Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide

by Penny Simkin

Available for the first time in full color, the up-to-date and authoritative pregnancy guide that has sold 1.5 million copies--by recognizing that "one size fits all" doesn't apply to maternity care

Parents love this book because it puts them in control; experts love it because it's based on the latest medical research and recommendations from leading health organizations. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn provides the information and guidance you need to make informed decisions about having a safe and satisfying pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period--decisions that reflect your preferences, priorities, and values.

Unlike pregnancy guides that can overwhelm and alarm by telling you up front all the things that can possibly go wrong, this book first describes normal, healthy processes, their typical variations, and the usual care practices for monitoring them. Only then does it cover possible complications and the care practices and procedures for resolving them. Throughout, the presentation is crystal-clear, the tone is reassuring, and the voice is empowering. And the language is inclusive, reflecting today's various family configurations such as single-parent families, blended families formed by second marriages, families with gay and lesbian parents, and families formed by open adoption or surrogacy. From sensible nutrition advice to realistic birth plans, from birth doulas when desired to cesareans when needed, from reducing stress during pregnancy to caring for yourself as well as your baby after birth, this pregnancy guide speaks to today's parents-to-be like no other.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Reference, Family, Self Help, Medical

512 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1984

Reviews

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about this book is the acknowledgment that not all pain management techniques work for all women. Rather than present one comprehensive 'system' (a la Hypnobirthing, Bradley, etc), she suggests several methods for dealing with childbirth pain, and is non-judgmental about the use of medication as well. To me this is much more helpful - I can become familiar with several techniques and focus on the ones I like. In comparison, Hypnobirthing is presented (in the book Hypnobirthing) as the ONLY good way to give birth - and if it doesn't work for you, it is YOUR fault for not practicing hard enough/having psychological issues that make you desire pain and the attention that comes with it/buying into the 'Christian conspiracy' to keep women down. Really, do we need more guilt associated with all this??

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn is not as complete in its coverage of pregnancy issues as What to Expect When You're Expecting, but is goes into more depth, and it covers more than just pregnancy (with the What to Expect series, you have to buy the next book). There is a chapter on exercises for comfort and childbirth preparation, on nutrition, several on actually giving birth, and several on what to do with the baby afterward.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion three stars was generous considering how angry I am right now. (In the interest of total disclosure I did not read the chapters on being pregnant again or including a child in a new pregnancy because those are not applicable to me.) I just finished the part about formula feeding and am so angry I am considering writing an email to the authors over their narrowmindedness and judgmental stance on people who formula feed over breastfeeding. I am NOT, as the author plainly suggests, on street drugs and I DO care about my baby's health, and my choice to formula feed over breastfeeding is due to a medical condition that would make breastfeeding extremely unsafe for my baby. Choosing NOT to breastfeed is an act of love by me, not neglectful, lazy, or self-centered as the authors suggest.

The rest of the book was good and informative but this last portion was enough to sour the whole experience for me. I won't be recommending this book to anyone else because no new mom deserves to feel shamed into doing something by some unknown dipshit who thinks everyone's situation and motivations are the same.

[Hannah Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Secret pregnancy reveal to my goodreads friends

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good overview of pregnancy, birth, and having a newborn (as one would expect given the title). Likely most helpful for first time moms. It does seem to lean toward supporting natural child birth and breastfeeding, so some people might be turned off by the tone of the book, but it does seem to try to respectfully discuss medicated birth options and formula feeding as well. The book is written very neutrally with references to fathers and partners, and I would imagine a same sex couple would appreciate that it feels more inclusive. It is a bit of an overwhelming read because it covers so much. I read it early in pregnancy and expect now to only use it as a reference book if there's anything I want to revisit. I definitely suggest reading the sections about all the things that can go wrong earlier, rather than reading it later in pregnancy, if at all. No need to have all of that worry in late pregnancy, in my opinion. In early pregnancy, it seems easier to ignore all of the crazy stuff that can happen at birth because it's so far off, but it is good to be somewhat informed about it.

[Alana Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has dreamed of being a Mom my entire life this is the first book that was completely factual and I don’t know… positive for once LOL. I appreciated that it was written like a textbook that I could skim through. Overall it was very informative and easy to read/digest. Not only did the book walk me through each stage of pregnancy but also the birth and my options as well as ways for the partner to assist during labor/post care. Move over “what to expect when you are expecting” this one is the BEST one I have read so far. Highly recommend how empowering this book was for me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure if I've read this ENTIRE book cover-to-cover, but I have read a lot of it. It is a little overwhelming how comprehensive it is. I liked how it didn't dogmatically advocate natural-birth or hospital-birth. It was probably more natural-birth friendly than many other books, but I feel like they had a research-based approach I could respect. I liked how they included contrasting quotes from women's experiences (for example, a quote from a woman who loved her epidural, and one from a woman who felt like it removed her from the birth experience).

