embarked upon an unexpected journey, searching bookstores, libraries, and websites… looking for information on everything one needs to know about preconception.

We began to discover ways to promote fertility beyond the medical information, and I began to incorporate them into every aspect of my life; from fertility enhancing foods, flowers, aromas, gemstones and amulets, to spells and rituals used by different cultures to promote fertility. Sure, I still followed the medical advice, but I surrounded myself with the knowledge of the ages to create a nurturing environment, which allowed me to relax, have fun, and let the magic happen!

We wanted to share what we had learned with women everywhere by creating a guide for inviting fertility into their lives, and thus Preconception Plain & Simple was born - a one-stop resource for everything a woman needs to know about preconception.

Preconception Plain & Simple - A Deliciously Smart and Sexy Guide in Preparing for Pregnancy brings to women, men, and couples passion, romance, and fun… a thorough medical review and assessment of both hopeful Mom and Dad… and marvelous fertility wisdom to a topic that is all-too-often consumed with infertility statistics, clinical discussions, and fears of infertility. Preconception Plain & Simple offers and celebrates a perfect combination of the medical, the miracle, and the magic of baby making without the fears… but certainly including the fun and "relaxing" part of it all! (From the Authors)

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Plan To Get Pregnant

by Zita West

Having a baby is one of the biggest life-decisions that a couple can make together. Plan to Get Pregnant tells you what you need to do to maximize your chances of conception, and breaks the process down into 10 manageable steps. It not only talks you though getting pregnant, but it also offers guidance on how to stay pregnant, especially through the, often difficult, first trimester. From how to know when you're both ready to become parents and what to eat for maximum fertility, to embarking on IVF treatment and beyond, this book is a must-read for anyone who wants to start a family.

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Big, Beautiful, and Pregnant: Expert Advice and Comforting Wisdom for the Expecting Plus-Size Woman

by Cornelia van der Ziel, M.D. and Jacqueline Tourville

Almost half of all pregnant women are overweight in the U.S. today, but there are few places they can turn for reliable information and helpful advice on the special set of challenges they'll face during the nine-month adventure that lies ahead. In Big, Beautiful and Pregnant, Cornelia van der Ziel, a highly sought-after obstetrician who specializes in plus-size pregnancies, and Jacqueline Tourville, a plus-size mom who's lived the experience, offer a warm, witty, medically-sound guide for overweight women who want the skinny on what to expect from pregnancy and childbirth. They answer all the questions pregnant moms may have, including: Is my pregnancy doomed to be difficult because I'm overweight? How can I find a sympathetic doctor? Am I destined for a c-section because of my extra pounds? Are there special medical risks to my unborn child? Where can I find maternity clothes in extra-large sizes?

A unique combination of impeccable medical advice, fun, and down-to-earth charm, Big, Beautiful and Pregnant provides plus-size pregnant women with information, inspiration, a sense of sisterhood, and reassurance that they can have a healthy and happy pregnancy. (From the Publisher)

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The Complete Organic Pregnancy

by Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu

While being pregnant is thrilling, the responsibility of a growing baby can provoke anxiety about what is and isn't safe. In The Complete Organic Pregnancy, Deirdre Dolan and Alexandra Zissu address how you can minimize your exposure to the invisible toxins that surround us—in everything from food, cleaning products, and cosmetics to furniture, rugs, air, and water. Step by step, they tell you where dangerous chemicals are lurking, why it's so important to avoid them when pregnant, and what you can do before, during, and after your pregnancy to protect your child.
In this exhaustively researched book, the authors (calmly) talk parents-to-be through everything from the safest laundry detergent to which crib mattresses contain toxic flame retardants. You'll find out how to choose the right face cream, plastic water bottles, household cleaners, types of fish, and much more—all with an eye toward keeping you and your baby safe and healthy.
The Complete Organic Pregnancy also features a collection of personal diaries from well-known writers and organophiles, including Barbara Kingsolver and Marion Nestle, as well as recipes from organic chefs. Required reading for anyone heading into this exciting stage of life, The Complete Organic Pregnancy is your chance to make a difference for your children, even before they're born. (From the Publisher)

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Fertility and Conception

Fertility and Conception: The Essential Guide to Boosting Your Fertility and Conceiving a Healthy Baby — From Learning Your Fertility Signals to Adopting a Healthier Lifestyle

by Karen Trewinnard

A common sense guide for a successful pregnancy.
Giving a baby the best start in life takes planning. Even before conception, it is absolutely essential to plan for a healthy pregnancy.

Fertility and Conception presents straightforward information and advice for couples and individuals planning a pregnancy. The book covers such crucial topics as:

Maximizing the chances of becoming pregnant
Reproductive health issues for women and men
The natural way of boosting fertility and preparing for pregnancy
How to interpret the body's fertility signals
The effects of diet and stress on conception and pregnancy
Deciding when and how to stop or change contraception

Fertility and Conception offers practical tips and professional advice. Abundant illustrations and easy-to-read text explain the wonders of reproductive biology, every aspect of conception and pregnancy, and the latest medical technology. This book meets the need of couples and individuals who do not want to leave their baby's health entirely in the hands of fate. (From the Publisher)

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Healthy Parent

Healthy Parents, Better Babies: A Couple's Guide to Natural Preconception Health Care

by Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts

In recent years, the importance of preconception health care and preparation has become more widely recognized. In Healthy Parents, Better Babies, authors Francesca Naish and Janette Roberts present a strong case for creating "better" babies by encouraging parents to rigorously and proactively improve their health through nutrition and supplements, exercise, and stress control. Naish, a naturopath, herbalist, and hypnotherapist who runs a natural fertility clinic in Australia, and Roberts, a clinical nutritionist, combine forces to instruct potential parents (yes, dads, too!) on ways to detoxify their bodies, clean up their local environment, and improve their reproductive health. At least four months before conception is attempted, the authors stress, potential parents should focus on their health. Healthy Parents, Better Babies occasionally resorts to scare tactics. The authors describe, for instance, a healthy child born to parents who followed their preconception plan and then contrast that story with the story of a woman who did not detoxify her body, suffered a terrible pregnancy and birth, and whose child suffered from colic, irritability, bad skin, allergies, bed wetting, and learning disabilities as a result. Beyond the sometimes heavy-handed message, however, is an invaluable guide to nutrients, herbs, and a super-healthy diet. --Ericka Lutz, Amazon.com Review

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Creating Life

Creating Life Against the Odds: The Journey from Infertility to Parenthood

by Ilona Laszlo Higgins, M.D.

Most prospective parents, when arriving at the decision to have children, presume their journey will be an exciting and rewarding one, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby. When those dreams are shattered because they cannot conceive or miscarry, they ask, "Why me? What did I do wrong?" The trauma of infertility is as devastating to one's self-esteem as any other life crisis, it can destroy intimate relationships--or it can bring out the best in us.

In her book, Creating Life Against the Odds, Dr. Higgins, an obstetrician/gynecologist, describes her own experience becoming a mother by ovum donation. She also shares the first hand accounts of dozens of others who have turned to assisted reproductive technology (ART) in order to realize their dreams of becoming parents. These are stories Dr. Higgins has heard from her patients and from hundreds of women (and men) she has counseled or communicated with through confidential Internet support groups. The stories of these courageous individuals became the inspiration for Creating Life Against the Odds.

Dr. Higgins takes us along on their journeys as they struggle with infertility, as they explore the options that medical science now offers, as they meet obstacles, and as they adjust to repeated loss. She also takes us into the minds and hearts of sperm and ovum donors, surrogates, and gestational carriers, looking at what makes them want to lend such an intimate, helping hand. Are they like organ donors? Do they do it for financial gain? When ART enters the picture and donors or surrogates are used, how should we describe their relationship to the children they helped create? And what about the children? Are they like adoptees? How do they understand their birth origins? And what should their parents tell them?

Dr. Higgins' wisdom as a well-traveled physician, who has delivered babies and counseled patients from many cultures, allows her to tackle tough practical and ethical questions from a global perspective. These questions are answered honestly, with deep compassion and respect for those courageous men and women who have sought the help of ART and who belong, as a result, to a special group of parents whose success in family-building is due to an extraordinary commitment and a selfless expression of love. (From the Publisher)
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Making a Baby

Making a Baby: Everything You Need to Know to Get Pregnant

by Debra Fulgh Bruce and Samuel S. Thatcher M.D. Ph.D.

