The book is written by a licensed massage therapist in New York City who specialises in prenatal and postpartum massage. Although the book states that it is not intended to take the place of professional medical supervision, and should not take the place of prenatal care, it does offer an alternative to putting up with those little grievances that make pregnant women so uncomfortable – such as sore breasts and leg cramps. It also gives information on when not to carry out the massage, so the book should be read carefully before you begin, and if you are not sure if it is safe to use in your case, take it to your next prenatal visit and check with them.

Starting off with a chapter explaining the various massage techniques, its chapters then lead you through a variety of different ways to relieve pregnancy’s discomforts, how to give a full body massage – which although using a man in the diagrams, tells of how the body massage should be carried out on a pregnant woman – how to prepare your body for labor, massage that is helpful during labor, after delivery, and whilst nursing. It also shows massage that can be used on your baby. The simple line diagrams are easy to follow and the book is written in a language that is easy for someone not trained in massage can follow. I couldn’t fault the book – but would it work. I waited for my husband to come home from work, and that night, armed with a bottle of massage oil, we experimented with the full body massage.

It was heaven for me. As my husband worked systematically through the various sections of the book, I could feel the muscles respond and relax. The whole routine took about 2 hours to complete, and he was exhausted at the end of it, but it felt as if someone had waved a magic wand over my stressed out body and mind, making it loosen up. For a short version of this, my husband will sometimes carry out the back massage only (taking about 30 minutes), which in this book is done in two halves with the woman lying on her side, and that is enough to unwind me. On one occasion I was so relaxed, I fell asleep as he was doing the second side and as many women in the 2nd half of pregnancy can tell you, sleep is not always easy at this time.

If you’re pregnant, and need to relax more, buy this book, or ask your local library to order it for you, and enjoy.

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First, you need to know if you are at risk. Your doctor will most likely let you know, but here are some basic guidelines for your personal use. At risk pregnancies include the very young (under 17 years of age) and older (over 35) women, women carrying multiple babies, women with a history of preterm births, women who suffer from cervical or uterine variations (such as a divided uterus), and African American women.

Your lifestyle can also cause you to go into labor prematurely. If you don’t see a doctor or receive prenatal care during your pregnancy, you are more likely to have your baby early. Also, women who are under a lot of stress, have little or no social support and are in an abusive relationship are at risk for preterm labor. Anyone who abuses drugs, drinks alcohol or smokes during the pregnancy is also at a higher risk than those who quit these habits.

One of the first steps to avoiding premature labor is to quit any of the bad habits listed above. Stopping smoking or using drugs can drastically reduce your chances of having a premature baby. It’s healthier for both you and your unborn child, as well. Also, if you are in an abusive relationship, it might be time to get out.

For women who have jobs that require them to be on their feet most of the time, such as waitresses, bartenders, etc. this can also raise your risk level. It’s a good idea to talk to your boss about being able to sit if at all possible, or you may need to reduce your hours. Talk to your doctor about this.

Taking good care of yourself during the pregnancy is perhaps the best way to avoid having your baby early. Eat well and get enough rest. You should also be taking prenatal vitamins to ensure that your baby doesn’t sap all of the vitamins and minerals out of your body, which can cause deficiencies and early labor. Good prenatal care is vital to catch any problems that might occur, before they result in anything serious . . . like premature labor. If you can’t afford to see a doctor, there are free prenatal clinics all over the country that can help.

If you suspect that you are starting preterm labor, it is important that you go to the hospital immediately. They will be able to administer drugs to stop the contractions and halt the process if possible. The signs of preterm labor include contractions that are less than 10 minutes apart, with or without pain, menstrual-like cramps, a sensation of pressure in the vagina (the baby dropping), and possibly a flow of pinkish or brownish liquid from the vagina. This last one could mean that your water has broken, in which case, you need to get to the emergency room ASAP as the baby will be born soon and needs the special care of experts.

