Obstetricks

Pregnancy comes with great excitement -- and a little worry. For moms, especially first-time moms, thinking ahead to labor and delivery can produce feelings of anxiety and fear. Just the opposite, labor and delivery should be an exciting and joyul experience. Obstetricks is designed to empower moms as they prepare to welcome baby -- and head into the incredible process of birth with confidence, knowledge and an expert toolkit.

Obstetricks is a concise guide to pregnancy and childbirth created by a Mayo Clinic based certified nurse midwife together with an experienced doula. These birth experts bring a modern perspective that is evidence-based yet rooted in long-trusted natural methods of caring for laboring women.

While many pregnancy guides overwhelm readers with information, Obstetricks packs the most essential tips and tricks for childbirth onto each spiral-bound page, focused on a single topic. You'll find practical tips for:

• Planning and preparing for the birth -- where it will be, who'll be there, what to pack, how to know when it's go-time
• Managing labor pain, including natural methods and medical options
• Getting helpful support from your labor partner(s)
• Keeping focused on the ultimate goal: a healthy mom and baby

The book also includes crucial pointers for nutrition and health during pregnancy, real-talk on what to expect postpartum, tips for enjoying the early days with a newborn, and more. With the unique format of Obstetricks, readers can browse page by page, dive in for a crash course, pop back in for reminders, or practice helpful tips with a partner to prepare for the main event.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

3 Congratulations

4 About us

PRENATAL HEALTH

5 Food for thought

6 Steer clear

7 Exercise your options

8 The skinny on weight gain

9 Who will you see for prenatal care and delivery?

10 Doulas and labor support

11 Oh the joys ...common issues upper body]

12 Oh the joys ...common issues lower body]

13 Dental care

14 Home sweet homeostasis

15 Mentally strong

BEFORE LABOR

16 Writing your birth plan/preferences

17 Don't leave home without...

18 Get ready for birth

19 The squeeze contractions]

20 Other than contractions, what else should grab your attention?

DURING LABOR

21 GO time when to head to the hospital or birth center]

22 Keep these in mind throughout labor

23 The pain paradigm

24 Stay relaxed

25 Labor positions

26 Set the mood

27 Cool it, baby

28 Warm it up

29 Get wet

30 Energize

31 The ever-important "zone"

32 The zone: via strength of mind

33 The zone: via a focal point

34 The zone: via the power of sound

35 Coping with back pain part 1]

36 Coping with back pain part 2]

37 Breathe

38 End of labor phenomena

FOR THE BIRTH PARTNER

39 Massage

40 Double hip squeeze

41 Counter pressure

42 Knowing what to say and when to say it

PUSHING

43 Let it go...

44 The perineum

45 Time to push

46 Comfort measures while pushing

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE BIRTH

47 Bond, nurse, marvel, fall in love

48 Procedures for mom

49 The look of the normal newborn

50 Procedures for baby

51 Breastfeeding secrets worth sharing

POSTPARTUM CARE FOR MOM

52 Heal thyself

53 Rest i.e., act like you just had a baby]

CARING FOR BABE

54 Read the baby, not just the book

55 Ensuring adequate nutrition for babe

56 All is calm

57 About the back of the cards

SUMMARY OF LABOR

58 Overview of labor

59 Pre-labor

60 Early labor

61 Active labor

62 Transition

63 Pushing

64 Post birth

SO HELPFUL TO KNOW

65 Pregnancy sleep tips

66 Water birth 101

67 TOLAC/VBAC

68 Acupressure

69 Some essential essential oils

70 Hypnobirthing basics

71 The animal in us all

72 Breastfeeding benefits for baby

73 Breastfeeding benefits for mom

74 Postpartum mood changes

75 Intriguing research

76 The jury's still out

MEDICAL INFO

77 Prenatal tests and screenings

78 Additional prenatal tests/screenings

79 Monitoring mom and babe during labor and birth

80 Pain-relief medications

81 FYI: speaking of epidurals

82 Holy hormones

83 Making it through the birth canal

POTENTIAL DETOURS FROM YOUR PLAN

84 Wrong way, baby

85 Some potential interventions

86 Cesarean (C-section) birth

87 Rebuilding the immune defense after antibiotics

PEP TALKS

88 Be gentle, forgiving, and patient with yourself

89 Near the end of your pregnancy

90 Trust

91 Goal setting by baby steps

92 Ride the "wave"

93 Rerouting to reach the same destination

BIRTH STORIES

94 Hello, gravity

95 Gratitude

96 What truly matters

97 Conqueror

WORD POWER

98 Breathe...release...love

99 Phrases mama might appreciate hearing

100 Reminders for labor support

PRACTICAL TIPS ONCE BABE'S ARRIVED

101 Bring on the bliss

102 Getting more sleep

103 Ways to save time and money

104 For the love of your post-baby body]

105 Feel enlivened

PERSONALIZE IT

106 Field notes pregnancy memories]

107 Love at first sight spot for ultrasound pic]

108 References/resources