According to authors Bruce (a prolific health writer) and Thatcher (a reproductive endocrinologist), five to eight million couples in the U.S. currently experience difficulties conceiving a baby. To assist them, and others who may confront the prospect of infertility in the near future, Bruce and Thatcher present a comprehensive examination of the options and technologies available today. From "conception 101" to cutting-edge procedures, this clearly written book guides couples through the causes of infertility and the options available to counteract it. While stressing that certain problems can't be controlled (a parent's age or an inherited disorder, for instance), the authors claim that there has "never been a better time than now to get pregnant." Along with familiar "BMTs" (baby making tips), such as the best positions for conception, they offer a wide range of practical information--including which sexual lubricants may actually interfere with sperm motility, which over-the-counter medications to avoid and how excessive exercise can adversely affect fertility. Lifestyle issues (use of alcohol, nicotine and drugs) as well as environmental and workplace hazards are discussed, with the focus on ways to promote the health of both parents even before conception. The causes and treatments of infertility in men as well as women are covered in depth, making this a valuable volume for both wanna-be parents. Lucidly explicating new and complicated medical procedures, the text helps couples decide on which ART (assisted reproductive technology) may be right for them. This is an essential guide for infertile couples hoping to beat the clock. Also included is a useful appendix of medical acronyms and glossary. (Publisher Weekly)

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But I Don't Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy!: The Complete Sourcebook for Starting (and Re-Starting) Motherhood Beyond 35 and After 40

by Doreen Nagle

The traditional childbearing ages for women have been 20-29. Today, however, the trend to later childrearing is significant, with the numbers of mothers over the age of 35 having grown 75 percent in the last decade, while the numbers in the traditional ages continue to decline. From celebrities to the woman next door, later childrearing is no flash-in-the-pan fad and isn't going to subside; future trends only show women will continue to delay motherhood, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

But I Don't Feel Too Old to Be a Mommy is the first and only book to fully address the concerns of the ever-growing but greatly ignored audience of literate, educated women who have delayed motherhood. In this comprehensive work, women who are considering parenting in their 30s, 40s and later-whether for the first time or starting over-will find all the information they need to make informed choices.

Author Doreen Nagle, herself a first-time mom over 40, details the risks, rewards, rumors and resources-from making the decision to start a family, to every imaginable way to get there, to the realities of motherhood beyond 35 and 40. Issues covered include infertility, pregnancy, surrogacy, adoptions, the pros and cons of later motherhood, single parenting, and financial and career considerations. Complete with quotes from medical experts, later-in-life moms and their kids, this one-stop book will calm the doubts and fears of women considering motherhood after 35 and beyond 40 by providing supportive yet realistic information. (Publisher Comments)

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Before Birth: Prenatal Testing for Genetic Disease

by Elena O. Nightingale, M.D. and Melissa Goodman

Genetic disorders can be devastating for parents and victims. This book offers a brief, elementary overview of five of the most common of these diseases, the mechanisms of inheritance that bring them about, and the prenatal tests and procedures that are now available to detect their presence. The authors introduce the ethical and legal implications of genetic testing and sensitively explore the dilemmas which parents must face. While Aubrey Milunsky's Choices, Not Chances offers a more detailed, comprehensive approach to the subject, this briefer and simpler book may be more practical for the prospective parent. Its balanced and intelligent discussion of the issues is commendable.

Review from Library Journal

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Before Your Pregnancy: A 90 Day Guide for Couples on How to Prepare for a Healthy Conception

by Amy Ogle and Lisa Mazzullo

This valuable pre-pregnancy resource should be welcomed by prospective parents. Ogle, a dietician, exercise physiologist, and personal trainer, and Mazzullo (OB-GYN, Northwestern Univ. Medical Sch.) recognized that while the importance of optimal health during pregnancy is widely acknowledged, relatively little information is available to consumers about the significant 90 days that precede conception. Stressing that preconception counseling is relevant for all couples, not just those who may be "high risk," the authors present clear and realistic advice about a range of subjects relating to the smooth delivery of a healthy baby. Among the topics covered are women's health and gynecological well-being, nutrition, fitness evaluation and exercises, men's issues, medications and herbs (which are "baby-friendly"?), and emotional, environmental, and financial issues. Interspersed throughout the readable text are numerous checklists, tables of important facts and practical advice, and patient vignettes. Parents-to-be who read this book will approach parenthood with increased knowledge and self-confidence. Highly recommended for all public libraries and consumer health collections.
Reviewed by Linda M.G. Katz, Drexel Univ. Health Sciences Libs., Philadelphia

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Taking Charge of Your Fertility, 10th Anniversary Edition: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health

by Toni Weschler

This comprehensive book explains in lucid, assured terms how to practice the fertility awareness method (FAM), a natural, scientifically proven but little-known form of birth control (which is not to be confused with the woefully ineffective "rhythm" method). Author Toni Weschler has been teaching fertility awareness for almost 20 years, and it's only just now gaining in popularity. As the book explains, by using simple fertility signs including peaks in morning body temperature and changes in cervical position and cervical mucus, it's possible to determine when ovulation is taking place. Fertility awareness is therefore useful for
not only couples who are trying to conceive, but for those who are aiming to avoid pregnancy without the use of chemical contraceptives. It will be of special interest to those women who have suffered from infertility; many FAM practitioners have told the author that by filling in the detailed charts in the book, they've realized that they were chronically miscarrying, even when their doctors told them they weren't conceiving at all. As the book explains, by charting body temperature, it's simple to tell when pregnancy has occurred--and when there's danger of miscarriage. Taking Charge of Your Fertility also explains how to choose the sex of your baby by timing intercourse according to certain fertility signs. It also features thorough, easy-to-understand explanations of hormones, the menstrual cycle, and menopause, along with fertility tests and treatments and their long- and short-term side effects, plus a topnotch resource section. Recommended for any woman who wants to better understand her body. Reviewed by Amazon.com

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The Smart Mother's Guide to a Better Pregnancy: How to Minimize Risks, Avoid Complications, and Have a Healthy Baby

by Linda Burke-Galloway MD

From conception to birth and beyond, this helpful guide teaches expectant mothers and fathers how to avoid preventable medical errors and have a successful childbirth experience. The guide includes tips on how to investigate healthcare providers, what to insist on for a high-risk pregnancy, how to recognize and avoid labor-room problems, why "keepsake ultrasounds" are dangerous, how to cope with insurance companies that refuse procedures ordered by providers, and how to make a hospital accountable during admission. This important resource will transform pregnant couples from passive patients into empowered consumers in the medical market and will increase their chances of bringing home healthy and happy babies. (From the publisher)(From the publisher)

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Your Non-Toxic Pregnancy

by Susannah Marriott

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Your New Baby: Insider Secrets to Save Thousands on All Your Baby's Needs

by Eva M. Stasiak

A recent government report revealed that a family with a child born in 2008 can expect to spend about $260,000 for food, shelter, and other necessities to raise their child over the next 17 years. As scary as theses statistics are, starting a family does not have to put you in the poor house. This new, exhaustively researched book will arm you with hundreds of innovative ideas and resources to save you money now. Baby items can be quite costly. Knowing exactly what you need to buy and keeping a budget is critical. You will learn many ways that you can get everything you need for the baby safely and on a limited budget. You will learn how to develop a budget, and you will be given a detailed list of all your new baby's needs. The author guides you through all the ways you can purchase what you need while staying on budget. You will learn detailed information on where and how to purchase clothing and linens, receiving blankets, consumables, baby furniture, cribs, toys and books, bassinettes, car seats, strollers, and playpens for less money. (From the Publisher)

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Super Fit Mama: Stay Fit During Pregnancy and Get Your Body Back after Baby

by Tracey Mallett

If you’re concerned about the best way to keep your body and baby healthy during pregnancy—or how you’ll ever lose the excess weight afterward—you’re not alone. Fitness expert Tracey Mallett faced those same challenges when she gained 55 pounds that didn’t melt right off after her daughter’s birth. But gone were the days where she had endless hours and energy to exercise. So she created workouts that take only a few minutes a day—after all, busy moms are short on time!

Super Fit Mama shares Tracey’s secrets for safely getting in shape and back to your pre-baby weight. Her medically-sound program features a blend of strength training, Pilates, yoga, and cardio. Inside you’ll find:

• Expert advice on staying fit and eating right during each pregnancy trimester
• Fun, fast, and safe exercises for the first weeks and months postpartum
• Easy-to-follow meal plans and delicious recipes
• Tips for strengthening your pelvic floor, easing back pain, and losing belly fat

Stay inspired along the way with Team Mallett, real moms who have successfully used Tracey’s plan. Whether you start the program during pregnancy or after baby, Super Fit Mama will help you get your confidence back—along with a body that’s even better than before! (From the Publisher)

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Avoiding Miscarriage: Everything You Need To Know To Feel More Confident In Pregnancy

by Susan Rousselot

Written in the warm and accessible manner of a knowledgeable girlfriend, this highly unique book is the first to enable women to evaluate their own risk of miscarriage and take steps to reduce that risk.

There are only four major causes of miscarriage, and targeted questionnaires help each woman clarify whether she might be at higher risk in any of these areas. Each cause is explained thoroughly but clearly, with the information and support women need to improve their chance of future successful pregnancy. This makes the book as relevant for women who have never even been pregnant as it is for women who have experienced miscarriage.

The book presents a detailed overview of miscarriage, dispels common myths, provides flow charts to help reveal the cause of any previous unexplained loss, and offers positive, practical options for action.