Should the preterm labor be preventable, it is quite possible that you will be required to stay in bed until your baby is physically ready to be born. For some women, this means several months of bed rest. You might be tempted to ignore the doctor’s orders, especially if you are feeling fine, but this is a mistake that could cost your child his life. You may also be given medications to prevent early contractions.

In many cases, premature labor is preventable if you know ahead of time that you are at risk. Your doctor or midwife is the best person to advise you in this situation and you should be sure that you follow their advice, even if you get bored of being in bed all day! Premature labor is very dangerous to your baby and should be avoided at all costs.

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Nipple stimulation makes the body begin producing oxytocin. The main reason for this is after delivery. When a baby nurses on it’s mother’s breast, the stimulation causes her uterus to contract and shrink back down to it’s normal size. Many women use this natural phenomenon to stimulate contractions BEFORE their baby is born.

There are a couple downfalls to nipple stimulation: nipple pain, and intense contractions. Nipple stimulation for labor induction is not a gentle thing. You either have to manually tug at your nipples for a couple hours or use a breast pump. Either way, your nipples will be red and swollen afterward. If, by chance, the nipple stimulation works, extra oxytocin in body caused by the stimulation will cause the woman to have much more intense contractions. If you have ever been put on pitocin to augment your labor, the intensity is similar to extra oxytocin in your system. A more painful labor is not good for the mother’s psyche or body.

I may sound completely against nipple stimulation, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t try it with my first child. Unfortunately, or fortunately (however you want to look at it), the nipple stimulation did not work for me. I did experience regular contractions, but only while I continually stimulated my nipples. Once I stopped, the contractions. would stop. it just goes to show, the female body will go into labor when it is ready and not a moment sooner.

If you feel like you can’t be pregnant any longer, talk to your doctor. Maybe he/she will induce your labor in a hospital or under the supervision of a professional with pitocin. At least this way you have easy access to an epidural and don’t have red, swollen nipples. As desperate as you may be, try to stay away from nipple stimulation induction.

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During your regular doctor’s check-up it is best to ask as many questions as you want. Don’t hold back. That is what your healthcare provider is there for and being paid for. Don’t be afraid to speak up and don’t worry if you feel that you are taking up too much time. It is always best to be well informed. You surely will feel better going home with your questions and concerns addressed. Most clinics also have phone nurses for any additional queries that come up once you are home.

If, after a few visits to your provider, you do not feel comfortable or he or she may seem distracted or forceful during your visit, SWAP DOCTORS! Trust me. They will not be offended in any way. After all, you are the most important person there. You do not want to dread your next visit or risk a miserable delivery. Labor is one of the most important days of your life, and having the confidence that the OB will honor your wishes should the birthing plan suddenly change. Your doctor may not agree with your wishes or listen to your opinion. If you are not okay with this, don’t be afraid to speak up or find someone who will listen to you. You deserve the respect.

During active labor you have the right to change your birth plan and demand medication (although if you are too far into labor you will be denied). Your labor and the delivery of your baby is a once in a lifetime experience and you shouldn’t have to associate negativity with it. If your wishes are denied, demand someone else immediately. You may get another partner in the practice or a doctor on duty, but they may be more inclined to treat you adequately.

Postpartum is every bit as important as the pregnancy itself – if not more so – because now your body is attempting to repair the ravages of childbirth, whether it was a C-section or a vaginal delivery. It is vital that you keep a close eye on your body for any negative symptoms that are listed on the hospital or birthing center discharge paperwork. For example, if your C-section incision site becomes red and painful, contact your doctor. If he or she says tells you this symptom is normal but you don’t feel it is, get it checked out immediately. I, personally, was told this and ended up with multiple C-section infections because I did not speak up. It is imperative that you follow your instinct. If you feel that your worries are not being adequately addressed, speak to someone about it. Don’t take the risk of getting sicker.

