The Birth Partner, 4th Edition, Completely Revised and Updated by Simkin, Penny -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

PREFACE ACKNOWLEDGMENTS HOW TO USE THIS BOOK PART ONE Before the Birth

1. The Last Weeks of Pregnancy

What Kind of Birth Partner Will You Be? Getting Ready for Labor Preparing for Life with the Baby On to the Next Step…

PART TWO Labor and Birth

2. Getting into Labor

Prelabor and the Labor Process How Long Will Labor Last? Signs of Labor If Her Bag of Waters Breaks Before Labor Begins “False” Labor, or Prelabor Labor Progresses in Six Ways Timing Contractions

3. Moving Through the Stages of Labor

Compare Labor to Running a Marathon Prelabor The First, or Dilation Stage The Birthing Stage The Placental Stage Normal Labor—in a Nutshell

4. Comfort Measures for Labor

Pain versus Suffering The Three Rs: Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual Self-Help Comfort Measures Comfort Aids and Devices Comforting Techniques for You to Try Taking Care of Yourself Checklist of Comfort Measures for Labor

5. Strategies for Challenging Variations in Normal Birth

The Take-Charge Routine On-the-Spot Coaching (When You Have Had No Childbirth Classes) The Very Rapid Labor The Emergency Delivery When Labor Must Start (Labor-Stimulating Measures) The Slow-to-Start Labor Slow Progress in Active Labor and the Birthing Stage, with or without Back Pain When the Mother Must Labor in Bed A Breech Baby A Previous Disappointing or Traumatic Birth Experience Incompatibility with the Nurse or Caregiver

PART THREE The Medical Side of Childbirth

6. Tests, Technologies, Interventions, and Procedures

Late-Pregnancy Tests Essential Observations During Labor Conditions Influencing the Amount of Intervention Common Obstetric Interventions

7. Complications in Late Pregnancy, Labor or Afterward

Complications for the Mother The Breech Presentation Complications with Labor Progress Complications with the Fetus Complications with the Newborn After It Is All Over

8. Medications for Pain During Labor

9. Cesarean Birth, and Vaginal Birth After Cesarean

Know the Nonmedical Reasons for Cesarean Birth and Factors to Consider Know the Medical Reasons for Cesarean Birth Know What to Expect During Cesarean Birth Your Role During and After a Cesarean Birth Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC)

PART FOUR After the Birth

10.The First Few Days Postpartum

The First Few Hours The First Few Days for the Baby The First Few Days for the Mother Homecoming After a Home Birth Getting Help and Advice The Mother’s Postpartum Emotions What About Your Feelings? Practical Matters at Home

11. Getting Started with Breastfeeding

Advantages of Breastfeeding Getting Off to a Good Start Early Concerns When to Give the Baby a Bottle Once Breastfeeding Is Established

PARTING WORDS RECOMMENDED RESOURCES INDEX