It is written from the patient's perspective, drawing on sympathetic case studies to introduce each chapter and presenting complex medical research in a way that is easy to understand. The reassuring and upbeat tone inspires a positive attitude, and the book enables each woman to identify the path that is right for her based on her unique personality and circumstances.

This book is for any woman who wonders what she can do to reduce her chance of miscarriage and create a better future. It is written for:

Women who have never been pregnant. If you want to find out about the conditions that cause miscarriage, and whether you could be at increased risk for any of them, then this book is for you.

Women who want to make informed decisions about delaying childbearing. It can be very difficult to find the information you need to understand how age affects your risk profile. This book presents the facts and discussion you need to make informed decisions.

Women who have miscarried. With its targeted questionnaires and miscarriage evaluation flowcharts, this book can help you find specific answers and clarify the way forward.

Women who want to take charge of their reproductive healthcare. Whether it is forging a partnership with your doctor or creating an effective, easy-to-use action plan, this book is designed to help you achieve the balance and results you want. (From the Publisher)

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YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy

by Michael F. Roizen abd Mehmet C. Oz

Can I get a cavity filled while pregnant? Will avoiding spicy foods make my kid a picky eater? Can I really increase my baby's IQ while she's in utero?

Whether you're pregnant for the first time, are trying to start your family, or already have enough children to start your own basketball team, you're bound to have questions about what it means to be pregnant -- and how you can increase your odds of having a healthy and happy pregnancy. But no matter how much you've read, watched, studied, or talked about this amazing biological journey, you have never read anything like this.

In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz act as mythbusters for the hundreds of questions surrounding pregnancy in the same scientific, informative, and entertaining ways that have made them America's Doctors. In these pages, you'll learn everything you need to know about the miracles of fetal development, your health throughout the pregnancy, and providing the best possible environment for your growing child.

Pregnancy is a complicated balancing act, but it doesn't have to be frightening. The doctors will help you de-stress as they describe accurately and rationally what happens during a thrilling nine months of life. While every pregnant body is different, odds are you'll experience some of the cravings, crying, and discomfort that almost all women go through. Your best tactic? Learn why these things are happening -- and what you should do about them. YOU: Having a Baby will teach you everything you need to know about what to eat (should I be eating for two?), how much to exercise, and what guilty pleasures will actually make pregnancy easier on you (and the loved ones who get to be around you for the whole thing). Each phase of pregnancy has different challenges, but the right information will prepare you for what's ahead. The interactive week-by-week calendar inside provides an even more detailed guideline for how and what you should feel through every step of the process.
Exciting, cutting-edge scientific research in the field of epigenetics has changed the way the medical profession looks at pregnancy, and now it can change your perspective, too. Epigenetics explores what makes us develop in certain ways -- why some people thrive at math while others are prone to chronic diseases. It turns out that there are easy things you can do that will not just help your baby's development in utero but will actually improve his or her chances of living a healthy, fulfilling adult life.

Filled with recipes for nutritious, satisfying snacks and meals even Pop can cook (yes, he can!), safe exercises for staying fit, and tons of YOU tips that will help you stay comfortable, YOU: Having a Baby is the ultimate guidebook for what to do from the moment of conception to the weeks after your child has arrived home. From morning sickness and food cravings to choosing a doctor and changing a diaper, YOU: Having a Baby will give you the real scoop about what's in store for you during this amazing time in your life. (From the Publisher)

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The VBAC Companion: The Expectant Mother's Guide to Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

by Diana Korte

According to medical journalist Diana Korte, vaginal births after cesarean, or VBACs (pronounced vee-backs), are occurring at a rate six times greater in the 1990s than they were in the previous decade, and with more support from those in the medical profession. This is good news for the many pregnant women who want a vaginal delivery after previously delivering babies by cesarean section. Also good news is The VBAC Companion, a clearly written and thorough guide to lead women step-by-step through the process of planning for a VBAC.

Korte, author of Every Woman's Body, gives firm reasons for VBACs--they are safer for both mother and baby--and backs them up with medical facts. Strong chapters on overcoming fear, planning your VBAC, finding VBAC-friendly doctors and hospitals, and experiencing a VBAC make this book invaluable. The appendices provide fascinating statistics about infant mortality rates and cesarean and VBAC rates around the world, as well as extensive listings of resources.

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Worry-Free Family Finances

by Bill and Mary Staton

An Easy-to-Follow Approach for Building Family Financial Security—With the Emphasis on Family.

Too many family finance books today concentrate only on finance—and leave out the family. Worry-Free Family Finances ignores elaborate formulas and techniques to outline a low-maintenance, step-by-step program you can use to:

• Eliminate debt without negatively affecting your lifestyle
• Create a 60-minutes-a-year, one-sheet-of-paper family budget
• Become a millionaire by saving and investing as little as $50 a month

It's no secret that money worries are a leading cause of family distress. Let Worry-Free Family Finances show you how to bring financial security to your family the easy, smart way—and still have plenty of time left over for what's really important. (From the publisher)

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Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids

by Leslie Forsberg and Michelle Duffy

Whether visiting family, exploring other cultures, or simply having grand adventures, this comprehensive guide includes practical information on how moms can make the most out of traveling with their kids. Mothers will find useful tips on safety, economical travel, eco-friendly trips, and the benefits of technology. Combining anecdotes and experiences from nearly 50 mothers, this positive and inspirational guide reveals how to overcome some of the more difficult barriers to traveling with children with ease and convenience in mind. This handy travel reference also includes up-to-date recommendations for helpful gadgets and tips on using the internet for planning and booking. An appendix features more than 100 essential websites for further research. (From the publisher)

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Does This Pregnancy Make Me Look Fat?: The Essential Guide to Loving Your Body Before and After Baby

by Claire Mysko and Magali Amadeï

People might tell you you're glowing, but you just feel like you're growing, and perhaps you're not liking—or even recognizing--the changing image you see in the mirror. If you're like most expectant women, you're worried about what pregnancy and motherhood will do to your body, your sexuality, and your self-esteem (even if you don't want to admit it out loud for fear of the Bad Mommy Police). While the journey to motherhood is truly miraculous and brings forth life, it can also bring forth a myriad of legitimate concerns.

Enter beauty activists Claire Mysko and Magali Amadei, who reveal a much-needed forewarning on what to expect from your changing body, as well as a reality check for each stage of your pregnancy, exposing the myths, challenges, and insecurities you'll face throughout pregnancy and beyond—and what to do about them. From candid interviews with more than 400 women and men, as well as their own experiences, Claire and Magali help you discover:

How you can learn to trust your changing body, appreciate it, and yes…even work it!
Why you should be wary of the Hollywood "bump watch" and post-baby weight loss stories– and how to take the focus off the scale
How to deal with your raging hormones—in the bedroom and beyond
The truth, the lies, and sure-fire fixes for sagging skin, acne, stretch marks, and boobs that continue to defy gravity
How to recognize when your body issues get extreme—and how to get help

With startling confessions of women's unspoken fears and advice on how to remedy them, this essential compendium of girl-friendly advice will help champion any woman to feel her best about her body, herself, and her role as a mom.(From the publisher)

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Feeding Baby Green: The Earth Friendly Program for Healthy, Safe Nutrition During Pregnancy, Childhood, and Beyond

by Alan Greene

The new "baby feeding bible" from the award-winning author of Raising Baby Green.

Called the "Al Gore of Parenting" by Parenting Magazine, Dr. Alan Greene has written the follow up to his best-selling book and offers parents a definitive guide for making nutritionally-sound decisions for their children. Offers parents green choices for feeding children from when they are in the womb through toddler years.

This unique guide includes advice on how to transform a baby's eating habits that will positively impact their health and development for the rest of their lives. Dr. Greene has included everything a parent needs to know about creating healthy, nutritious meals that help avoid childhood obesity, and prevent childhood disease. This must-have resource.

Shows how what a mother eats during pregnancy effects her baby's health and eating habits for years after birth
Provides the definitive guide to "green" feeding for babies from pregnancy to toddlers
Filled with practical tips and advice for selecting and preparing earth friendly meals for babies
Shows the health benefits for babies who eat "green" with innate nutritional intelligence

The crucial follow-up to the best-selling book Raising Baby Green. (From the publisher)
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Yes, You're Pregnant, But What About Me?

by Kevin Nealon

At fifty-three, Kevin Nealon thought he had it all: a massive international celebrity with legions of loyal fans; a fabulous modeling career; hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank; and the most recognizable face on the planet. Nealon had accomplished the impossible: a thirty-year career in show business with only limited trips to rehab. But just like every other celebrity, he felt that was not enough. The perpetually insatiable Nealon wanted more, and for him more meant a little addition that drooled, burped, and pooped (no, not a Pomeranian).

Now, in his first-ever book, Nealon tells the outrageous story of how he battled through aching joints, Milano cookie cravings, and a rapidly receding hairline to become a first-time dad at an age when most fathers are packing their kids off to college. Offering hysterical commentary about his fickle, often hormonal, road to belated and bloated fatherhood, Nealon guides you through the delivery room and beyond, discussing how his past, his wife, and his neuroses all converged in a montage of side-splitting insecurities during the months leading up to the birth of his son.