Some doctors are not as in tune with postpartum depression as others. It is not something to be ashamed of; it is a serious condition that will affect your recovery as well as your bonding time with your baby. If your doctor dismisses it, bring it to his or her attention. If you are given medication that makes it worse, tell your doctor and they will be able to help. They should be familiar with postpartum depression and should understand how important this is. If not, they can refer you to someone who can help.

Hopefully all will go well for you and your baby. It is up to you to help to make it possible. Make yourself comfortable with your healthcare and lifestyle. This is the best and most important time of your life.

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However, while a number of inductions are carried out for bona fide medical reasons, many of them, apparently, are being performed for no other reason than convenience. “Social induction” is a term used for inducing labor for the convenience of the patient or physician, with reasons cited ranging from a mother’s wish to avoid her baby’s birth clashing with the family holiday, to the hospital’s staffing schedule running from 9-to-5 Monday to Friday with no after-hours care.

It seems that technology’s not only being used to save lives nowadays, but is also playing a role in making the process of giving birth more convenient and relatively hassle-free: good news for the expectant father who doesn’t have to extend his period of paternity leave, and the physician who gets the weekend off to play golf (statistics also show that in 2006, Sunday was the slowest day for births in the US).

But now some medical experts are asking if perhaps technology isn’t being used a little excessively in the birthing process and whether Mother Nature should be given more of a say in the matter; Mother Nature, after all, having a little more experience in delivering babies than technology. Because even with the advances in technology, induced labor doesn’t come risk-free: There are a number of potential repercussions, including the risk of a premature birth, which can have serious consequences on a baby’s health.

A full-term pregnancy is usually defined as lasting 37 weeks or more, although doctors commonly set a date at 40 weeks from the mother’s last full period. Late preterm babies are those born between 34 and 36 weeks’ gestation. And while they’re usually considered healthy, they are more likely to have medical problems than those born a few weeks later at full term (37 – 42 weeks). A baby’s lungs and brain mature later in pregnancy, which means that late preterm babies are more at risk of being jaundiced, and having problems with breathing, feeding, and maintaining their body temperature.

An induced labor can also be more painful than a natural one. Pitocin, a synthetic form of the hormone oxytocin, which is secreted during natural childbirth, is intravenously fed to the mother to induce labor. It generates contractions unnaturally close to one another, providing inadequate rest in between, often making the labor a lot more tiring than giving birth naturally. It also causes intense contractions to start earlier than they do in a natural delivery, before the cervix is significantly dilated. And if all that wasn’t enough, the mother has to be wired up to an electronic monitoring device, adding to her discomfort, to detect any fetal distress which may be caused by the drug.

The possibility of a mother having to undergo a Cesarean section also increases with an induced birth, and it’s no surprise that, in line with the rise in inductions, the percentage of Cesarean-delivered babies has also increased since 1996. In 2006, 31.1 percent of all births were delivered by Cesarean section representing a 50 percent increase since 1996.

But whether the rise in inductions is due to the wishes of the mother, or her physician, is unclear. It can be difficult for some women to know what’s best when it comes to giving birth. While some elect to be induced, others may feel they have little say in the matter, finding it difficult to refuse an induced labor if the advice from their physician is that induction really is in the best interests of both mother and baby.

However, while a doctor has to weigh up all the pros and cons of each individual situation when delivering a baby, a mother still has a say in how she gives birth.  Any woman who is advised to have an induced labor before 39 weeks can ask her physician if there’s any risk to her or her baby’s health that may necessitate inducing at this time. She can also ask to wait to have her baby closer to the 40-weeks mark. Even for older women and those expecting more than one baby, there’s scant evidence to show that inducing labor is beneficial to either mother or baby, provided there are no complications and both appear to be in good health.

It could be that the medical profession is losing confidence in a woman’s ability to deliver naturally without the intervention of technology, and in turn expectant moms are, too. Or maybe we’re using technology more than necessary simply because we can. Providing there’s no bona fide medical reason for an induced birth, shouldn’t we trust Mother Nature a little more to do the job she’s best at…?

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