The Irish Pregnancy Book: A Guide for Expectant Mothers

by Peter Boylan

Having a baby is an exciting and challenging experience. Every birth and every baby is unique, but over 30 years of helping mothers in his clinics Dr Peter Boylan, one of Ireland's best-known obstetricians, has identified common themes and similar questions for mothers and couples. Using clear language Dr Boylan explains what happens in pregnancy, how to care for your health and your baby's, how your baby grows month by month, and what to expect during labour and delivery. Each chapter contains answers to frequently asked questions for quick reference, and a full A-Z of common terms adds further detail. Fully revised and updated, this fifth edition of The Irish Pregnancy Book is an essential guide to having a baby in Ireland, a user-friendly reference for expectant mothers to turn to time and time again.

230 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[May Freighter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book full of useful information about all stages of pregnancy and the postpartum period. All trimesters are described in-depth along with the symptoms. At the end of each chapter, there are answers to some questions asked by different women which I found to be very interesting.

[Sansdra · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's alright if you need a 101 pregnancy book.
Somewhat thick with 221 pages. 177 pages excluding footnotes and dictionary of terms.

Doesn't go too in depth about issues encountered in pregnancy, at least none that you wouldn't already know of.
There doesn't seem to be much information outside of what a GP or Midwife wouldn't already tell you.
Has some black and white images of what to expect through the different weeks of pregnancy and a basic nutrition guide which were nice.

Ultimately speaking: Online searches proved more useful.

[Kate O'Hanlon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dr Peter Boylan has become a a bit of feminist hero in recent years due to his position on the eight amendment and his campaigning against religious ownership of the National Maternity Hospital. It's disappointing then that his book is so paternalistic. Boylan wants Irish mothers to be prepared for and compliant to a routine medicalised birth with active management of labour as standard and he is very dismissive of any deviation from same.
It's probably worth reading to know what you're up against!