In Yes, You're Pregnant, But What About Me?, Nealon details his trip through all the emotional stages of pregnancy--uncomfortable, denial, hungry, sleepy, self-conscious, hungrier, confused, cranky, not-quite-as-hungry but still craving something, sweaty, covered in cookie crumbs--all while struggling to keep his blood pressure down and find the time to read the latest issue of the AARP Bulletin, Wrestling with the dilemmas and fears that fathers have been dealing with for centuries (Can I duct-tape a crib together? How often can I reuse a disposable diaper? What if the baby looks like me and not my wife?), Nealon never fails to entertain with the frequent lunacy and inevitable joy that punctuate his story about parenthood.

Laugh-out-loud funny and remarkably poignant, Nealon's entertaining perspective and his wealth of sarcasm provide a take on fatherhood that is as fresh as it is universal, always reminding you that half the fun of being a parent is getting there. (From the publisher)

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Feathering the Nest: Tracy Hutson's Earth-Friendly Guide to Decorating Your Baby's Room

by Tracy Hutson

Tracy Hutson is an acclaimed interior designer. She’s also the loving mother of two little boys. When designing their bedroom, she knew precisely what she wanted: a nursery that would be mentally stimulating yet emotionally comforting. A place that would maximize safety, shielding adventurous toddlers from harm. And a room that would be built and decorated with a healthy dose of environmental responsibility.

In Feathering the Nest, Hutson shares her passion for creating children’s spaces—putting her guiding principles into practice for four different styles of nursery design: vintage, contemporary, traditional, and international. Featuring stories and photos of actual children’s rooms from around the country, the book focuses on the essential components of nursery design, including the special touches that make a room your child’s very own. The warmth and creativity of Hutson’s approach will inspire every parent to create the ideal nest for their child. (From the publisher)

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How To Choose A Good Doctor

by George LeMaitre

When George LeMaitre was a young man, he went along with his physician-father on house calls. From him, he learned that there is more to practicing Medicine than scheduling office visits and dispensing pills; that disease is best understood and treated when the patient and his environment are well known to the physician; that the competent practitioner is as interested in teaching his patients how to stay healthy as he is in curing them of disease. How many times have you chosen a personal physician only to discover — perhaps too late — that he or she didn''t respond to your needs the way you expected? Dr. LeMaitre, has written a valuable book that will help you make an intelligent choice of a good doctor. He tells you what you should look for, what''s important, and what you can ignore. His advice is tempered with humor, personal stories and a good dose of his own philosophy about the doctor-patient relationship. His approach is practical and realistic!

Dr. LeMaitre cautions against: impressive degrees…packed waiting rooms…doctors who cut corners…and doctors who are hung up on money.This book won''t cure your sore back or upset stomach, but it will help you tell a good doctor from a bad one.This is prescribed reading for anyone who wants to know: What separates the excellent from the mediocre physician? How reliable are credentials and reputation in choosing a physician? What should a good doctor include in a complete physical examination? When should you seek second opinion? How can you know if surgery is really necessary? What should you insist on knowing before taking pills or drugs? The undertaker's dozen: 13 things bad doctors do that can kill you! (From the Publisher)

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Trouble-Free Travel with Children: Over 700 Helpful Hints for Parents on the Go

by Vicki Lansky

Revised and updated, this handy guide offers practical ideas and tried-and-true advice based on the experiences of other parents on how to best plan for stress-free family travel. Among many other subjects, author Vicki Lansky covers: what to pack and what to leave behind; things to know when traveling alone; planning around children's ages and stages; entertaining travel games; information on passports and visas; tips for camping, clothing and cleanups; helpful ideas for eating out and sleeping away from home; and tips for surviving theme parks. (From the Publisher)

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The Whole Pregnancy Handbook: An Obstetrician's Guide to Integrating Conventional and Alternative Medicine Before, During, and After Pregnancy

by Joel Evans and Robin Aronson

As any pregnant woman knows, there are an overwhelming number of books on the pregnancy resource shelves, and choosing the right one can be trying. Two forces are at work: one conventional, one alternative. Which road to take? Evans has found a solution to the problem by offering a volume that nicely combines both approaches. The author, founder and director of an integrative holistic health center in Fairfield County, Conn., has written a thorough, supportive and comforting pregnancy book that covers preconceptions about health, mind-body medicine and fertility options; the emotional and physical impacts of pregnancy; nutritional needs, exercise, prenatal testing; medical complications, labor and birth (including vaginal births and cesareans); and postpartum. Appendixes suggest books for further reading and music for relaxation and meditation, list Web sites that sell nutritional supplements and botanical medications, explain terms like acupressure and vinyasa, give yoga poses for pregnant women and present readers with the opportunity to record their "food, beverage, physical activity and symptoms" during pregnancy. This thoughtful book lays out the numerous options available to pregnant women, and is essential reading for those who want to thoroughly savor one of the most "fulfilling and transforming" phases of life as a parent. (From Publishers Weekly)

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The Essential C-Section Guide: Pain Control, Healing at Home, Getting Your Body Back, and Everything Else You Need to Know About a Cesarean Birth

by Maureen Connolly and Dana Sullivan

The rate of c-section births has risen dramatically in the United States, accounting for more than twenty-four percent of deliveries in 2001. Yet there is no up-to-date book on the market dedicated to undergoing and recovering from the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S. Now two veteran journalists in health, parenting, and fitness have teamed up to create a candid and carefully researched guide for the nearly one million mothers facing or recovering from a cesarean.

Covering both the physical and emotional aspects of this surgery, The Essential C-Section Guide offers frank discussions of the special circumstances a C-section delivery presents. Readers will discover a host of important facts, ranging from the effects of a C-section on future deliveries to the risks of anesthesia. The authors also share comforting wisdom about the feelings of inadequacy a C-section can cause and tips on caring for an infant while healing from this major procedure. The latest recommendations regarding exercise, pain, and nursing are addressed in-depth as well.

Written by authors who have firsthand knowledge of C-section delivery, The Essential C-Section Guide provides thorough answers to the many overwhelming questions associated with cesareans. Informative and supportive, this is reassuring reading for every expectant mother.

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Expecting Money: The Essential Financial Plan for New and Growing Families

by Erica Sandberg

In her introduction, certified credit counselor Sandberg writes, When I became pregnant with my daughter Lillian, I was caught off-guard by how little I—someone who has been in the personal finance field for over a decade—knew about the monetary aspects of pregnancy and new parenthood. This book is Sandberg's response to that uncertainty, a compilation of the advice that she craved for herself. Sandberg opens with familiar chapters like The Meaning of Money and The Dangers of Debt that prepare readers for an uncluttered financial picture going into familyhood. The different needs of different families are addressed in chapters like On the Double: Partner Issues and On Your Own: Single Solutions. Most valuable of all, Sandberg costs out what new parents need to spend on the average (U.S.) baby's clothing, child care and other basic needs, even going so far as to compare the costs for different birthing options. Later she compares types of day care and analyzes different ways of meeting long-term needs. These concrete details are what make this book most valuable and helpful for new parents who need real numbers and facts to plan out their family's financial future. (From Publishers Weekly)

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Your 9-Month Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Date! A Guide to Healthful Eating During Pregnancy

by Maggie McHugh and Ellen Burggraf

Your 9-Month Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Date! A guide to healthful eating during pregnancy. (3rd Edition, 2007) What foods should I eat? What foods should I limit? How much of which foods should I eat? This guide provides answers to these questions and more in an easy to read format. The information is clear and presented in a way that makes it easy to incorporate into daily life through the use of real-life examples. The goal is to help you understand the best way to take care of yourself and your unborn baby through nutrition...not to cause aggravation and anxiety! This guide is a must read for all pregnant women! Following the tips offered throughout this book will not only help during pregnancy, but will also promote postpartum weight loss! (From the Publisher)

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Enjoy Your Labor

by Gilbert Grant M.D.

Recommended by Ed Foisy CRNA, Chief CRNA/ARNP/BSA at PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center. Ed has 26 years experience as an anesthesia provider (CRNA), 16 years specializing in OB anesthesia. He has been at PeaceHealth Southwest for eight years.

