The Birth Partner, 4th Edition, Completely Revised and Updated
A Complete Guide to Childbirth for Dads, Doulas, and Other Labor Companions
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Now in its fourth printing, The Birth Partner, 4th Edition is newly revised and updated. This is the definitive manual for any helpful companion at a birthing mother's bedside.
Since the original publication of The Birth Partner, partners, friends, relatives, and doulas (professional birth assistants) have relied on Penny Simkin's guidance in caring for the new mother, from her last trimester through the early postpartum period. Fully revised in its fourth edition, The Birth Partner remains the definitive guide for preparing to help a woman through childbirth and the essential manual to have at hand during the event.
This completely updated edition includes thorough information on:
Preparing for labor and knowing when it has begunNormal labor and how to help the woman every step of the wayEpidurals and other medications for laborNon-drug techniques for easing labor painCesarean birth and complications that may require itBreastfeeding and newborn care
And that is just a start. For the partner who wishes to be truly helpful in the birthing room, The Birth Partner, 4th Edition is indispensable.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
To give the birth partner a clear understanding of the process of bearing a baby, and the role that he or she is to play, Simkin thoroughly examines parturition, from essential supplies for mother and baby to how to handle an emergency delivery. She writes knowledgeably and in a readable style, but has an unfortunate habit of tendering gratuitous advice (she notes that the partner can help the mother during the ``birth phase'' by staying ``close by''). She also fails to explain certain suggestions (why does the birth partner need a swimsuit to shower with the mother?). At her best, Simkin makes the birth partner aware of medical decisions that may lie ahead and of the importance of indulging the mother with constant tender loving care and encouragement during labor and delivery. But those who have attended a competently taught childbirth preparation class will find much of the text familiar. Simkin, herself an instructor, wrote Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: A Complete Guide for Expectant Parents. Illustrations not seen by PW.
