Pregnancy and Birth Sourcebook is aimed at women planning for and experiencing pregnancy. It is intended that women consulting this book will be able to make informed decisions and distinguish between the normal discomforts of pregnancy and more serious conditions.
The book is arranged into eight parts covering from planning pregnancy, development of the foetus, labour and delivery to postpartum and perinatal care. There are also sections covering disorders of pregnancy and pregnancy in mothers with special concerns, for example, with pre‐existing conditions such as AIDS and asthma. Despite going into great detail about nutrition, medical tests, the effects of drugs, labour, breastfeeding and many other related subjects, this book is highly readable and information easy to find. In format, it falls between a medical textbook aimed at professionals and family health‐care type guides. It does not include the usual glossy photographs illustrating pregnancy and childbirth which seem to focus on the more emotional aspects of becoming a mother. It seems unlikely that an individual would wish the depth and range of information that this book provides, but it would be well‐thumbed in a reference collection or health care library. It would be useful as a lay person to consult this book if you were seeking information on a specific condition or aspect of pregnancy.
As a US publication, this book refers to health programmes, organisations and statistics based in the USA. But clearly pregnancy and childbirth is a universal condition and the core information is relevant across the globe. An alarming statistic mentioned by the authors is that in the USA around 36,500 babies die each year before reaching their first birthday. Frequently, the cause of death results from babies being born too small and too soon. Clearly, mothers can do much to reduce the risks to their unborn child through adopting a healthy lifestyle and following a programme of planned care. This book should contribute to reducing these deaths through the provision of information and clear explanation of tests and procedures. There is a glossary of medical terms and detailed index at the back. It is an exemplary reference text.