This manual could benefit from reoorganization. It seems like most pregnancy books take either the week-by-week approach or a very segmented approach with separate chapters on diet and exercise. This book had a brief "how you and your child develop over the pregnancy" chapter and separate chapters for everything else. I think the chapter on coping with labor pains should have come after the explanation of the stages of labor, and I suspect other chapters could benefit from reorganization. I would have liked more visual aids, like for how the baby comes out and things like that.

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of the more comprehensive books I've read during pregnancy, and I appreciate both the breadth and depth of information provided. It's also organized in a way that makes it easy to find what you're looking for, though it's certainly more reference material than a month-by-month guide (like many pregnancy books). I think my biggest frustration is being consistently referred to the PCN Guide website, which appears to no longer exist. I've found some additional materials from Penny Simkin on the childbirthconnection.org site and from Janelle Durham on her blog at transitiontoparenthood.wordpress.com.

[Mimi McMurray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this for a birth doula skills workshop and childbirth educator training I did over the winter, and all I have to say is Penny Simkin is added to my list of heroes. Fetal-maternal health is fascinating, and parents having access to accurate evidence-based information so that they can make decisions with informed-consent is SO IMPORTANT in a day and age when healthcare is a rushed process consisting of quick 15 minute appointments with a care provider and “routine” procedures that may not actually benefit some women and their unborn child. Knowing your options and alternatives is key to feeling empowered during pregnancy and childbirth. Additionally, this book focused on how impactful the long-term memory of childbirth is on a mother. Women remember how their birth went for the rest of their lives, and how they feel about the events of the birth influences how they feel about themselves and their child. Birth doulas and childbirth educators can help women have positive birth experiences, leading to a new generation of women feeling connected to their newborns, feeling confident in themselves, their bodies, and ability to make decisions for themselves. Birth trauma is so real in America, but there is a way to reduce it and that is by educating families before and during pregnancy AND by providing emotional support during labor with the goal of giving agency over her body back to the woman in labor.

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative and helpful to prep for birth and having a newborn

[A. J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few books on pregnancy and childbirth for my doula certification. And this is probably the worst one I've read. I actually ended up not finishing it because I was that frustrated with the author's opinions and writing.  Now...it's hard because this book does have some good advice and also good information on a few topics. I've never seen as much detail on medical procedures or for instance what the doctors actually do for epidurals. However that's the only good I can say about this book.  This book is very heteronormative, and in the entire 512 page book there were only 2 paragraphs for expecting mothers who aren't straight or cis. What finally made me stop reading was the chapter on managing pain. It felt like the whole point of the chapter was something like "childbirth pain is all in your head and all you have to do is breathe or move around and you won't be in so much pain".  It felt very anti-medication as well. It didn't take into consideration that some expecting mothers might be dealing with chronic illnesses. In the end I just felt like it was a book written only for a specific mother, and I didn't like that. I gave it 2 stars on Goodreads.

[Jules · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comprehensive on several different pre- and post-natal topics, perhaps. But the tone didn't sit right with me, particularly in the childbirth section, which is the main reason I read this (it was given out as part of my labor & delivery class). While other reviewers have praised this as non-judgmental about the use of medicines, I didn't find it so. I felt the pro-doula, less-med-friendly perspective of the author was evident throughout. There are some helpful charts, diagrams, and illustrations within, but overall this wasn't the practical guide to labor that I was hoping for. I managed to find another guide from my hospital that was more straightforward and unbiased, and that's what I'll be using as a resource come delivery day.

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't crazy about this one. I found the tone to be quite preachy and judgemental. The authors also openly steer the reader towards what they consider to be the "right" birth and newborn rearing experience, i.e. vaginal birth and breastfeeding, and are quite dismissive about C-sections and bottle feeding. I also found all the in-depth descriptions about labour and all the things that could go wrong to be quite off-putting and scary.

[Lightreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a pregnancy and childbirth book that I liked! Pretty much unreservedly! And to be clear, that's the one pregnancy and childbirth book that I pretty much liked unreservedly. Thoughtful, thorough, relatively non-judgey as these things go, with a refreshing interest in this little thing called evidence-based medicine. Recommended.

[Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and informative, especially for new mamas! (Though I recommend skipping sections that don’t serve you or make you anxious- like I only need so much information on birth and complications that may arise lol.)

The main thing I was not in love with was how opinions of the authors seemed to heavily guide the way complex topics were written about (medicated vs. unmedicated births, breast feeding vs. formula feeding, etc.), despite the fact that the book reads like a textbook. They did convey the message that these things are nuanced, but it was clear that there is a higher, better way to labor, deliver, and mother your baby according to the authors.

But I’m taking those things with a grain of salt and trusting in my own intuition and instinct. Overall glad I took the time to get through this read!

[Jenell Bakey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this pretty much cover to cover, but it's the kind of book that you could definitely skip around in to get more information on topics that are important to you. Overall, a very comprehensive look on exactly what it promises--pregnancy, childbirth, and the newborn. If you're the type of first-time mom who prefers to know everything to feel more prepared and help you ask informed questions, this will help you. If you're easily overwhelmed, however, I would recommend this book with the caveat that it covers complications and potential conditions that could fuel anxiety.

[Sarah Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was extremely informative and resourceful. There is a clear bias towards natural birth with little medical intervention (e.g.: leans more towards home births than hospital, does not encourage pain management, surgeries, etc.), but did well in presenting pros and cons of all options in research based-approach and a respectful manner. A major draw back in my opinion is that it is highly repetitive, and likely could have been condensed.

[Sara Robbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a one stop shop for ALL THE THINGS pregnancy and childbirth related. It was a beast to get through but it covers so much good info. I bought my own copy to have for reference and to lend out.

[Annie Bruza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, if you're into reading a textbook while you're pregnant this one isn't bad. There's a brief mention of homeopathy, but other than that the information is pretty good!

[Claire Zelmanski]

It was a good skim. I probably would have found it more helpful during my first pregnancy. Just trying to stay in the right mindset

[Arvilla]

The first few chapters felt high level and not useful, but then it gets into depth and turns very helpful. Used up a whole thing of sticky notes and will be sad to return it to the library.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very comprehensive guide through pregnancy and birth. Definitely recommend.

[Sherri Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good all around guide with a mix of medical and natural strategies.

[Meredith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Switzerland of pregnancy and childbirth books, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn clearly lays out all pregnancy and birth options without obviously favoring one side or the other in the medical versus natural debate. In fact, this is the only baby book I've encountered that when discussing circumcision doesn't immediately follow the statement that it is not medically necessary by basically saying that anyone who doesn't circumcise her son is a bad, sadistic, heartless mother.

If you are looking for a thorough overview, this book is excellent. In 19 chapters, Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn presents a wealth of straight forward information covering initial confirmation of pregnancy to a second pregnancy. It discusses the common complications of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. It also allocates entire chapters to fitness, nutrition, labor pain management options including possible side effects, cesarean births, new motherhood, caring for a newborn, and breastfeeding and bottle/formula feeding.

Particulary good is the book's in-depth coverage of labor, which spans chapters 9 through 13 with chapter 14 devoted to delivery by cesarean section. The book's one flaw is that is takes the lithotomy position for delivery as a nonnegotiable given and doesn't provide information about other birth positions. If you have a granola streak and want information about other positions, then see chapter 7 in Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, chapter 6 in Active Birth : The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, Revised Edition, and/or pages 220 to 221 in The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth.

[Matt LeFevers · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a lot of really good information and seems to come from a genuinely helpful place but the further I got into it, the harder it was to ignore the clear anti-medical-establishment bias. There isn't anything in the title or description of this book that betrays an alternative medicine slant (though if I had been paying attention, I might have noticed the number of co-authors who are doulas) but it bled through on every page.

I sincerely think the authors were trying to be fair handed - they cover both sides of every issue, and give occasional lip service to current statistics, etc. - but despite their best efforts to present all of your choices, it's always very clear which one THEY believe is the right choice. They spend pages and pages covering natural pain management methods, then after a quick blurb about how epidurals are widely regarded as safe, they devote a full chapter to the "risks" of an epidural and convincing you not to get one. In one place, they present clear statistics of how helpful the women surveyed felt different methods were, and then immediately afterwards they dishonestly conflate the numbers to make it seem like the authors' preferred methods were more helpful than they were. ("45% of women said natural method #1 was 'slightly' helpful, 45% said natural method #2 was 'slightly' helpful, and 90% said an epidural was 'extremely' helpful - so natural methods are just as good as medical!" Um, that isn't how numbers work.)

