mommymedia : books

Your Developing Baby: Conception to Birth

Satya — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:22:00 GMT

By Peter M. Doubilet, MD, PhD, Carol B. Benson, MD and Roanne Weisman

Your Developing Baby is filled with pictures of 3D, 2D, color Doppler, and spectral Doppler ultrasound images. Authors Doubilet and Benson are both parents as well as professors of radiology at Harvard Medical School and their book is written with a sweet and personal tone. The information is reminiscent of a beginner’s guide to reading ultrasounds and once you read through the book, you will be able to look at ultrasound pictures and point to the kidneys, heart chambers, umbilical cord, and many more parts of a developing baby.

The book features images from every stage of pregnancy. You’ll be fascinated to learn the exact week the brain begins developing and to see photos of babies showing emotions in the womb. The book also covers twin and other multiple pregnancies and gives the reader a good lesson on how to identify them on an ultrasound. Lastly, the book covers pregnancies that were saved through ultrasound technology, such as one baby who was found to be anemic through ultrasound and given blood transfusions while still in the womb. Unfortunately, information about the risks associated with many procedures such as amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling are completely absent.

Every expectant parent who reads this will feel confident looking at ultrasound pictures and have a general idea of what is what. Even before an ultrasound, the book provides a mental image of how your unborn child is growing, providing a great bonding experience in the earliest weeks. Pick up a copy here.

From Boys to Men: A Woman’s Guide to the Health of Husbands, Partners, Sons, Fathers, and Brothers

Satya — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:29:00 GMT

Emily Senay contributes her medical expertise and journalistic voice to provide information for which most women have long been clamoring. Certainly, we’ve all felt that frustration or confusion when our father, son, or significant other encounters a health problem and ignores it. It is the male epidemic of proving their manliness that has created an average shorter lifespan for males. Interestingly, men who are married live longer and stay healthier. When a man has a dedicated woman in his life, she unknowingly or unwittingly takes on the role as Dr. Mom. It’s this phenomenon that is at the center of Dr. Senay’s book.

As a daughter, wife and mother to a son, she gives the reader a very personal breakdown of each medical issue that the men in your life could face. The areas that were the most informative were the ones on cancer, depression, anger, circumcision, infections of the penis, obesity, sports and heart disease. The first chunk of the book makes the point that men rely on the women in their life to take care of their health. Statistics pointing to the responsible nature of women’s habits will have the female reader feeling pretty smug.

The section dedicated to young sons isn’t very comprehensive, but becomes more involved when discussing the teenage years. It’s really the information geared towards dealing with adult males that is the most exhaustive and valuable. Any woman will be able to get a better grasp on typical male issues and how to approach the possibly fragile male ego that avoids attention and treatment. This book is a great reference book to have in the house; although it is just slightly outdated because gender research moves so quickly.

For a mainstream guide to dealing with various male issues, this book is probably all you would need to get started. Reading it cover to cover is only for the truly ambitious, but it is valuable for a woman looking for a well-rounded understanding of men’s health. Pick up a copy here.

Inconsolable - How I Threw My Mental Health Out with the Diapers

Satya — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:04:00 GMT

Marrit Ingman writes with candor about her experience with postpartum depression. She curses and shares disturbing fantasies about suicide. Her heart is as open as can be in this book, making it both shocking and sweet. She does not offer a plan to recover from PPD, and she doesn’t give you methods to regain your mental health. What she does is share the darkest parts of motherhood with the world, so that mothers like her can feel at peace knowing they are not alone.

As you are led through Ingman’s frustrations with attempting to pinpoint allergies and treat eczema, you become intimate with a life that many moms might never know. She gives no answers, only pain and frustration with a quick wit and a dirty mouth. Towards the end, however, it is a different story. This book will give you strength, help you to shake the feeling that you are being judged for this or that (as most mothers feel) and it will help you to stop judging other moms. You’ll feel comradery with each and every mother out there, no matter what their style or situation. This book is for the desperate, the lonely and the frustrated. It fills a void in parenting books that direly needed to be filled. There are no pink flowers and rainbows here, just the cold truth about the difficulties raising a child. Pick up a copy here.

How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby

Satya — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 16:16:00 GMT

The most recent version of How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby was released in 2006. Since that time, sex selection has come much further than they predicted in the final section of the book. Now couples can pay to choose the sex of their child with 100 percent accuracy.

For couples who won’t pay money for sex selection and would like to take a more natural approach, co-authors Dr. Landrum Shettles and David M. Rorvik offer a cheap alternative. Granted, many doctors will refute the accuracy of “The Shettles Method” but the authors themselves only purport a 75 percent success rate for girls and an 80 percent success rate for boys. If you don’t believe it’s possible, the science may convince you. Coming from a doctor who has been preaching this practice for decades, Shettles not only has experience and expertise but he has confirmation from millions of couples that his methods have worked for them.