Enjoy Your Labor is an informative and easy-to-read book that contains everything an expectant mother needs to know about state-of-the-art options for pain relief for labor and delivery: epidurals and spinals. Enjoy Your Labor gives readers the facts about modern pain relief techniques. It is the only book that takes the fear, mystery and guilt out of epidurals and spinals. The author develops the premise that administration of medication to relieve labor pain is a sensible approach, and he explains the reasons women can and should get an epidural before the severe pain of labor starts - if they decide they want one. The refreshing view presented in Enjoy Your Labor regarding the timing of the epidural challenges the conventional wisdom, and is a radical departure from current approaches, where women typically delay getting an epidural for as long as possible - until the pain becomes unbearable. Enjoy Your Labor empowers women with the knowledge they need to help them make an informed choice about pain relief for childbirth. The author encourages readers to advocate for themselves, and to carefully consider and discuss the management of their labor and delivery pain with their health care providers before labor begins. (From the Publisher)

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The Pregnancy Diet

by Corneliaby Eileen Behan

Are you worried about gaining too much weight when you're pregnant -- or not losing enough weight after the baby arrives?
Let's face it: to make sure you and your baby are as healthy as possible, you need to be concerned with eating right while you're expecting. Yet a comprehensive guide to healthy weight gain -- including a total pregnancy eating plan -- hasn't been made available to women. Until now.
In this first and only book of its kind, Eileen Behan, registered dietitian and mother of two, answers every imaginable question related to proper, healthy weight gain and the best nutrition for your baby, including exactly what to eat (and what not to eat) as well as how you can return to your pre-pregnancy weight after your baby's birth.

Working hand-in-hand with your obstetrician's advice, this wonderful book is chock full of helpful information (what to eat during morning sickness when you don't want to eat at all), and facts you need to know (is a vegetarian diet safe for your baby?). Complete with an exciting eating program based on six easy-to-understand food groups -- and delicious, healthy recipes that you'll love, The Pregnancy Diet understands a woman's real-life needs. You'll find:

Weekly weight goals for single births and twins
Simple-to-make menus and nutrition-packed meals and snacks
Facts about aspartame, soft drinks, caffeine, alcohol, and smoking
Exercise programs -- what's safe and what's not
Nutritional guidelines for special problems -- gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, doctor-ordered bed rest, and others
The best food sources for the essential nutrients you need, including calcium, folic acid, iron, and many more!

At last: an all-in-one nutrition sourcebook for the time in your life when you want to make sure you do everything right. (From the Publisher)

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Itsabelly's Guide to Going Green with Baby

by Jennifer Lo Prete and Melissa Moog

Itsabelly’s Guide to Going Green with Baby is the first book to evaluate eco-friendly baby gear and to educate parents about organic and natural family living. We’ll tell you why it is important to go green, how to do it without breaking the bank and give you a list of mom-approved green products for baby. With over 300 product reviews of eco-friendly baby gear and necessities, we cover it all from slings to strollers, bottles to skin care products, clothes and nursery furniture.

• Expert opinion and insight on living a more natural life by Dr. Sears, Earth Mama Angel Baby, Under The Nile, The Soft Landing and Organic Exchange.

• Simple and practical Eco Mom Tips from real mothers practicing green living.

• Make shopping for eco-friendly products easier. Decipher product labels with our green dictionary, green label and certification chapters.
(From the Publisher)

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My Boys Can Swim!

by Ian David

Finally—A Pregnancy Book That Won't Put Men to Sleep

My Boys Can Swim! tells real men everything they really want to know about pregnancy, such as: How much is it going to cost? Why does your wife primp before seeing her doctor when she hasn't put a stitch of make-up on for you in months? And, most important, what's it going to do to your sex life?

This rollicking, laugh-out-loud book is for expectant dads in search of bottom-line pregnancy information, without all that boring touchy-feely stuff you find in those books written for women. Inside you'll discover helpful—and hilarious—information and insights on such topics as:

The Maternity Wardrobe: "A key part of the maternity wardrobe is maternity underwear—parachute-like undies big enough to fit an NFL defensive lineman."

Baby Names: "Don't give your kids mockable names like Thaddeus, which is Greek for 'I'm a dork and should be beaten up.'"

The Birth: "No one told me it's normal that babies' heads can be misshapen at birth. I was convinced that my wife gave birth to Veldar, the conehead." (From the Publisher)

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every pregnant woman

Every Pregnant Woman's Guide to Preventing Premature Birth

by Barbara Luke

Luke, a registered nurse and researcher, has written the first book addressing the avoidance of risk factors that lead to premature birth. After observing the link between high levels of stress and long hours on one's feet and the number of premature births in the nurses with whom she worked in a busy nursery, Luke studied the work of French obstetrician Emile Papiernik, whose initiatives led to a significant lowering of the premature birthrate in France. Factors identified were nontraditional in nature and included such things as standing, long hours, noise, fatigue, and stress. The author outlines the risk factors in home and work environments, lifestyle, and nutrition and offers suggestions to reduce those risks. She includes a preassessment test for the to ascertain how high her risk might be and a postassessment to help her see where she has and can make significant changes to prevent premature birth. This very readable book accomplishes the author's purpose quite well. Recommended for consumer health collections. (From Library Journal)

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Cooking Light Holiday

Cooking Light Holiday Cookbook

by Heather Averett

This is one present you’ll definitely want to open early—the first-ever holiday cookbook from Cooking Light magazine, the world’s most widely read food magazine. No one likes to scrimp around the holidays—now you can stay on track and still dazzle friends and family with memorable holiday feasts and delectable treats. Share the joy with everything you need for seasonal cooking—and less—from Cooking Light.

Features:

Brighten—and lighten!—with this first-ever holiday cookbook from Cooking Light
More than 350 seasonal recipes
Beat holiday stress and save time with super-quick menus and make-ahead meals
Holiday Helpers special section: serving tips, table settings, decorations, and more
50 clever gifts from your kitchen with festive packaging ideas
Beyond the Bird: Top 10 ways to transform leftover turkey (From the Publisher)

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Panic Free Pregnancy

The Panic-Free Pregnancy: An OB-GYN Separates Fact from Fiction on Food, Exercise, Travel, Pets, Coffee, Medications, and Concerns You Have When You Are Expecting

by Michael S. Broder

While most pregnancy books only address the stages of the baby's development, The Panic-Free Pregnancy comprehensively covers the lifestyle issues and questions that confront every mom-to-be. Dr. Broder separates fact from fiction, media hype from old wives tales, and drawing on the latest scientific research offers an accessible, comprehensive reference book that answers questions about...

• Caffeine
• Exercise
• Flying
• Prescription and over-the-counter medications
• Sex
• Cosmetics
• Alcohol
• Herbal remedies
• and more

Organized in an easy-to-use question-and-answer format, this book will help women have the safest, healthiest, most anxiety-free pregnancy possible. (From the Publisher)

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Easy Labor: Every Woman's Guide to Choosing Less Pain and More Joy During Childbirth

by William Camann and Kathryn Alexander

A superb book that gives anyone who is pregnant a great understanding of the choices and rationale for those options that make birth easier. (Dr Michael Roizen, MD, co-author of New York Times #1 bestseller, YOU: The Owner’s Manual)

Gives pregnant women a comprehensive overview of all their options for making labor more comfortable. (Newsweek)

"Down-to-earth prose provides compelling descriptions of labor from moms, doctors, and midwives. A “Great Read”." (FitPregnancy Magazine)

"Provides a road map through the thorny thicket of labor — no matter what path you choose." (–ePregnancy Magazine editor’s book pick)

“Best Bet” for labor literature!" (Pregnancy Magazine)

"A thoughtful and thorough look at epidurals, narcotics, hypnosis, acupuncture, and other traditional and nontraditional methods of pain relief, so your choices can be well informed. The authors believe that knowledge is power — in this case, the power to choose pain-relief methods that reflect one’s own values, priorities, and preferences. They deliver the facts and options in a meaningful and easy-to-understand way, while acknowledging feelings and providing reassurance." (National Parenting Publications Gold Medal Award)

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Maternal Fitness: Preparing for a Healthy Pregnancy, an Easier Labor, and a Quick Recovery

by Julie Tupler

If you're newly pregnant, you're probably watching your diet carefully, getting plenty of rest, and preparing for the arrival of your new baby. You're also thinking about the big day itself and what the experience of labor will be like. Even if you're following a regular fitness program, you'll want to do everything you can to strengthen and prepare your body for the rigors of labor. Maternal Fitness features clearly illustrated exercises that focus specifically on the muscle groups you'll use throughout labor, especially the transverse abdominals - the stomach muscles that play a critical role during delivery. A powerful set of transverse abs can speed labor and delivery and make for a quick recovery. By learning how to strengthen your abdominals and relax your pelvic floor muscles, you'll be able to push more effectively. While the Maternal Fitness program is designed specifically for the big moment, it also has other benefits, from minimizing backache and fatigue to giving you a welcome head start on getting back into shape after childbirth. Developed by a professional trainer who is also a registered nurse and childbirth educator, the Maternal Fitness program is safe for you and your baby and easy to do. Once learned, it can be incorporated into any workout. (Publisher's comments)
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Eating for Pregnancy: An Essential Guide to Nutrition with Recipes for the Whole Family

by Catherine Jones (Author) and Rose Ann Hudson (Contributor)

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Mayo Clinic guide to a Healthy Pregnancy

by the Mayo Clinic

Would-be mothers looking for precise, accurate information from a reputable source will appreciate this mammoth pregnancy guide from the celebrated Mayo Clinic. The volume actually provides much more information than most parents will need: week by week accounts of the baby’s development, entries on how pregnancy can be affected by dozens of previous health conditions (such as HIV and diabetes), self-care tips for side effects like nausea and back pain, sidebars that explain the difference between identical and fraternal twins, etc. But the book contains at least one feature that most pregnant women will find indispensable: charts that indicate how to handle "troublesome signs and symptoms" during each three week period. For example, if a woman has slight spotting during the first four weeks of pregnancy, the chart tells her to notify a doctor during her next hospital visit. But if she has any bleeding at all during
weeks 29 to 32, the chart indicates that she should tell her doctor immediately. Another stellar feature is the book’s even-handed series of "decision guides," which help parents make those hard (and even guilt-inducing) choices about breastfeeding, circumcision and whether or not to go back to work. Some parents may find the book’s cool, no-nonsense tone intimidating, or even scary, but when deciding what to do about mid-term cramps or pain, most readers will find great reassurance this volume’s carefully vetted facts. Reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly

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Pregnancy Blues: What Every Woman Needs to Know about Depression During Pregnancy

By Shaila Md Kulkarni Misri

This groundbreaking and important book brings pregnancy-related depression out of the closet and offers effective, compassionate, and scientifically accurate solutions that can help alleviate the suffering of millions of pregnant women and the babies they are carrying.

