The national C-section rate is at an all-time high of 31 percent. Are all these C-sections necessary, or are some of them done simply for the sake of convenience? Inductions seem to be the norm, but are they always needed? Today, expectant mothers are often left feeling powerless, as their instincts are replaced by drugs and routine medical procedures. What you are about to discover is that you have a choice, and you have the power to plan the kind of birth that's right for you -whether it is at a birth center, a hospital, or at home. In YOUR BEST BIRTH, internationally known advocates of informed choice Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein inspire women to take back the birth experience, with essential advice on: · Positive and negative effects of epidurals, Pitocin, and other drugs and interventions · Inducing vs. allowing your labor to progress naturally · The truth behind our country's staggering C-section rate · Assembling your birth team and creating your birth plan. With chapters such as "Obstetricians: Finding Dr. Right," "Epidurals: You Haven't Got Time for the Pain," and "Electronic Monitors: Reading between the Lines," Lake and Epstein will encourage you to consider whatever your doctor, mother, and best friend may suggest in a new light. The book also includes inspiring birth stories, including those from well-known personalities, such as Laila Ali and Cindy Crawford. Packed with crucial advice from childbirth professionals, and delivered in a down-to-earth, engaging voice, YOUR BEST BIRTH is sure to renew your confidence and put the control back where it belongs: with parents-to-be! Review: "Abby Epstein and Ricki Lake have taken a wonderful and constructive approach to ensuring an optimal birthing experience. Their language creates a 'climate of confidence' for pregnant women and their families, who must make key decisions about where, how and with whom to give birth in a health care system often unresponsive to our needs. This book is like a good friend giving wise counsel." --Judy Norsigian, co-editor of Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth and Executive Director, Our Bodies Ourselves

"What every mother needs to know. You know Jillian Michaels as the world's leading fitness expert and a renowned nutritionist; but she's also a proud mother of two. In Yeah Baby!, Jillian, along with her team of top-notch experts, will change everything you think you know about pregnancy, arming you with the most cutting-edge information available, so you can make the right choices for you and your little one. They will help you navigate the hidden dangers in your immediate environment; understand the check-ups, tests, and treatments your doctor recommends; and provide powerful solutions for all your issues, from heartburn and swollen feet to more serious medical concerns. Also learn how to optimize every facet of your child's development, from IQ and long-term earning potential to future level of physical fitness and even taste preferences! Yeah Baby! also features a complete meal plan with delicious, nutrition-packed recipes, and a one-of-a-kind, trimester-specific fitness program, to ensure you bounce back stronger and better than ever. Expert Dream Team: · Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD is an Ob-Gyn, a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, and board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine. · Andrea Orbeck is a PregnancyFitness Specialist who holds an advanced degree in Kinesiology and Intracellular Physiology. · Katja VanHerle, MD is one of America's Top Physicians in Endocrinology as named by Consumer Research Council of America. · Cheryl Forberg, RD is an award-winning registered dietitian, chef, and New York Times bestselling author. · Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP is a pediatrician who specializes in infant nutrition and breastfeeding. JILLIAN MICHAELS is the foremost fitness expert in the world and a renowned life coach. From her hit televisions shows, extensively successful fitness DVDs and exercise streaming platform fitfusion.com, 8 New York Times best-selling books, live speaking engagements, award-winning podcast, a soon-to-be-released iPhone app (which will allow users to train with Jillian both in preset and dynamic workouts), social media channels and her personal website jillianmichaels.com she has built an international community of followers 100 million + strong. Jillian's company, Empowered Media, which she co-owns with business partner Giancarlo Chersich, has become a monumental wellness empire dedicated to providing people with accessible and affordable solutions for all their wellness needs from fitness video gaming to athletic apparel and healthy foods. Her overwhelming success stems from her unique connection with her audience that was born from her own personal journey toward health and happiness. "--

This book is an indispensable guide to the risks of medications, environmental toxins, and herbal remedies taken during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Since the discovery of birth defects caused by thalidomide, expectant mothers have questioned the effects of medications and other substances during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This book offers authoritative descriptions of the risks involved during pregnancy and breast-feeding, from prescription drugs, diseases, chemicals, vitamins, herbs, foods, alcohol, cigarette smoke, recreational drugs, and other abuse substances. Some of the topics covered: Tests for determining risks before conception, during pregnancy and after birth Charts and scores of answers to Frequently Asked Questions Charts of safe/unsafe medications, chemicals, vitamins, herbs and foods Practical advice for treating illnesses, avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals, and eating safely. The Complete Guide to Everyday Risks in Pregnancy and Breastfeeding has information that counselors for Motherisk share two hundred times a day. Since 1985, the Motherisk program at The Hospital for Sick Children has provided counseling based on the most up-to-date evidence research on tertatogens, substances or environmental factors that can cause birth defects. Motherisk is one of the biggest programs of its kind worldwide, counselling some 2,000 callers per week. This book will be an invaluable reference throughout a pregnancy and while nursing.