Each copy of the book contains a questionnaire that the authors ask couples to send in. The method requires a commitment to meticulously monitor the woman’s ovulation each month. For those who are seriously committed to conceiving a particular gender, they should definitely give this method a try. It is noninvasive and only requires timed intercourse and awareness of a few factors. For example: letting the woman orgasm first creates a more alkaline environment which increases your chance of conceiving a boy. As for the book itself, the first half is spent proving the accuracy of Shettles’ method through science and testimonials. The second half delves into how to monitor a woman’s cycle and the particulars of sex selection. Even if you are just trying to conceive, this book can be of great assistance. It is very clear, concise and informative. Pick up a copy here.

Vaccines: What You Should Know

Madelyn8278 — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 19:42:00 GMT

This book really covers a lot, but is still a quick read. Doctors Paul Offit and Louis Bell provide a clear understanding of vaccines, the diseases they treat, the origin of each vaccine, and how they are developed. The result is a clear-cut, factual representation of precisely what is being injected in us when we get vaccinated.

The information is extremely helpful in determining which vaccines are necessary. In addition to the bulk of the content on childhood immunizations, it also covers teenage, adult and elderly vaccinations as well. Quite honestly, while they claim to provide scientific evidence against theories that vaccines can cause certain disorders, they fail miserably and it’s obvious how biased their views are. However, that problem does not take away from the very basic and necessary information that they do provide.

If you are looking to solve the vaccine-disease debates, then look elsewhere. This book does, however, provide you with enough information to pursue further research with a solid understanding of the basics of vaccines.

Pick up your copy here.

Fat Daddy/Fit Daddy: A Man’s Guide to Balancing Fitness and Family

Satya — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:35:00 GMT

This book is laugh-out-loud funny and easy to read. Lawrence Schwartz writes as a normal guy – full of football analogies, playful insults and sexual innuendos. The bulk of the book is focused on fitness and nutrition for dads, with a decent portion devoted to fitness involving the whole family and lots of tips for keeping the marriage together. It’s ironic coming from a divorced father, but perhaps that’s why the advice is so good. You can blow through this book and then keep it for reference as the information is fairly straight forward.

The best parts of this book are the creative ways to incorporate fitness in the family, his marriage tips, and of course, the jokes. The fitness information is valuable and pretty much right on, although since its release in 2003, new health and nutritional data have been discovered making it a bit dated. It’s astonishing to learn in this book that the average person gains at least one pound a year, or that over 90 percent of married couples that exercise together stay together. If you’re looking for how to keep the pounds off, then Schwartz has the advice you need. He provides an exhaustive list of nutrients and their importance, and plenty of ways to burn calories and build muscle, as well as sound fitness advice. He does not make it easy for dad though. In fact, he pretty much tells you to not make excuses and exercise for one hour everyday.

This book is very funny and a pleasure to read. Moms looking to buy their “fat daddy” a book would do well with this one; in the midst of all the fitness talk, he gives fathering and relationship advice that would go a long way in any family. Pick up a copy here.

Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Therapy

Satya — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 16:09:00 GMT

David SteenBlock, M.S., D.O. and Anthony G. Payne, Ph. D. wrote this short book for the average person looking for answers about stem cells. Vivid stories of miraculous healing fill the majority of the pages but the reader will also find a first-rate science lesson about how stem cells work as well as a deeper look into nutrition and lifestyle choices.

The authors begin by providing a basic lesson on stem cells derived from embryos, umbilical cord blood, and those residing in each living thing. The reader learns how stem cells work and how doctors have harnessed their ability to transform. It’s fascinating to learn that stem cells have been under investigation for about 100 years, although it is just within the last few years that they have been used as treatment for disease and disorders.

The bulk of the book will convince any reader of the benefits of using stem cell therapy. Stories of otherwise normal lives devastated by neurological diseases, stroke, and accidents will give the reader a small view into what it might be like to cling to hope against every doctor’s negative prognosis. Stem cells arrive in each of the stories as a miracle treatment for people who physically could not swallow, walk or hold up their head. It’s interesting to note that most of the stories don’t seem to have been in the mainstream media as these patients were getting treatments in Mexico where federal regulations do not apply. The most recent anecdote featured in the book took place in 2005 and the political landscape today is more accommodating of these still-experimental treatments.

Rest assured the authors are not trying to get you to pay to bank your cord blood. Not one of the stories includes someone using their own or family members cord blood. However, after reading the benefits that people have derived from publicly-banked stem cells, you may be compelled to look again at the possibility of banking a matching stem cell for yourself and your children. On the whole, this book will help any expectant mother make an educated decision about what to do with her baby’s umbilical cord blood. Pick up a copy here.

