Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, partners, friends, relatives, and doulas have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother, from her last trimester through the early postpartum period. Now fully revised in its fifth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. The Birth Partner includes thorough information on: Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way Epidurals and other medications for labor Pitocin and other means, including natural ones, to induce or speed up labor Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain Cesarean birth and complications that may require it Breastfeeding and newborn care and much more For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this book is indispensable.

Definitive guide for preparing to help a woman through childbirth, and the essential manual to have at hand during the event.

This is a shorter version of the classic bestseller The Birth Partner, ideal for time-pressed parents, partners, and birthing professionals. It is a convenient and easy-to-use book that provides facts on the fly during the ultra-busy period before, during, and after labor and birth. An added planner keeps your plans and to-dos in one place. Generations of spouses and partners, as well as doulas, nurses, midwives, and other professionals, have relied on Penny Simkin's warm and wise guidance in caring for the new mother, from the last trimester through the early postpartum period. Her book The Birth Partner is the definitive guide to helping a woman through labor and birth, and The Birth Partner's Quick Reference Guide and Planner is a more-concise version of that book. For those who have the original book, it adds a planner component, for hospital or at-home birth plans and for other essential to-dos. It is full of reliable and up-to-date information on: Preparing for labor and for the new baby Ways to help a woman through each stage of labor and birth Pain-relief measures, including epidurals and medications as well as natural techniques Ways to induce or speed up labor Cesarean birth and complications that may require it Breastfeeding and newborn care and much more For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this is the essential book to have on hand.

Have you been asked to attend the birth of a baby? Are you wondering what to expect? Learn the secrets to a POSITIVE birth experience! In this ultimate guide, doula, antenatal teacher and hypnobirthing instructor Sallyann Beresford reveals everything you need to know when preparing to attend the birth of a baby. She identifies key elements of the birth partner role that are not traditionally taught and presents the most up-to-date information, examining all the important issues related to giving birth in these modern times. Over the past 20 years, Sallyann has supported thousands of couples in achieving their dream birth, and she knows exactly what is required to help any woman through labour. Whether you are a spouse, relative, friend, doula or midwife, you'll benefit from the easy-to-follow information and tried- and-tested tools she shares. An excellent understanding of your role during the birth process leads to a positive experience for the pregnant woman and everyone around her.

Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, new mothers' mates, friends, and relatives and doulas (professional birth assistants) have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother from the last few weeks of pregnancy through the early postpartum period. Fully revised in its fourth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide for preparing to help a woman through childbirth and the essential manual to have at hand during the event. This completely updated edition includes thorough information on: Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begun; Normal labor and how to help the woman every step of the way; Epidurals and other medications for labor; Non-drug techniques for easing labor pain; Cesarean birth and complications that may require it; Breastfeeding and newborn care; And much more. For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, this book is indispensable.

A must-have baby shower gift for expectant dads! In this one-of-a-kind guide, dad, doula, and certified lactation counselor Brian Salmon and perinatal mental health and relationship expert Kirsten Brunner offer practical, modern-day survival tips for expectant dads and birth partners. Gone are the days when fathers would nervously pace the waiting room while their partners gave birth. Dads are participating in childbirth now more than ever before. However, if you’re like many men, you may feel unprepared, uncomfortable, or even unwelcome in the birth room. For you, this book offers battle-tested tips to help you get in the game and prepare for one of the most incredible adventures of your life. Based on the author’s Rocking Dadschildbirth course, this book will teach you everything you need to know about supporting your partner through birth, breastfeeding, and beyond. In this guide, you’ll discover pointers and advice you won’t find in any other childbirth or breastfeeding guide, including: A list of items to pack for the hospital that will help mom’s labor go more smoothly Stealth communication skills that you can utilize during early labor to support mom and keep her in a positive state of mind How to write a birth plan that the labor and delivery nurses will actually pay attention to What to say and do—and what not to say and do—when mom is in active labor and feeling all the feelings A detailed account of what to expect in the delivery room as a birth partner, and how to navigate the unknown terrains when things don’t go as planned How to help mom achieve proper nipple latch when she attempts breastfeeding for the first time Finally, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll find tips for maintaining a strong relationship with your partner before, during, and after the birth so that you feel closer than ever when you launch into the wild yet wonderful world of parenthood.

Offers expectant mothers seeking natural childbirth in a hospital a detailed look at pregnancy and labor, explaining how to create a mutually supportive relationship among birth-care providers and make informed choices.

Experienced doula, Linsey Bliss, shows you how to prepare physically and mentally for every element of having a child, from pregnancy to fourth trimester in The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth. Lindsey Bliss, who has assisted as a doula at hundreds of births and is herself a mother of seven, reveals here all the wisdom and advice that doulas share with the new mothers who hire them. The Doula's Guide to Empowering Your Birth covers the period from pregnancy through labor and birth to fourth trimester healing. The focus, however, is on preparing for birth--including topics like how to pick the right childbirth class and the right birthing method. You’ll also see how to assemble the team of professionals, family members, and friends who will support you through labor and birth, and how to approach last-minute decisions about pain medications and cesarean sections. Bliss's tone throughout is at once authoritative and confident as well as warm and encouraging. Her concern in her practice as well as in these pages is to listen to and help secure each new mom's own personal vision of a birthing experience that is safe, fulfilling, and meaningful.

Available for the first time in full color, the up-to-date and authoritative pregnancy guide that has sold 1.5 million copies--by recognizing that "one size fits all" doesn't apply to maternity care Parents love this book because it puts them in control; experts love it because it's based on the latest medical research and recommendations from leading health organizations. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn provides the information and guidance you need to make informed decisions about having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period--decisions that reflect your preferences, priorities, and values. Unlike pregnancy guides that can overwhelm and alarm by telling you up front all the things that can possibly go wrong, this book first describes normal, healthy processes, their typical variations, and the usual care practices for monitoring them. Only then does it cover possible complications and the care practices and procedures for resolving them. Throughout, the presentation is crystal-clear, the tone is reassuring, and the voice is empowering. And the language is inclusive, reflecting today's various family configurations such as single-parent families, blended families formed by second marriages, families with gay and lesbian parents, and families formed by open adoption or surrogacy. From sensible nutrition advice to realistic birth plans, from birth doulas when desired to cesareans when needed, from reducing stress during pregnancy to caring for yourself as well as your baby after birth, this pregnancy guide speaks to today's parents-to-be like no other.

The essential guide for today's fathers, family and friends who want to help create a healthy, positive birth experience for the new mother.