Anyway, if your feelings on childbirth already agree with these authors, and your preferences lean towards birth doulas, home delivery, or non-medicated birth, this book would probably be great for you. It is packed with information. I just found it a hard slog to make it all the way through a book that seemed to want to make me feel wrong for choosing to embrace what are still the most common, every day choices for pregnancy and childbirth.

[Amalfi Disla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Este libro es una joya!! Totalmente recomendado para aquel que quiera ser padre, la que esta embarazada o quien tenga un bebe recien nacido. Es un libro sin desperdicios, abarca todas las etapas del emabarazo, detalle a detalle y lo primero meses de vida del recien nacido.

Incluye consejos de dieta y ejercicio (con fotos) para mujeres embarazadas. Hay un capítulo sobre las complicaciones durante el embarazo, así como uno sobre cómo planificarte para un parto. Los planes de nacimiento son discutidos en buen detalle, así como preguntas de la entrevista para su obstetra / partera / Doula.

Los capítulos finales revisan qué hacer una vez que el bebé entra en el mundo. ¿Cómo se da pecho?, ¿Cómo posicionar tu hijo? ¿Cuántas veces debe alimentar cada día y cuántos pañales mojados / sucios debe esperar? ¿Cuáles son algunas de las causas comunes de preocupación? Las respuestas a todas estas preguntas se proporcionan en este libro, así como ilustraciones para la lactancia, la celebración de su recién nacido, etc.

[Kylin Larsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the most helpful pregnancy books I've read. Though I'm sure my body knows how to give birth, my brain appreciates all the information and reassurance I can find. The six authors include Penny Simpkin, who is famous in the birthing world for her practical non-Western approach to birth support advice. The book has a good balance of biological / medical information and natural pain management methods.

The first few chapters go over the physical aspects of pregnancy and prenatal care. The bulk of the book educates parents about what a woman can expect from a hospital birth, stages of labor, and techniques for managing labor. It covers every type of medical procedure hospital care givers are likely to introduce and why or why not a woman might need or want such procedures. There is a highly useful sample birth plan that encourages thinking about the type of birth experience a woman wants and facilitates healthy communication between a woman and her caregivers.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly throughout my pregnancy, reading chapters as they became relevant. It offered clear, objective, and non-judgmental information regarding pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum care, and childcare. I can see myself revisiting the information presented in the later chapters once the baby arrives and in subsequent pregnancies. Many of the chapters answered questions I probably would have asked, putting me at ease between appointments, and allowing me to ask questions with less obvious answers. The chapters on childbirth were especially helpful, presenting a lot of issues I would not have otherwise thought (or known) to consider. It offered really useful discussion topics to address with my doctor (who thankfully had great answers) and my husband.

I am really grateful for the amazing friend who recommended this book and will likely pass this on to any friend who becomes pregnant in the future!

[Cori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the best complete guide to pregnancy/birth that I’ve read. This book is a great, basic, modern birth book. I like that it’s unbiased and provides options that would appeal to all women, from the natural home birth to the mom that wants an epidural before she gets to the hospital. The depth at which the authors went when it came to explaining pain and how to cope, explaining breathing techniques, were extremely valuable! The breathing graphs were something I had never seen and I think some women could find them really helpful. I actually imagine visualizing those graphs during a contraction could be extremely helpful, or making a copy and looking at it while in labor (which I will be trying!). I gained a lot of coping tools from this book.

[Elizabeth Puntolillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This giant book might be more ideally suited for a doula, spouse, or other birth partner than it is for a mother-to-be, but that's fine. I've just read it as a doula-in-training, and I do feel as though I've gotten an education. I found it easy-to-follow, yet full of vital information.

The "newborn" aspect of things was not as thoroughly covered as I expected it to be, based on the amount of room given to everything else, so I can't recommend it as an "only book you'll ever need"; even a minimalist would need to supplement with a baby book or two. But it was worthy of pages of note-taking, and it also has a glossary and lots of resources listed in the back.

Again, probably a bit too much for any newly pregnant woman other than Hermione Granger.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

My doctor gave me a copy of this book when I was pregnant.

I read it through to the fitness chapter and it seemed like a great resource for pregnant women and their partners.

The chart that discussed common symptoms in each trimester was especially useful--it helped me understand why I was suddenly having major nasal congestion in the second trimester.

Sadly, I experienced a rare second-trimester miscarriage at 16.5 weeks... my heart is broken, but I am setting this book aside with the hope that I may need it again.

Even the information it contains on miscarriage, although not much, was helpful to me in processing what happened.