Louder Than Words: A Mother’s Journey in Healing Autism

Satya — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 15:54:00 GMT

Louder Than Words is about a mother’s determination to heal her child. Jenny McCarthy has done it again with another book you can’t put down. She writes like she’s talking to her best friend, inspiring the reader with stories of strong maternal instincts during the most trying time of her life.

Similar to her other books, you can read it in a couple hours and it will make you laugh and cry at times. However, this book has a much different tone; this one is like watching an action film where the frantic mother is in a race against time to save her son. You don’t need to have an autistic child to appreciate this book; you just need to be a mom.

Her book reveals another world that most people are not aware of: a world in which moms are essentially abandoned by the medical community as they frantically search for answers to their child’s illness, where conventional doctors lead them nowhere and they must rely on each other for help. McCarthy strives to reveal to the world what life with autism is like and she does an incredible job. Despite the controversy surrounding her stance on vaccines and their possible link to autism, she says very little on the subject and instead educates the reader on autism, its increasing frequency, theories of its origin and most importantly, how to treat it when possible. No doubt, she will have you questioning the medical industry and autism’s link to vaccines, but she doesn’t dwell on these things. A group of mothers with autistic children asked her to be their voice and she has, with an unforgettable book that educates and provides the information that she prayed she had when her son was diagnosed. Pick up a copy here.

The Practical Encyclopedia of Pregnancy, Babycare and Nutrition for Babies and Toddlers

Satya — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 16:04:00 GMT

This is a great reference book for pregnant women and parents of children up to 18 months of age. It covers all the basics that mom and dad will need to know and includes valuable information on feeding a newborn, recipes, fussy-eaters guides, nutritional information and more.

The largest section features homemade baby food recipes. The recipes range from simple purees for babies just beginning to eat solids to thicker styles for older babies, as wells as more well-rounded recipes for toddlers. Each recipe includes nutritional information for easy reference.

This book may leave the reader wanting more information as it tends to cover topics broadly without delving into too much detail. However, it is a great starting point for expecting and new parents. Pick up a copy here.

Life in the Womb: The Origin of Health and Disease

Satya — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:04:00 GMT

This book takes a scientific look at how the nine months spent in the womb affects a person’s health throughout the rest of their life. I would specifically recommend this book to first-time mothers and those especially fascinated by pregnancy or science in general. It is a coldly scientific look at studies that claim to reveal so-called “programming” in the womb. The information may make many mothers feel guilty for any issues their children are born with or develop later in life.

Dr. Nathanielsz argues against the highly popular concept that genetics determine our overall health; instead he points to environmental factors, particularly at the very sensitive developmental time when we are in the womb. It is not so much what an expectant mother does during pregnancy that affects her unborn baby, but when she does it that can be harmful. There are small developmental windows during pregnancy when the baby is particularly vulnerable and can be affected for the rest of their lives.

The book examines the effects of drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, stress and nutrition on the baby, and analyzes how a baby will respond to varying stages of malnutrition or starvation. It also explains how a compromised pregnancy can actually affect a female fetus’s subsequent pregnancy during adulthood, and even affect her daughter’s pregnancy, and on and on for generations.

Some of the studies sited have only been conducted on animals while others seem limited in scope, leading the reader to question the veracity of some of the conclusions. However, the general information about environmental factors’ influence on a fetus is interesting and valuable for any expectant mother.

Unfortunately, one is left with the overwhelming feeling that we still have much to learn about our time spent in the womb and its long-term affects. However, the book is truly fascinating to those who are interested in the origins of health and disease or who are looking to give their baby the best start possible. Pick up a copy here.

Perfect Hormone Balance for Fertility: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant

Satya — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:00:00 GMT

If you’re in the dark about what is causing your infertility I highly recommend this book by Dr. Robert Green, an experienced and sought-after reproductive expert. In addition to understanding the treatment of infertility as a physician he’s also been on the patient side with his wife, which makes his writing so much more personal.

Green’s book leaves you with no stone unturned. The book is written as if the author is your doctor, guiding you through each possibility. He begins at the first step, which examines your basic lifestyle and provides information on how it could be affecting your fertility. He then identifies physical factors by giving the reader information on each hormone and organ needed for conception. He includes handy charts for the reader to fill out and evaluate their own situation. These charts accompanied with the basic information about physical factors allow the reader to slowly deduce what their problem may be.

Green is persistent in the idea that “less is more” in regard to fertility treatments. He focuses primarily on what is often the root of the problem: hormonal imbalance. The hormonal imbalances he’s seen in his experience have often been treatable through diet and exercise. He emphasizes how stress, environmental toxins and weight and diet issues all contribute to fertility in ways that most doctors don’t address before putting a patient on the road to expensive treatments. He also delves deep into each fertility disruption such as endometriosis, PCOS and sluggish sperm with recommended treatments.

