Your High-Risk Pregnancy: A Practical and Supportive Guide »

This useful book gives sound, straightforward advice about prenatal care, analyzing and diagnosing high-risk factors, and describing the tests, medications, and procedures necessary for a healthy pregnancy. The authors offer specific ways to cope with the rollercoaster of emotions and medical issues that arise during this process. Beginning with a general guide to successful conception, the book explains the risks and addresses the most pressing concerns. Throughout the text, the authors check in with the men and women involved, showing them how to explore their feelings about the pregnancy, their emotions toward the baby, and how to build a solid support system. Each chapter contains journaling exercises, which are extremely important given the amount of bed-rest required in difficult pregnancies. Here too are informed discussions of natural birth versus C-section, the use of antibiotics and painkillers, and how to cope with miscarriages and premies. Your High-Risk Pregnancy is a complete, caring companion during pregnancy and beyond.

Library Journal

Twenty-five years ago, Raab, a nurse who has had three high-risk pregnancies, wrote the canonic Getting Pregnant and Staying Pregnant: Overcoming Infertility and High-Risk Pregnancy. With advances in medicine, this new edition, cowritten by Connecticut-based ob-gyn Norwitz, is most welcome. Covering the basics of getting pregnant, prenatal care, high-risk factors, tests, bed rest, and labor and delivery, it also discusses genetics, birth defects, pregnancy loss, and premature babies. In a supportive tone, Raab and Norwitz guide readers through the various care options available. They also include information about domestic violence and trauma during pregnancy; counsel pregnant women on proper seatbelt etiquette; and provide a glossary, an extensive bibliography, and a referral list of American and Canadian support groups and associations. VERDICT An excellent resource for readers interested in pregnancy and health, although the journaling space at the end of each chapter may tempt patrons to write in the book.—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L.

Foreword viii

Acknowledgments x

Introduction l

Chapter 1 Getting Pregnant 6

The Female Reproductive System

The Male Reproductive System

How Pregnancy Occurs

Conception Basics

Preconception Counseling

Family Balancing (Sex Determination)

Pregnancy Tests

How Your Baby Grows

Journaling Your Pregnancy

Journaling Corner

Chapter 2 Care During Your Pregnancy 36

The First Visit

Calculating Your Due Date

Exercise During Pregnancy

Nutrition and Pregnancy

Other Concerns and Lifestyle Issues

Medications and Pregnancy

Occupational Hazards

Alternative, Complementary, or Holistic Health Care

Sexuality and Pregnancy

The Journaling Corner

Chapter 3 High-Risk Pregnancy: An Introduction 77

Diagnosis of High-Risk Pregnancy

High Risk Pregnancy vs. Having High-Risk Factors

Outcome and Prognosis of High-Risk Pregnancy

Choosing a Provider

Coping with High-Risk Pregnancy

Making Decisions

The Journaling Corner

Chapter 4 High-Risk Factors Before Pregnancy 87

Advanced Age Pregnancy

Advanced Paternal Age

History of Miscarriage

Reproductive and Female Anatomy Problems

Diabetes

Kidney Disease

Gastrointestinal Problems

Liver Disease

Autoimmune Diseases

Asthma

Heart Disease

Sickle-Cell Anemia

Depression

Other Problems

Journaling Corner

Chapter 5 High-Risk Factors Related to Pregnancy 105

Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HEG)

Ectopic Pregnancy

Hydatidi-form Mole

Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Pregnancies

Hypertension

Gallstones

Cholestasis During Pregnancy

Appendicitis

Thromboembolism

Infections

Multiple Pregnancy

Unusual FetalPositions

Blood

Incompatibilities

Vaginal Bleeding

Abruptio Placenta

Placenta Previa

Prolapsed Umbilical Cord

Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)

Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM)

Post-Term or Prolonged Pregnancy

Cancer in Pregnancy

Medications Used In High-Risk Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 6 Genetics and Birth Defects 145

Chromosomal Defects

Single-Gene Defects

Sex-Linked Disorders

Multifactorial Disorders

Mutations

Fetal Surgery

Genetic Counseling

Your Emotions

Journaling Corner

Chapter 7 Tests, Tests, Tests 166

Ultrasound Tests

First Trimester Risk Assessment

Expanded AFP Screening (Triple Marker and Quadruple Marker Screen)

Amnio-centesis

Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH)

Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS)

Percutaneous Umbilical Cord Sampling (PUBS)

Fetoscopy

Fetal Fibronectin (fFN)

Fetal-Movement Counts

Monitoring Devices

Biophysical Profile (BPP)

Specific Blood Tests

The Ethics of Prenatal Testing

Journaling Corner

Chapter 8 Bed Rest 193

Coping with Bed Rest

Recovering from Bed Rest

Journaling Corner

Chapter 9 Pregnancy Loss 205

Elective Abortion

Miscarriage

Types of Miscarriages

Causes of Miscarriage

The Emotional Impact of Miscarriage

Stillbirth

Newborn Death

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

The Grieving Process

Significant Others

Future Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 10 Labor, Delivery, and Postpartum 238

Labor Defined

Stages of Labor

Problems with Labor

Pain Management in Labor

Early Baby Care

Postpartum

Postpartum Depression

Journaling Corner

Chapter 11 Cesarean Birth 262

Reasons for Cesarean Delivery

Emergency Cesareans

Risks of Cesareans

Repeat Cesareans

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)

Before Your Cesarean

Anesthesia

The Surgery

After Your Cesarean

Breast-Feeding after a Cesarean

Recovery

Going Home

Journaling Corner

Chapter 12 Premature Babies 281

What Is a Premature Baby?

Causes of Prematurity

The Warning Signs

Characteristics of Prematurity

Breast-Feeding Your Preemie

Your Emotions

The Premature Baby and Stimulation

Family and Friends

Outcome

Baby's Homecoming

Death and Dying

Future Pregnancies

Journaling Corner

Chapter 13 Special Concerns During Pregnancy 302

The Pregnant Single Parent

Teenage Pregnancy

Domestic Violence

History of Sexual Abuse

Trauma During Pregnancy

Glossary 313

Bibliography 321

Appendix A Support Groups and Associations 328

Index 338