Reviewed by Christiane Northrup, M.D.

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Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads

by Gary Greenberg and Jeannie Hayden

Parenting is hard, and reading many of the jargon-filled parenting books out there can make it even harder, but with a combination of smart writing and clever illustrations, husband-and-wife team Greenberg (The Pop-up Book of Phobias; etc.) and illustrator Hayden make both seem fun, if not easy. As the subtitle suggests, the book is filled with advice that will appeal to the solution-centered male perspective, from step-by-step swaddling instructions to a guide for identifying six distinct infant crying patterns. (A hunger cry, for example, is "a pattern of low-pitched, rhythmic moans, growing more and more insistent," whereas a boredom pattern is "a low-volume whimper which stops and starts irregularly.") Not only is Greenberg and Hayden's information useful, but it's also been vetted by "several distinguished fellows" at the American Academy of Pediatrics. Along with the conventional chapters on baby-proofing your house and taking a baby's temperature are more obscure—and amusing—topics, such as how to videotape your baby and how to conduct a "Mirror Puppet Sing Along" to sooth a crying baby while driving (the technique requires two mirrors, a hand-puppet and an indifference to looking silly). Hayden's drawings strike just the right balance between textbook-boring and tongue-in-cheek funny, depicting everything from a sketch of a bottle of teething gel to a drawing of an exhausted father snoozing in a business meeting. Greenberg and Hayden have succeeded in providing new dads (and many moms, for that matter) with an entertaining and informative cheat sheet. (Publishers Weekly)

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Rock Star Momma: The Hip Guide to Looking Gorgeous Through All Nine Months and Beyond

by Skye Hoppus

With a little help from Hollywood, being pregnant has become the hippest thing for a woman to be. Fashion icons such as Angelina Jolie, Gwen Stefani, Kate Hudson, and Heidi Klum have made it beautiful to have a bump -- and more important, to show it off. Now, Rock Star Momma is here to help today's fashionistas learn how to hold on to their hipness as they rock-and-roll their way into motherhood.

With personal advice from your favorite haute mommas like Gwyneth Paltrow, Elle Macpherson, Britney Spears, Mariska Hargitay, Joely Fisher, Jennie Garth, Kimora Lee Simmons, and many more, Hoppus provides the inside scoop that style-driven pregnant women are looking for. Hoppus also includes must-have tips from industry standouts such as Fit Pregnancy, UrbanBaby, Spanx, Bugaboo, and babystyle!

Highlights include:

The essential Denim to Die For guide for finding those perfect jeans
Baby Shower Babe do's and don'ts, showing how to look and feel your best on this most important day
How to go from "gym girl" to "glam girl" in ten minutes flat
The Panty Shmanty chapter, helping you navigate the world of maternity bras, panties, and hosiery
Well-being, fitness, fashion, and beauty tips for all nine months and beyond
A must-have Shopping Bag chapter that provides an arsenal of information and resources for every modern momma-to-be. (From the Publisher)

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Saving Dinner for the Holidays: Menus, Recipes, Shopping Lists, and Timelines for Spectacular, Stress-free Holidays and Family Celebrations

By Leanne Ely

Don’t Just Celebrate–Relax!

We all know that holidays are meant to be fun. But for the cook planning the feast, the holidays can inspire dread. Feeding the family on a daily basis is hard enough. Making the meal both special and delicious can raise the bar out of sight.

In Saving Dinner for the Holidays bona fide Dinner Diva Leanne Ely will show you that festive meals can be as easy and relaxing as they are tasty. She plans the menus, provides comprehensive, itemized shopping lists that are organized by supermarket section, includes heirloom recipes, and even includes the all-important timeline so that your party goes off without a hitch. She also gives you a big helping hand in the kitchen and offers tips on how to make your table sparkle with warmth and beauty.

There’s a Valentine’s Day Chocolate Feast not to be missed, a Mother’s Day dinner that can actually be prepared by Dad and the kids, a Fourth of July picnic that lights up the palate, and many other red-letter feasts. There are even recipes that help turn leftovers into delectable dishes. (From the Publisher)

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Domestically Challenged: A Working Mom's Survival Guide to Becoming a Stay-at-Home Mom

by Alana Morales

When you decided to stay at home, you probably thought about the quality time you'd spend with your kids and the wonderful meals you would cook. Maybe you even thought you would do some decorating or take up yoga. Later you realized things would be different. Your house is messier. You still have days where the kids drive you crazy. And then you wonder - what did I get myself into? Relax. Domestically Challenged can help. Written as a humorous guidebook, this book will show new stay at home moms how to: . Keep the kids entertained without hiring a circus. Find ways to keep up with housework, short of hiring a housekeeper (though we'd like to!) . Deal with the emotional aspects of her new job (including boredom and every mom's favorite - guilt) . And do such outlandish things such as finding time for herself. (From the Publisher)

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101 Family Vacation Games: Have Fun While Traveling, Camping, or Celebrating at Home

by Shando Varda

101 Family Vacation Games is a compilation of activities that can help entertain both children and adults. The games are divided into six main categories - travel, vacation, beach, outdoor, home, and birthday party games. The book title is somewhat misleading because the games, with the exception of some of the beach games, can be easily adapted to be played anywhere. There is also a special section at the end with games parents can use to interact with babies and young children.

The layout of the book is excellent. Listed at the beginning of each game is the number of participants required, the level of difficulty, and whether any props will be needed (i.e. music or a deck of cards). Most of the games are fairly simple and can be completed quickly. Also provided are ways to modify the games so that younger children can also be included. Several of the games are old favorites, such as Charades, I Spy, and Rock, Paper, Scissors, but there are many with which I had not been previously familiar.

The author stresses the importance of making sure everyone understands and agrees to the rules before the game begins. He also states the importance of parents taking part in the games so they can share similar experiences with the child and create memories as a family. Playing provides many benefits including: exercise, learning ways to relate to others socially, releasing stress, and acting as a diversion to forget about one's problems for a short time. Some games help to develop reflexes and concentration skills. Others involve exploring the world around us. The next time you see children playing don't be surprised if they are actually learning something.

I recommend 101 Family Vacation Games for all parents and children. It will not only help to develop a closer relationship between the two but also allow them to learn more about the other's thoughts and dreams. Playing together develops lifetime memories that become more precious as the years pass. It is important to set aside a few minutes each day to play, whether it is to remove oneself from life's daily stresses or simply to spend time with those you love. — Leslie Granier, Reader Views

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The Hot Mom to Be Handbook: Look and Feel Great from Bump to Baby

by Jessica Denay

Denay (The Hot Mom's Handbook), blogger and founder of the online community Hot Moms Club, focuses on the mom-to-be in this reissue with a snappy cover and design. Denay explains that a hot mom is a woman who is confident and empowered, and who embraces motherhood without giving up her sense of self. The single mom of a nine-year-old boy, Denay covers a wide range of subjects of interest to pregnant women, including healthy eating, baby showers, the latest trends in babymoons (a romantic, before-baby trip), and where to find a masculine-looking diaper bag for dad. Along with practical information on how to design an eco-friendly nursery and useful special sections called bump on a budget, eco-minded mamma Denay touches upon topics that may be of limited appeal, such as what to do about piercings and nipple rings (i.e., nix the latter if breastfeeding) or how to look gorgeous in a HOT nursing bra. Though readers seeking more solemn fare will no doubt quickly lose patience with Denay's chatty prose, many moms-to-be will warm up to the Hot Moms Club discounts and shopping tips, and others may simply enjoy indulging themselves with a breezy read before baby arrives. Pages for journaling dropped into the text seem out of place in this busy guide to shopping, staying hot, and pampering the mom-to-be. (From Publishers Weekly)
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Healthy Child Healthy World: Creating a Cleaner, Greener, Safer Home

by Christopher Gavigan

Healthy Child Healthy World is the essential guide for parents! All parents want a happy and healthy child in a safe home, but where do they start? It starts with the small steps to creating a healthier, less toxic, and more environmentally sound home – and this is the definitive book to get you there.

