Canada's Pregnancy Care Book - Softcover

Farrugia MD FRCS [C], Dr. Michele; Thomas MD FRCS [C], Jacqueline; Bernstein MD FRCS [C], Paul

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0778802310 ISBN 13: 9780778802310

Publisher: Robert Rose, 2009

Synopsis

Essential reading for anyone who is thinking about becoming pregnant or is already pregnant.

This comprehensive book features extensive yet easy-to-understand information on everything related to pregnancy, from preconception to birth.

The highly readable presentation style covers the following areas:

• Part 1 -- Before You Become Pregnant: everything from genetics basics to avoiding risks such as food toxins
• Part 2 -- Your First Trimester (Months 1 to 3): information on screening tests, diet and nutrition
• Part 3 -- Your Second Trimester (Months 4 to 6): everything from body changes to personal care to exercising safely
• Part 4 -- Your Third Trimester (Months 7 to 9): birth and newborn planning, childbirth classes and preparing for labor
• Part 5 -- Your Labor and Delivery: birth positions, labor stages, special deliveries and interventions
• Part 6 -- After Your Baby Is Born: information on newborn care, healthy parenthood and diet and exercise for breast-feeding mothers

Health conditions and complications specific to each trimester are featured, as is an FAQ section. With extensive charts, tables and illustrations, and a full-color presentation, this book will appeal to a wide range of consumers.

Mount Sinai Hospital is one of the top teaching hospitals in North America and one of Canada's pre-eminent patient care, research and academic health science centers.

About this title

About the Author

Dr. Michèle Farrugia is a staff obstetrician and gynecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Jacqueline Thomas is a staff obstetrician and gynecologist at Mount Sinai Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto.

Dr. Paul Bernstein is the Head of the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital and an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

Welcome to the Mount Sinai Hospital Pregnancy Care Book! But why another pregnancy book, you might ask? Surely between the plethora of previously published books and the Internet, there is no need for yet another book about pregnancy. At the outset, we asked this question, too. Then we spoke to the people who count -- our patients. We soon learned that some books tended to scare women with textbook detail, some were too superficial, and none reflected our approach to pregnancy and childbirth. We set out to write a balanced, practical, and straight-talking guide. We think we've succeeded in clarifying the progress of an uncomplicated pregnancy and have prepared you to handle any complications you might encounter along the road. We're not here to scare you, but rather to prepare you for childbirth.

It is au courant to have a philosophy about pregnancy and birth. We won't be preachy, but we do believe that

Pregnancy is a condition of health, not a disease

Pregnancy and birth can be a time of vulnerability to medical problems, and monitoring is wise to ensure continued health

Birth is a rite of passage but not the most important part of either pregnancy or parenthood

Safety of mother and child is paramount

Health-care professionals should support women in their choices

The information in this book is supported by medical research, where it is available. Surprisingly, perhaps, many aspects of obstetric care have not been adequately researched and we can only rely upon expert opinion for guidance. Because opinions can vary, you may find information here that conflicts with information from other sources. We have tried to indicate when a practice is controversial and when the practice is well supported by evidence, but we know that it can be confusing to sort it out. If this is the case, it is probably best to talk with your doctor or midwife.

You can use this book in a number of ways. You may choose to read it cover to cover, following the course of a pregnancy from conception through delivery to care of a newborn. Pregnancy is divided into three trimesters of roughly equal length. We have chapters for each trimester, further divided into month-to-month sections where you will find information about the progress of your pregnancy and the growth of your baby at each stage. Interspersed with these "progress" chapters are "theme" chapters on such subjects as nutrition and exercise in pregnancy.

More likely, you will dip into the book, reading here and there, looking for answers to specific questions that you have. We have designed the book with many DYK (Did you know?) and FAQ (Frequently asked questions) features that should pique your interest. At the beginning of the book, there is a pregnancy diary for you -- a space to record medical information and to respond to how you are feeling and what you are thinking. We trust the book is accessible, with many different ports of entry.

Throughout the book, you will find beautiful photographs of "real" pregnant women and their babies. Many are patients and colleagues of ours who deserve more than our thanks.

We are a trio of obstetricians at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, each with a busy obstetric practice caring for pregnant women and delivering their babies. We have been privileged to help women deliver thousands of babies. We are also parents, with eight children among us! We have been on both sides of the examining table and delivery bed. Even with all of our training, the personal experience of pregnancy and birth was special, but sometimes also mystifying. They just don't teach you everything in medical school or residency! We are going to be beside you as you go through your pregnancy, providing you with practical advice every step of the way.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. There are many ways to make a family, and they do not all involve a man and a woman. Sometimes a new baby will have two mothers, sometimes two dads. Sometimes, the woman carrying the pregnancy will not be the same person who will care for the baby after birth. We have been privileged to care for women with all sorts of families and family plans. Sometimes, we simplify the language and refer to a traditional family as a matter of convenience only. Non-traditional families may have some unique issues to face that may not be addressed fully in this book, but there are also many similar concerns we do address. Please bear with us ... and forgive us. This book is intended to be welcoming to all families.

We all feel fortunate to be associated with Mount Sinai Hospital. Mount Sinai has become a leader in obstetric care and research, with a worldwide reputation. At Mount Sinai, we deliver more than 6500 babies a year, and while the majority of our mothers have healthy full-term pregnancies, our colleagues care for a significant number of women with very complicated pregnancies. We are fortunate to have a large and well-supported Womens' and Infants' Ambulatory Health Program, with more than 20 obstetricians on staff, half of whom are also subspecialists in maternal-fetal medicine, as well as numerous family doctors and midwives who care for women in our hospital, before, during, and after the birth of their baby. Our neonatal intensive care unit is a leader in its own right. In addition to the obstetric staff, we have a large number and variety of other specialists who help support women and their babies as necessary, including pediatricians, anesthesiologists, radiologists, psychiatrists, internists, and geneticists. We draw upon the expertise of our dietitians, social workers, lactation consultants, and nurses daily as resources for ourselves and our patients. This is the context in which we practice obstetrics, and helps explain how we were able to enlist the support of so many experts to help us write this book. If you look at the contributors page, you will see that we enlisted the help of 15 of our colleagues from many different fields to contribute their expertise so that you have the most relevant and important information on every page.

Our primary goal in this book, and in our practices, is the safe delivery of your baby, and every baby. We have no other agenda.

Michèle Farrugia, MD
Jacqueline Thomas, MD
Paul Bernstein, MD

Edition details

• Publisher: Robert Rose
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0778802310
• ISBN 13: 9780778802310
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 448