Bringing a baby into the world is one of the most beautiful, natural parts of life, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s easy! Dr. Heather L. Johnson has been a practicing OB-GYN (obstetrician gynecologist) for 40 years, helping expectant mothers through the pregnancy process and delivering their babies. In “What They Don’t Tell You About Having a Baby: An Obstetrician’s Unofficial Guide to Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Life,” she shares what she has learned throughout her career to assist parents and parents-to-be of all ages. This guide covers everything from tips and tricks for a smooth conception, how much caffeine is really okay during pregnancy, how to survive those first several confusing postpartum weeks and everything in between. Dr. Johnson shares the lessons she’s learned from years of experience and includes conversations she’s had with her own patients along with her “Dr. J’s pearls” in an effort to help others. Babies don’t come with an owner’s manual, but “What They Don’t Tell You About Having a Baby” is a great start.

Women have always struggled with the idea of how much better life would be if they had a better body, a better exercise routine, a better life. This can make it difficult for women to grasp that aging is both a normal and natural part of life. With over 40 years of experience working as an obstetrician gynecologist (OBGYN), Dr. Heather Johnson is equipped with the knowledge to help women of all ages mature gracefully. In What They Don’t Tell You About Menopause, Dr. Johnson discusses the various stages of menopause and what to expect throughout this natural aspect of life for women. From perimenopause to postmenopause, and everything in between, this book will be your guide through this daunting period of womanhood.

In a culture that rarely sees pregnancy as a journey to self-discovery, Body, Soul, and Baby offers a fresh perspective on this transformative life experience by showing women how to tune in to the cues offered by their bodies and souls—as well as by the babies growing within them—for a healthier pregnancy, a more fulfilling birth experience, and a deeper bond with their baby. Drawing on the best of both complementary and conventional Western medicine, Dr. Gaudet has written a groundbreaking guide that shows you how to become an active participant in your pregnancy. By working with the natural processes of pregnancy, you can discover how to: • Pick up important signals from within about what you need, what your body needs, and what is right for both you and your baby • Tune in to cues that can alert you to early signs of problems • Use the mind-body connection to reduce stress, explore this remarkable life change, and bond with your baby • Nurture your whole self, including your evolving sexual and sensual needs • Make informed and conscious choices that reflect both your personal feelings and the latest medical information • Collaborate with your doctor or midwife, and build a supportive health-care team Empowering, inspiring, and respectful of the wisdom of the female body and spirit, this invaluable book also includes advice on eating right and staying active, and natural and alternative approaches to pain relief. Whether you’re already pregnant or preparing to be, the time to start listening to your inner wisdom is now, and the guide to doing it is here.

Feel informed and empowered with this thoroughly updated, full-color pregnancy guide, which recognizes that “one size fits all” doesn’t apply to maternity care. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn provides the comprehensive guidance you need to make informed decisions about having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period–decisions that reflect your preferences, priorities, and values. This sixth edition includes: -CDC guidelines regarding COVID-19 -Updated dietary guides and breastfeeding and surrogacy information -Birth plans including doulas and caesarians when necessary -Tips on how to reduce stress -And so much more Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn is inclusive, reflecting today's various family configurations such as single-parent families, blended families formed by second marriages, families with gay and lesbian parents, and families formed by open adoption or surrogacy. This pregnancy guide speaks to today's parents-to-be like no other.

A fresh, new pregnancy guide—the first complete functional medicine book—offering women and their partners a comprehensive approach to maintain and enhance health and wellness before, during, and after pregnancy. The Wise Woman’s Guide to Your Healthiest Pregnancy and Birth combines the expertise of top-tier physical therapist Patricia Ladis—who works with superstar athletes, professional dancers, and celebrities—with Dr. Anita Sadaty, a highly regarded holistic ob-gyn with a celebrity clientele. Together, they have devised a six-step protocol beginning the six months before conception continuing forty days post-birth and beyond, incorporating holistic principles that encourage optimal wellness for mother, partner, and baby. Whether they are in their 20’s, 30’s or 40’s, this book empowers readers to be in tune with their bodies during all stages of pregnancy, and is the first book by a functional medicine dream-team aligning medical and structural body issues to avoid such potential pregnancy outcomes as osteoporosis, sciatica, pelvic prolapse, structural weakness, and postpartum depression. Each of the six stages organizes Ladis and Sadaty’s holistic principles into five easy-to-follow aspects: Body, Movement, Breathing, Nourishment, and Wisdom. They include practical applications such as foods to help reduce internal inflammation, specific exercises—with instructive photos—in each stage, breathing techniques to lower stress, and “pearls of wisdom” backed by science exploring a multicultural history of this special time in a woman’s life. For the first time, a pregnancy guide considers the importance of choices you make six months prior to conception, and the effect on genes. When both members of a couple are calm, fit, and well-nourished, the latest science suggests that together they are less likely to pass on negative genes to a child.

A candid, feminist, and personal deep dive into the science and culture of pregnancy and motherhood Like most first-time mothers, Angela Garbes was filled with questions when she became pregnant. What exactly is a placenta and how does it function? How does a body go into labor? Why is breast best? Is wine totally off-limits? But as she soon discovered, it’s not easy to find satisfying answers. Your obstetrician will cautiously quote statistics; online sources will scare you with conflicting and often inaccurate data; and even the most trusted books will offer information with a heavy dose of judgment. To educate herself, the food and culture writer embarked on an intensive journey of exploration, diving into the scientific mysteries and cultural attitudes that surround motherhood to find answers to questions that had only previously been given in the form of advice about what women ought to do—rather than allowing them the freedom to choose the right path for themselves. In Like a Mother, Garbes offers a rigorously researched and compelling look at the physiology, biology, and psychology of pregnancy and motherhood, informed by in-depth reportage and personal experience. With the curiosity of a journalist, the perspective of a feminist, and the intimacy and urgency of a mother, she explores the emerging science behind the pressing questions women have about everything from miscarriage to complicated labors to postpartum changes. The result is a visceral, full-frontal look at what’s really happening during those nine life-altering months, and why women deserve access to better care, support, and information. Infused with humor and born out of awe, appreciation, and understanding of the female body and its strength, Like a Mother debunks common myths and dated assumptions, offering guidance and camaraderie to women navigating one of the biggest and most profound changes in their lives.

Children are the foundation of the United States, and supporting them is a key component of building a successful future. However, millions of children face health inequities that compromise their development, well-being, and long-term outcomes, despite substantial scientific evidence about how those adversities contribute to poor health. Advancements in neurobiological and socio-behavioral science show that critical biological systems develop in the prenatal through early childhood periods, and neurobiological development is extremely responsive to environmental influences during these stages. Consequently, social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors significantly affect a child's health ecosystem and ability to thrive throughout adulthood. Vibrant and Healthy Kids: Aligning Science, Practice, and Policy to Advance Health Equity builds upon and updates research from Communities in Action: Pathways to Health Equity (2017) and From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (2000). This report provides a brief overview of stressors that affect childhood development and health, a framework for applying current brain and development science to the real world, a roadmap for implementing tailored interventions, and recommendations about improving systems to better align with our understanding of the significant impact of health equity.