Pregnancy Today Book Review:

Planning for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond

Every month, the Pregnancy Today Journal publishes a review of a pregnancy, childbirth or parenting book. Some reviews are reprinted online. Click on the book cover or follow the title link to visit our bookstore and purchase it online at a discount!

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the national medical organization devoted to women's health, assembled all the information a woman should have about pregnancy - before, during and afterward. They put it together in one book, titled Planning for Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond. This complete guide to preconceptual, prenatal and post-partum care is designed so that women can take an active role in their health care and work with their caregivers to have a healthy pregnancy and baby. The latest advances in medical care are combined with practical information in such critical areas as nutrition, exercise, work and relationships. The book is fully illustrated, making the information easy to understand. The information in the book is drawn from educational materials developed by ACOG's leading experts in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. The book's features include:

• A personal pregnancy diary, which includes space for listing doctors' names and phone numbers, vital statistics, medications and prenatal visit information
• charts for tracking the growth of your baby, whether a boy or a girl
• an extensive glossary of terms and index
• questions to consider at the end of each chapter.

Perhaps one of the most helpful features of the book is the detailed information on what a woman can expect after she and her baby go home. Many women are at a loss as to what to expect from their babies and their bodies, but this book helps ease the transition into motherhood.