Unfortunately, tens of millions of Americans, overwhelmingly children, now face chronic disease and illnesses including cancer, autism, asthma, allergies, birth defects, ADD/ADHD, obesity/diabetes, and learning and developmental disabilities. The number gets higher each year and more parents ask WHY? Scientific evidence increasingly finds chemicals in everyday products like cleaning supplies, beauty care and cosmetics, home furnishings, plastics, food, and even toys that are contributors to these ailments.

The good news is that you can something to protect your children with a few simple changes!

Inside, you’ll find practical, inexpensive, and easy lifestyle advice for every stage of parenting including:

Advice on preparing a nontoxic nursery for a new baby
What every expectant mom needs to do to have a safer pregnancy
Clarifying which plastics and baby products to avoid and the healthier solutions
Tips to take to the grocery store, including the most and least pesticide-laden fruits and vegetables and the best healthy kid-approved snacks
Which beauty care / cosmetic products pose the biggest risk to health
The best recipes for healthy snacks, low-cost and safe homemade cleaners, and non-toxic art supplies
How to easily minimize allergens, dust, and lead
A greener garden, yard, and outdoor spaces
Tips to keep your pets healthy, and the unwanted pests out naturally
Renovation ideas, naturally fresher indoor air, and safer sleeping options,
An 27 page extensive shopper’s guide to most trusted and best products every home needs

Inside is also packed with over 40 featured contributions from renowned doctors, environmental scientists, and public-health experts like Dr. Harvey Karp, Dr Philip Landrigan, and William McDonough, as well as many celebrity parents like Gwyneth Paltrow, Tobey Maguire, Sheryl Crow, Erin Brockovich and Tom Hanks. A special featured contribution from First Lady Michelle Obama on her best ways of coping with her daughter’s asthma. (From the Publisher)

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Best Baby Products, 10th Edition (Consumer Reports Best Baby Products)

by Editors of Consumer Reports

With hundreds of baby products in the market today, protecting your baby should be your number one priority. Consumer Reports Best Baby Products is the perfect personal baby shopping consultant. Over the years, this invaluable guide has helped thousands of new parents navigate the multitude of complex and sophisticated baby products, pointing them to the best products, and steering them away from the less-than-the-best.
Written with warmth, wit and authority, Best Baby Products will help alleviate some of the anxieties caused by all the concerns and questions running through the minds of new parents. Consumer Reports buying advice and ratings allows buyers to streamline the selection process, avoid shopping pitfalls, and help keep the baby budget in balance. This newly revised edition includes:

Helpful tips on “building” the baby’s nursery from crib to diaper bag
Ratings of car seats, carriers, play yards, and travel systems
Recent safety recalls and articles regarding safety
The most commonly prescribed medications for babies
Childproofing and home-safety tips
Shopping guides to websites, catalogs, and stores
Checklists and worksheets to help organize the shopping process.

About the Author

Best Baby Products comes to you from CONSUMER REPORTS, the testing and consumer information source best known for product ratings and buying guidance. Since 1936, the mission of Consumer Reports has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers.

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How to Talk to Your Child's Doctor: A Handbook for Parents

by Christopher Johnson

A two-year-old develops a nasty cough and after experiencing breathing problems, his concerned parents take him to the emergency room. The doctor on call diagnoses his symptoms as croup, prescribes treatment, but days later the cough is no better. After another trip to the emergency room, x-rays, respiratory therapy, and treatment for asthma, the little boy still cannot shake his cough and breathing difficulties. Finally, two weeks later, the family doctor suggests an examination by an ear-nose-and-throat specialist. Using a bronchoscope, the specialist finds a small piece of plastic from a toy lodged in the edge of the child s trachea. After removing the obstruction, the boy returns to normal within a day. In fact, he never had croup or asthma.
Could this lengthy, frustrating experience have been avoided?
In this illuminating guide to communicating with your child s doctor, pediatrician Christopher M. Johnson shows parents how to talk more effectively to their doctors about their children s health. Johnson takes the nonmedical layperson into the mindset of the physician examining a sick child for the first time. He demonstrates how doctors evaluate symptoms, interpret answers to their questions, and decide on a course of treatment. The book invites and then empowers parents to join their child s doctor as a partner in the diagnostic and therapeutic process. Each chapter ends with a communication checklist to help parents find the right words while visiting the doctor.

Dr. Johnson covers the following topics:

The medical history and why it is so important
How and why the doctor examines your child
How a doctor uses lab tests
How a doctor arrives at a diagnosis
Time-honored medical wisdom that all doctors rely on
The difference between specific treatments and supportive care when a diagnosis is uncertain
Consulting specialists along with the family physician

The final chapter encourages the reader to become a sort of junior doctor by presenting several real-life cases and challenging the reader to work through the problem as a physician would.
This jargon-free and completely accessible guidebook will enable you to assist your child s doctor in the vital work of effectively caring for your child in health and illness.

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Cesarean Recovery

by Chrissie Gallagher-Mundy

The complete guide to a healthy recovery from the effects of C-section birthing.

Almost 1 out of 4 deliveries is by cesarean section. Whether or not the procedure is planned, cesarean section must be considered major abdominal surgery and surgical recovery is a necessary process towards complete healing.

Cesarean Recovery guides new mothers through the healing process in conjunction with her medical care. The new mother will discover when and how to start her recovery -- from her first attempts at sitting up in the hospital bed, through to standing and on to mastering her first exercises.

This special guide includes straightforward and detailed information on:

Safe and effective exercises for regaining pre-pregnancy shape
Regaining vitality and strength with daily and weekly exercise routines
Fun-to-do and effective routines that include mother and baby
Diet, breastfeeding and postpartum problems
Incision care and advice for repeat cesarean sections

Written in an accessible style and illustrated with color photography throughout, Cesarean Recovery shows mothers, step-by-step, how to recover from the surgery as they care for their newborn.

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Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more!

By Denise Fields

Congratulations, you're expecting a baby! What you may not be expecting is all of the requisite gear you "need" to look after your dear bundle. Fear not. Denise and Alan Fields, authors of Bridal Bargains, are here to tell you what's super and what's silly, and how to find it at the best price. You'll learn all about how (and where) to shop for a crib and dresser (including how to get European styling at reasonable prices), what you need in bedding and what can be skipped (a hint: no baby requires the $200 quilt!), which clothing brands are safest and least expensive, and how to shop for monitors, toys, car seats, strollers, books, videos, and more. The authors have field-tested every major brand (and several of the minor ones), and they provide star ratings and annotations at the end of every chapter. A helpful feature in each chapter called "Wastes of Money" will steer you away from $65 Baby Air Jordans and frilly diaper stackers that match your bedding. If that's not enough, they offer a money-back guarantee: If the book doesn't save you at least $250 in baby expenses, they'll refund the price of the book. Well researched and written in a witty and comfortable tone, Baby Bargains should be required reading for every safety - and money-conscious parent-to-be. (Amazon review)

The Everything Parent's Guide To Children With Juvenile Diabetes: Reassuring Advice for Managing Symptoms and Raising a Happy, Healthy Child

by Moira McCarthy and Moira McCarth

As a parent of a child diagnosed with diabetes, you are faced with overwhelming, and sometimes frightening, questions like: Will my child be able to eat sweets again? How will I ever be able to let them go out on their own? What is the newest technology and how can it help my child? Is a cure really on the horizon? The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Juvenile Diabetes helps you cope with the challenges of helping your children live happy, healthy lives while controlling the disease. This reassuring, easy-to-use guide features advice on:

Adjusting to life with diabetes
Helping your children take control of their health
Monitoring diet and insulin levels
Handling emergencies
Finding support for you and your children

The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Juvenile Diabetes helps parents deal with the challenges you and your child face when living with diabetes--one day at a time. (From the Publisher)

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The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children

by Rough Guides

From pre-trip planning to pre-empting and dealing with challenges when away, The Rough Guide to Travel with Babies and Young Children is the ultimate comprehensive guide to hassle-free family travel. With the low-down on everything from planning your itinerary and accommodation to what to bring and how to pack it, the guide is packed with tips on painless travel by plane, car, bus or train, as well how to deal with delays, long waiting lines and travel sickness. Insiders' tips from destinations all around the globe ensure you'll know what to expect when you arrive. You'll find thoroughly researched and accessible advice on coping with the challenges once you're there, from eating out with toddlers to getting enough sleep. Ideal for busy parents, the guide comes complete with listings of resources, websites and further reading, plus handy checklists, first-hand stories and advice from travel industry experts and parents who've been there and done it. (From the Publisher)

