mommymedia : expecting

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.

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.

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.

They Lied! True Tales of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding

Satya — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:39:00 GMT

In a compilation of true-life stories submitted by parents around the world, co-creators of the book They Lied! True Tales of Pregnancy, Childbirth and Breastfeeding Theresa Kane and Tamara Talbot provide an outlet for mothers everywhere to share their funny, priceless, offbeat and often touching stories of pregnancy and parenthood. Filled from page to page with real-life experiences that celebrate the entire childbearing experience, from pre-conception gymnastics to infants dancing while they nurse, They Lied! is truly a delightful read.

With a heavy dose of humor and an equal touch of candor, an hour reading this book is like an hour spent with a pregnancy and parenting support group. One reader says, “You can’t understand the total experience of pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding without reading this book.” If you’re looking for a break from all the medical information you’ve received from your doctor and other pregnancy books, consider adding They Lied! to your baby shower gift registry. After experiencing countless uninvited belly rubs and “leaking” breasts, you’re sure to find relief in knowing that many women before you have survived uncomfortable and often embarrassing situations. Hilarious and heartwarming, They Lied! does a wonderful job of enlightening a topic that sometimes seems overwhelming, and helps expectant mothers realize they’re not in it alone. Pick up a copy here.

Don’t Just Stand There

Satya — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 17:51:00 GMT

Short and sweet, Don’t Just Stand There is filled with useful advice for the father-to-be. He can read the entire book in less than an hour if he sets his mind to it! Written by Elissa Stein and Jon Lichtenstein – a husband and wife team of authors – Don’t Just Stand There offers everything from massage techniques and a list of what to say (and what not to say) to visualization exercises and suggested items to bring to the hospital.

Advice from the dad’s perspective, printed in an alternate color than that of the mom, is humorous and gives the book a down-to-earth tone. He reminds dad not to “go overboard with the ice chips” because mom “can use them as projectiles,” of course!

All humor aside, Don’t Just Stand There may be extremely helpful to women who have less-than-prepared partners, highlighting several details about the experience that even the most aware father should know in advance. Moms-to-be will appreciate the helpful prompts for dad in the back, including “To calm me down, I want you to say…,” “These people are allowed in the delivery room…,” and “Don’t ever say this...”

Overall, Don’t Just Stand There is a basic but helpful guide for any father-to-be looking to provide support for his laboring partner. Pick up a copy here.

Expecting Twins, Triplets, and More: A Doctor's Guide to a Healthy and Happy Multiple Pregnancy

Satya — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:03:00 GMT

Rachel Franklin, author of “Expecting Twins, Triplets, and More,” is not only a writer, but she’s also a doctor and a mother, which is one of the reasons why her book is such a thorough guide to mothers-to-be of multiples.

The book’s format takes the reader through each trimester of a multiple pregnancy. One of the most interesting parts comes when Franklin gives the scientific reasoning behind certain symptoms that can occur in pregnancy, such as stretch marks and varicose veins. The post-partum section of the book is the most valuable, as she tells new mothers to stay strong and reassures them that things will get easier with time.

In addition to sharing first-hand experience with her readers, Franklin also offers the knowledge of a doctor. Her personal journal entries combined with her extensive knowledge of obstetrics give the reader a real understanding of carrying and giving birth to multiples.

While it’s full of helpful information, “Expecting Twins, Triplets, and More” is a fairly quick read. Anyone expecting multiples will benefit from it.

Pick up a copy here