THE BIBLE FOR EVERY COUPLE PREPARING FOR THE BIRTH OF A BABY When it was first introduced more than thirty years ago, the Lamaze method was a revolutionary childbirth technique. Since that time, it has made pregnancy and childbirth easier for millions of women, lessening their dependence on pain medications before and after birth. Elisabeth Bing’s classic book on the Lamaze method guides women through the physical and psychological challenges of pregnancy. Six Practical Lessons for an Easier Childbirth details the changes a woman can expect in her body during pregnancy, labor, and delivery and provides a complete program of exercises for increased muscular control and relaxation during childbirth. This guidebook also emphasizes the partner’s supportive role in the Lamaze method, both in preparation and in the delivery room. This newly revised edition includes an expanded program with new photographs of exercises for every pregnant woman. Elisabeth Bing also provides more information on what to expect in the hospital, including updated information on cesarean births and the medications commonly prescribed during delivery. Filled with vital information and reassurance, Six Practical Lessons for an Easier Childbirth will make expectant couples better prepared than ever for this joyous, rewarding experience.

Introduces and explains the French physician's celebrated techniques based on psychological and physiological conditioning

The first complete guide for couples to the most popular method of natural childbirth. Destined to become the standard book on Lamaze, covering everything from the moment of pregnancy to the difficulties of adjusting to parenthood.

THE FIRST COMPLETE, COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO PAIN RELIEF DURING LABOR AND DELIVERY Far too many expectant mothers find themselves unprepared when labor begins and natural techniques don’t effectively manage the pain. This indispensable guide provides reassuring, proven approaches to combining medical and natural techniques to ensure the most comfortable pain-free labor possible. In Easy Labor, you’ll discover • what to expect during labor, and key factors that affect your comfort • the facts on epidurals, safety concerns, and how effectively they reduce pain • the pros and cons of pain-relief medications • complementary and alternative methods, including water immersion, acupuncture, hypnosis, massage, and birth balls • how your choice of hospital or birth center affects your pain-management options • techniques to calm and eliminate the specific fears and stresses associated with childbirth So relax and enjoy your pregnancy, with this important book by your side!

For a Safe and Healthy Birth… Your Way! Giving Birth with Confidence will help take the mystery out of having a baby and help you better understand how your body works during pregnancy and childbirth, giving you the confidence to make decisions that best ensure the safety and health of you and your baby. Giving Birth with Confidence is the first and only pregnancy and childbirth guide written by Lamaze International, the leading childbirth education organization in North America. Written with a respectful, positive tone, this book presents: • Information to help you choose your maternity care provider and place of birth • Practical strategies to help you work effectively with your care provider • Information on how pregnancy and birth progress naturally • Steps you can take to alleviate fear and manage pain during labor • The best available medical evidence to help you make informed decisions Previously titled The Official Lamaze Guide, this 3rd edition has updated information on: • How vaginal birth, keeping mother and baby together, and breastfeeding help to build the baby’s microbiome. • How hormones naturally start and regulate labor and release endorphins to help alleviate pain. • Maternity-care practices that can disrupt the body’s normal functioning. • The latest recommendations on lifestyle issues like alcohol, vitamins, and caffeine. • Room sharing and cosleeping: the controversy, recommendations, and safety guidelines. • Out-of-hospital births are on the rise: New research and advice on planned home birth, including ACOG’s revised guidelines, which support women’s choices and promote seamless transfer to hospital, if needed. • The importance of avoiding unnecessary caesareans for mother and child. Includes the new ACOG guidelines on inductions and active labor. • The research in support of the Lamaze International’s “Six Healthy Birth Practices,” which are: • Let labor begin on its own. • Walk, move around, and change positions throughout labor. • Bring a loved one, friend, or doula for continuous support. • Avoid interventions that aren’t medically necessary. • Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urges to push. • Keep mother and baby together—it’s best for mother, baby, and breastfeeding.

The classic book on the Lamaze method for pregnant women and their partners, now revised and in a new trade paperback edition. Filled with vital information and reassurance, this essential book will make expectant couples better prepared than ever for this joyous, rewarding experience. Photos throughout.

With Mindful Birthing, Nancy Bardacke, nurse-midwife and mindfulness teacher, lays out her innovative program for pregnancy, childbirth, and beyond. Drawing on groundbreaking research in neuroscience, mindfulness meditation, and mind/body medicine, Bardacke offers practices that will help you find calm and ease during this life-changing time, providing lifelong skills for healthy living and wise parenting. SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF MINDFUL BIRTHING: Increases confidence and decreases fear of childbirth Taps into deep inner resources for working with pain Improves couple communication, connection, and cooperation Provides stress-reducing skills for greater joy and wellbeing