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Lose That Baby Fat!: Bouncing Back the First Year after Having a Baby--A Mom Friendly Fitness Program

by LaReine Chabut

In this easy-to-follow program that blends into a mom's new (and busy) lifestyle, LaReine, a fitness expert, model, and exercise guru, emphasizes realistic weight loss, positive self-image, and renewed overall fitness, helping new mothers feel great and energetic. Detailed photos walk the reader through the step-by-step process of weight loss, featuring exercises that jumpstart fitness while targeting specific problems like losing tummy fat and toning upper arms. Stressing minimum effort and maximum results, moms gain strength, flexibility, and endurance from quick ten minute sessions that can be accomplished in their homes without expensive equipment or a babysitter. (From the Publisher)

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And Baby Makes Three: The Six-Step Plan for Preserving Marital Intimacy and Rekindling Romance After Baby Arrives

by John M. Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman

Having a baby is a joyous experience, but even the best relationships are strained during the transition from duo to trio. Lack of sleep, never-ending housework, and new fiscal concerns often lead to conflict, disappointment, and hurt feelings. In And Baby Makes Three Love Lab™ experts John Gottman and Julie Schwartz Gottman teach couples the skills from their successful workshops, so partners can avoid the pitfalls of parenthood by:

maintaining intimacy and romance
replacing a culture of criticism and irritability with one of appreciation
preventing post-partum depression
creating a home environment that nurtures physical, emotional, and mental
health, as well as cognitive and behavioral development for your baby

Complete with exercises that separate the “master” from the “disaster” couples, And Baby Makes Three helps new parents positively manage the strain that comes along with their bundle of joy. (From the Publisher)

Preemies

Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies

By Dana Wechsler Linden and Emma Trenti Paroli

Linden and Paroli, mothers who met in the hospital when their preemies were born, and neonatologist Doron present a comprehensive guidebook for parents whose babies are born prematurely. One out of 10 babies in the U.S. is born early, but in half of these cases the mothers have no known risk of giving birth prematurely, so they can't prepare for the whirlwind of unexpected events and emotions they will experience in the neonatal unit. The authors fulfill the need for information with remarkable clarity, offering answers to a multitude of questions. Divided into four sections (Before Birth, In the Hospital, A Life Together and Other Considerations), the book covers risk factors, the first day, the first week, surgery, taking the baby home and many other topics. Each section contains personal observations from parents of preemies, insightful comments from "the doctor's perspective" and information on procedures, equipment, common problems and other issues. While medical information is presented in detail, the book maintains a personal, reassuring tone, explaining that, though their organs and body functions are immature, most preemies are basically healthy. Since parents can't always plan ahead for the possibility of a preemie, this book provides a valuable crash course and serves as a useful tool for communicating with medical staff. Includes a helpful resource guide and glossary. (From Publishers Weekly)

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Travels with Baby

Travels with Baby: The Ultimate Guide for Planning Trips with Babies, Toddlers, and Preschool-Age Children

By Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones

"Travels with Baby is an indispensable guide for parents wandering the world with kids, from infants to preschoolers. Its comprehensive advice on useful gear and different modes of transportation (car, taxi, train, plane, ship) will smooth the way on any trip, and I especially liked the insightful advice on matching your travel plans to your child's individual temperament." — Cynthia Harriman, author of Take Your Kids to Europe

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Great Expectations

Great Expectations: Baby's First Year

By Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones

The mother-daughter team who coauthored two other Great Expectations books open this outsized parenting manual with a chronology of what to expect—day-by-day, week-by-week, month-by-month—during baby's first year. They follow with a how-to section (feeding, diapering and other baby care issues), a shopping guide (analyzing features of strollers, cribs and car seats), a review of parental issues (mostly mom's physical and mental needs) and an A–Z of baby medical problems. This layout breeds a lot of overlap; some issues—car seats, breast-feeding, crib hazards—are covered repeatedly. While the authors mention that 35% of children in America are born to single mothers, the target audience is the traditional nuclear family, preferably one with ample financial and social resources. They're very modern in their trust-your-instincts advice, stressing that parents are wise enough to choose their own parenting style—comforting crying babies vs. ignoring them, etc. Likewise, they don't fret about boosting baby's I.Q. with fancy toys. Philosophical issues aside, the eye-catching charts and diagrams are bound to catch the eyes of bookstore browsers. (From Publishers Weekly, July 2008)

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What to Expect Guide to Immunizations

Provided by the What to Expect Foundation

Keeping up with your child's vaccinations is by far one of the best ways to help keep him or her healthy. The What To Expect Guide to Immunizations is packed with what you'll need to know to keep your child fully vaccinated:

Information about the vaccines on your child's schedule of shots.
Answers to your questions about a vaccine's safety effectiveness,and importance.
The latest on the new generation of combination shots.
Tips on how to prepare your child for the needles coming his or her way.
And much more...

There's also an immunization visit planner that will help you keep track of which shots your child receives at each vaccine visit, plus a place for you to jot down all your pediatrician's instructions and advice.

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Mail Harry to the Moon!

by Robie H. Harris

Mail Harry to the Moon is just one of the suggestions made by the narrator, who's suffering the displacement blues since the arrival of his annoying, attention-hogging baby brother. 'Before Harry, nobody but me sat on Grandma's lap,' he mourns. 'Yesterday, Harry did. So I said, 'Put Harry back inside Mommy.' But when the boy believes that Mommy and Daddy really have taken him up on the moon idea, his attitude changes dramatically.

Harris and Emberley (Happy Birth Day!) are old hands at striking the right balance between comic Sturm und Drang and genuine poignancy, and their considerable talents make this otherwise familiar tale feel fresh and funny — and psychologically true. Emberley's cartooning brims with terrific shtick — he gives the hero some slow burns and outbursts worthy of Ralph Kramden. Kids will particularly appreciate Emberley's gift for staging: the final sequence, in which the narrator sets off for the moon (a laundry basket serves as rocket, a colander as space helmet), blows out any vestige of sentimentality with its full-throttle energy. Ages 3 — 6. (June)" Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

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Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality

By Laura A. Jana and Jennifer Shu

There are people who already have a great depth of infant care experience when they have their first child--have changed so many diapers they can do it with their teeth, can get a onesie over a newborn's head without waking her, can swaddle a baby into immobility with a flick of the wrist. We are not those people. We needed help, and we found a lot of it here.

My husband and I both read this book cover to cover before we brought our son home from the hospital, and referred to it often afterward. It has terrific practical advice for the new parent, with informative illustrations--such as demonstrating how to get those cute new outfits on your infant when they have clearly been designed by someone who has never actually dressed a baby-- and is written in a casual, clear style that makes it easily readable and memorable. We went back to it often: "What colors of poop did it
say were okay?" "What did it say about the difference between projectile spit up and vomiting?" (Asked as something ran down a wall two feet away.) "Is it possible the baby really wants to eat every 45 minutes?" We suspect its discussion of growth spurts saved our sanity, if not our lives.

This book focuses on the nitty-gritty of the new obsessions you'll have with the bodily functions and sleep habits of your new arrival, and how to balance them with your own. It is a cheerful, engaging, sympathetic and nonjudgmental guidebook, and we appreciated it tremendously in our early weeks home. Highly recommended. Reviewed by Ellen Mark, Chicago, IL

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Raising Baby Green: The Earth-Friendly Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Baby Care

By Alan Greene

Greene, a Stanford pediatrician and author of the popular web site drgreene.com, teams up with a consumer health reporter and an author of parenting books to give parents ecofriendly options for pregnancy, birth, and parenting. Everything from choosing the best diapers to selecting nontoxic nursery paint and organic baby food is offered along with commonsense advice about diaper rash and food allergies. These are excellent companions to more traditional parenting books by the likes of T. Berry Brazelton. Review from Library Journal.

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The Imperfect Mom: Candid Confessions of Mothers Living in the Real World

by Therese J. Borchard

The supermom is a suburban legend. At some point, we’ve all forgotten to pack a lunch, yelled at our kids, or been late to soccer practice. This book is for every mom who has ever gotten angry at being interrupted from a consecutive five hours of sleep, or who has ever hid in the bathroom just to get a few moments of peace.

In this collection of thirty-six original essays, award-winning novelists, famous columnists, and bestselling authors tell it like it is, covering a plethora of confessions to reassure any mother. Gail Belsky writes about the emotional torture that led to the secret circumcision of her son. Andrea Buchanan talks about the pile of dirty laundry that saved her son's life. Muffy Mead-Ferro confesses to her slacker summer, three months without one organized activity. Judith Newman recounts the game of Torpedo that landed her and her twins in the emergency room. Jacquelyn Mitchard shares how she was expelled from the carpool for showing up late one too many times. Together, their stories provide an entertaining, affirming, and sometimes surprising look at the perils and pleasures of motherhood.

Poignant and amusing, The Imperfect Mom is a refreshing look at mistakes we all make in mothering and a consoling and hilarious testimony to parents who don't have it all figured it out. Reviewed by Amazon.com

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