Every Pregnant Woman

I found this book so helpful and empowering after spending nearly 10 weeks on complete bedrest with my first pregancy. I was a middle school teacher, working full time, and spending almost all day on my feet. I didn't slow down at all when I was pregnant. I had a lot of work-imposed and self-imposed stress and I went into preterm labor around 25 weeks and started dilating. We were able to quiet contractions and enough to keep me pregnant until 38 weeks - but weeks in a hospital and complete bedrest was no fun. Since my sister had early labor and a preemie at 28 weeks, doctors thought that preterm labor may have been in our genes. But, with my second pregnancy I was determined not to experience full bedrest again or a preterm birth. I had read that France is one of the few industrialized countries that has actually been able to REDUCE its preterm birth rate. (The US rate continues to rise.) This book is based on the French studies and approach. To sum up the major points - the French approach to pregnancy is to TAKE IT EASY! Slow or stop working, get enough water, get a daily nap, get your vitamins, don't vacuum, don't ride the train, don't do heavy lifting, and don't try to be a super woman. Once early labor truly starts, it is almost impossible to stop, so learn to recognize early contractions (they don't necessarily hurt) and do what it takes to avoid them. A few months invested limiting your activity while pregnant is so much easier than spending weeks in bed - or worse - months in the hospital with a preterm baby. My second, third and fourth pregnancies weren't easy, but thanks to the info in this book, I haven't been on complete bedrest again and I have no preterm births!

Identify your risk factors a learn how to modify your life to prevent the leading cause of infant mortality in the U.S.A big must read for all pregnant women no matter you health or walk of life.Little legnthy on information on disability leave and State Government contact information.

Buy it ASAP! Find out what you can do to possible reduce your chance of a premature birth. Contains excellent quizes to identify risk factors, but did they need to put them in twice? Also an extensive chapter on the Maternity Leave Act for all 50 States took up a good deal of the book.

This book might have prevented my premature contractions (did not know not to vacuum or when to call the doctor). Does not have info for those of us now in trouble trying to prevent premature labor, i.e. moms on bedrest, moms taking medicines to prevent premature labor. Suggest buying this book EARLY in your pregnancy!

This book contains a lot of information you are probably not aware of on preventing premature labor. It will give you much to discuss with your doctor/birth attendant