All the information you need to make wise decisions about your pregnancy and the birth of your child--from the editors of the classic "Bible of Women's Health." Pregnancy and birth are as ordinary and extraordinary as breathing, thinking, or loving. But as soon as you announce you're expecting, you may be bombarded with advice from every angle--well-meaning friends, relatives, medical professionals, even strangers want to weigh in on what you should or shouldn't do, and it's easy to feel overwhelmed by their conflicting recommendations. Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth will help you sort fact from fiction, giving you the most accurate research, up-to-date information, and the firsthand experiences of numerous women who have been exactly where you are today. You'll get the tools you need to take care of yourself and your baby during and after your pregnancy, from tips on eating well during pregnancy to strategies for coping with stress and depression. Learn everything you need to know about: choosing a good health care provider; selecting a place of birth; understanding prenatal testing; coping with labor pain; speeding your physical recovery; adjusting to life as a new mother.

Approaching birth with confidence -- Choosing your health care provider and birth setting -- Preparing for childbirth -- Your developing pregnancy and prenatal care -- Taking care of yourself -- Relationships, sex, and emotional support -- Prenatal testing -- Special concerns during pregnancy -- Childbearing loss -- Labor and birth -- Coping with pain -- Special concerns during labor and birth -- Cesarean births -- Your physical recovery and your newborn -- Feeding your baby -- Life as a new mother -- Advocating for better maternity care -- Advocating for mothers and families.