This book gives the reader a feeling of hope and viable options in how to deal with their infertility and optimizing conception. Dr. Greene believes that couples do not seek help for their fertility problems out of fear of failure. It is for those couples that this book was written and those couples that will benefit most from its information and message. Pick up a copy here.

The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book

Satya — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:47:00 GMT

If you just read the title of this book and pass it over, assuming it is written only for working moms, you would be sorely mistaken and miss out on a thoroughly informative and enjoyable book. The book covers everything you need to know about preconception, pregnancy and caring for your newborn. In addition, Greenfield covers working while pregnant, maternity leave, breastfeeding and other topics thoroughly and offers lots of helpful information and tips.

Greenfield is a medical doctor but reading this book is like having a conversation with your best friend who happens to have a lot of experience having babies. She writes in such a way that you really feel like you are being guided and supported through each point. To add to this abundant feeling of camaraderie, she peppers the book with quotes from other women who juggle career with motherhood. These quotes were one of my favorite features of this book, giving the reader a view into a variety of experiences, making you feel as if you are among a strong sisterhood of on-the-job pregnant women.

The book is a long but enjoyable read and Greenfield presents every woman’s experience with respect and fairness. Whether you are getting ready for your homebirth or are scheduling your c-section, this book can help you prepare for all aspects of having a baby. A must read!

Pick up a copy here.

The Down’s Syndrome Handbook: A practical guide for parents and carers

Satya — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:26:00 GMT

For parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, this book is an all-encompassing guide to the challenges and hope of raising an affected child. Dr. Newton covers every part of a Down’s Syndrome child’s life and each decision that his or her parents must make. Beginning with a concise description of the nature of Down’s Syndrome and theories about its origin, the author has a personal and clear voice. He considers the emotional, social and physical implications of this disorder on the child and parents and empathizes but isn’t afraid to share the harsh truths of raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. As Down’s Syndrome children suffer higher rates of leukemia, diabetes and other diseases, they face compound problems which the author covers thoroughly, as well as ways to treat them. However, the author makes it clear that a relatively normal existence can be achieved and gives examples of extraordinary feats of individuals with Down’s Syndrome. He also gives examples of individuals who were able to live independently, despite the common misconception that Down’s Syndrome sufferers are dependent on others for life. The book covers so much; care of babies, education, emotional and sexual development, integration into society, laws and organizations, and experimental treatments. Although Dr. Newton is British and the book covers organizations and laws in the U.K., American and international parents of Down’s Syndrome children will still gain valuable insight and information from it. And its short length makes it readable for even the busiest parent. Pick up a copy here.

Body, Soul, and Baby: A Doctor's Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, From Preconception to Postpartum

Satya — Tue, 26 May 2009 16:53:00 GMT

This is a wonderful book for any pregnant woman, whether you are in your first or your third. Ms. Gaudet challenges the reader to step out of the norm and experience her pregnancy as a journey.

Gaudent teaches the reader to check in with her body, soul and her baby through journaling, imagery and other devices. The stories of other moms-to-be using these tools are remarkable and demonstrate their power and importance.

Gaudet doesn’t preach radicalism and believes in hospital births; but more fervently, she pushes the reader to make conscious decisions every step of the way. She explains that women who are educated about what to expect as well as what “can” happen will have better outcomes overall. She urges the reader to question themselves over and over again to be sure that they are making the right decision for themselves.

Beyond her understanding of the pregnant mind and spirit, she gives wonderful descriptions of what is going on biologically. She identifies which hormones cause what symptom, what the baby is going through, and what to look and listen for on a daily basis. She also provides insight into what doctors commonly recommend and why.

She truly understands the relationship of the mind to the body and encourages women to embrace how they are feeling, no matter the circumstance. She speaks not only as an experienced doctor but as a fellow woman. Women could save themselves a lot of grief by reading this book thoroughly and practicing the tools mentioned. It is a great companion throughout pregnancy and early postpartum. Pick up a copy here.

The Male Biological Clock

Satya — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:45:00 GMT

The Male Biological Clock endeavors to go where few fertility books tread. The author, Harry Fisch, takes the reader through every possible infertility factor that could stem from the male. He offers solutions to typical as well as unusual issues that can affect men who are trying to conceive.

The book also brings to light how emotionally draining infertility can be for a couple and its affects on the relationship. Dr. Fisch reassures men not to feel guilty for physical issues they may encounter, a message that is sorely overlooked by many doctors in the fertility industry.

The male factor is almost completely overlooked in most fertility clinics. The author premises his book with this idea and shares stories of successful conception through treatment of male infertility.

Some of the treatments for male infertility can be gruesome sounding and may make even female readers wince. However, the book discusses possible options for those who may have lost hope of conceiving. Pick up a copy here.