Birth And Beyond: The Definitive Guide to Your Pregnancy, Your Birth, Your Family - From Minus 9 to Plus 9 Months [Hardcover]

'The definitive guide to your pregnancy, your birth, your family - from minus nine to plus nine months' written by one of the world's leading obstetricians. Dr Gordon combines both conventional and complementary therapies and includes a 160 page A-Z reference section.

A groundbreaking book on childrearing which will do for the 21st century what Dr Spock and Dr Penny Leach did for the latter part of the 20th century

Written by one of the world's leading obstetricians, this extraordinary book takes a totally fresh look at what parenting means at the beginning of the 21st century. Addressing both parents, the book looks at all aspects of life, through the nine months of pregnancy and the following nine of the baby's life. It is both a practical handbook for pregnancy, birth and the early months of a new baby's life, and a stimulating exploration of this period of enormous transition. Taking a holistic approach, it advocates integrated health care, i.e. both conventional and complementary therapies, and, with its exhaustive medical content, including a 160- page A-Z section, also acts as a superb source of reference.

A groundbreaking book on childrearing which will do for the 21st century what Dr Spock and Dr Penny Leach did for the latter part of the 20th century.

Educated at Witwatersrand Medical School and the University of London, Yehudi Gordon went on to become one of the pioneers of active and water birth in the UK. He is an internationally respected figure and now runs the Birth Unit in North London which is widely recognised as the model for effective, alternative but integrated, safer birthing practice. Actress and writer Emma Thompson was one of his recent high profile clients. (20000915)

Foreword

You’re on an exciting roller coaster taking you through the changes of pregnancy and into the adventure of parenthood. This is a time of growth and revelations, trials and joys, sharing and wonder – the beginning of a new life and the birth of your new family with you and your baby at its heart. So hold tight – the adventure that begins at conception and lasts through the primal period until your baby is 9 months old may be one of the most fascinating journeys of your life.

Your pregnancy, your family
Every person experiences pregnancy, birth and parenting in a unique way. However you anticipate your life unfolding, you will probably find that you meet the unexpected in your own emotions, your partner’s and family’s reactions, and your child’s own unique character. We hope this book will empower you and help you enjoy parenthood as you integrate changes, welcome your baby, understand medical care, listen to your emotions, watch your relationships change and cope with the practicalities of family life.

The primal period
When sperm meets egg, your baby starts the miraculous journey into life and you embark on the primal period, 18 months of growing and intense learning that end when your baby is 9 months old. During the primal period, your baby will learn more than in any other decade of her life. In the womb she hears noises and senses emotions, she dreams and experiments with movement and touch. From the moment she takes her first breath she looks to you for guidance, love, support and protection. You are her safe haven. She will learn to smile from watching the smile on your face and as she wonders at the colourful and busy world around her you are her teacher. By the end of her ninth month, she will have realised that she is a separate individual, not an extension of her mother, and will be ready for independent motion as a bold crawler.

But your baby won't do all the learning: she will communicate powerfully and be a great teacher and in the parent–baby dance you will be overwhelmed by her amazing body, her beautiful, alert eyes and her emerging personality. In the primal period, you, as parents, go through momentous change. For a mother and father this time is full of new experiences and learning opportunities, and a host of changeable and new feelings: there will be physical, emotional, spiritual and psychic ups and downs.

This book aims to be realistic and support you as you ride the rough and the smooth on the road to parenthood so that you, your baby and your family may have the chance to build a solid foundation for the years ahead and enjoy the many rewards of family life. It is both theoretical and practical, to dip into whenever you choose. Above all, it encourages an integrated healthcare approach where the safety net of modern obstetrics and paediatrics is used in conjunction with a variety of complementary therapies, and invites you to take an active part in what is one of life’s greatest transitions. This book guides you through these crucial months and gives invaluable advice on caring for yourself, your relationships and your family.