The Jewish Pregnancy Book: A Resource for the Soul, Body & Mind during Pregnancy, Birth & the First Three Months »

Women are increasingly looking to make their pregnancy and birth as a spiritually meaningful experience, but those looking for Jewish resources to help them have found little available.

The Jewish Pregnancy Book meets this need by creating and renewing Jewish prayers and rituals for this miraculous and challenging time in a woman's life. From reviving prayers our foremothers wrote and passed from one generation to the next, to investigating medical and ethical issues from a Jewish perspective, to exercising the body with pre-natal aleph-bet yoga, this groundbreaking handbook addresses the whole being: the mind, body, and soul of the pregnant Jewish woman:

For the mind-Medical information on topics such as fetal development, pre-natal testing, and potential pregnancy problems, as well as discussions from a liberal Jewish perspective on ethical issues such as selective reduction and home birth.

For the body-Pre-natal aleph-bet yoga, a unique blend of yoga and Hebrew letters.

For the soul-Ancient and modern prayers and rituals for each stage of pregnancy, as well as traditional Jewish wisdom on pregnancy.

Publishers Weekly

Anyone who's experienced childbirth understands that it may indeed seem a "world... about to be remade... heralded by a great flood." Now imagine embarking on the journey around a holiday table replete with family, friends, piles of food and stories long into the night. Warm and inviting, this Jewish guide to pregnancy and the first three months of life is a beautiful balance not only of soul, mind and body, but of ancient texts and contemporary prayer, folklore and modern medicine. Balanced also are the wide-ranging positions held by the Orthodox, Conservative and Reform movements on topics such as ensoulment, prenatal testing, selective reduction and mourning rituals in the event of miscarriage or fetal death. (While the authors celebrate this time in a couple's life, they are compassionately mindful and honest about the possibility of a less joyful outcome.) For each stage of pregnancy and beyond, they offer meditations, prayers and resources for any number of things that could transpire. Despite an abrupt transition, the book's yoga portion is enticing. Rapp makes yoga seem accessible to anyone, from seasoned marathoners to couch potatoes. Clear instructions, accompanied by photos for both early- and late-stage pregnancy, come with equally clear warnings about who should attempt which positions when. Though nurturing throughout, the book lacks any sort of conclusion, leaving the reader suddenly feeling like a favorite uncle has sneaked out the back door without saying goodbye. Although disappointing, ultimately this omission detracts very little from a delightful and spiritual celebration of life's beginnings. (Jan.) Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.