The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is a comprehensive and useful guide based on the real-life experiences of women with disabilities who have chosen to have children. Empathetic, balanced, and practical, it is the only book that answers critical questions and provides guidance for the woman with a disability facing one of the biggest challenges of her life. Get answers to important questions such as: Will my disability affect labor and delivery? How can pregnancy complications be prevented or treated? Can my disability be inherited? What resources should I look for in choosing a hospital or clinic? Will I need a caesarean section? And much more! Thoroughly researched and informative, this book is a practical guide for both disabled women planning for pregnancy and for the health professionals who work with them.

The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth was a finalist for a 2005 Foreward Magazine Best Book of the Year Award and a 2006 Ben Franklin Award! This comprehensive and useful guide is based on the experiences of ninety women with disabilities who chose to have children. In order to bring an intimate focus and understanding to the issues involved in being pregnant and disabled, author Judith Rodgers conducted in-depth interviews with women with 22 different types of disabilities and with a total of 143 pregnancies. Thoroughly researched and informative, this book is a practical guide both for disabled women planning for pregnancy and the health professionals who work with them. The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth supports the right of all women to choose motherhood, and will be useful for any disabled woman who desires to have a child. The subjects covered include: an introduction to the ninety women and their specific disabilities the decision to have a baby parenting with a disability emotional concerns of the mother, family and friends nutrition and exercise in pregnancy a look at each trimester labor and delivery caesarean delivery the postpartum period and breast-feeding. A list of references and a glossary will assist the reader in obtaining additional information and understanding medical terminology. Empathetic, balanced, comprehensive, and practical, this guide provides all the facts needed by disabled women and their families. It stresses the importance of informed communication among the pregnant woman, her family members, and health care professionals. It is the only book that answers critical questions and provides guidance for the woman with a disability facing one of the biggest challenges of her life.

The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth was a finalist for a 2005 Foreward Magazine Best Book of the Year Award and a 2006 Ben Franklin Award! This comprehensive and useful guide is based on the experiences of ninety women with disabilities who chose to have children. In order to bring an intimate focus and understanding to the issues involved in being pregnant and disabled, author Judith Rodgers conducted in-depth interviews with women with 22 different types of disabilities and with a total of 143 pregnancies. Thoroughly researched and informative, this book is a practical guide both for disabled women planning for pregnancy and the health professionals who work with them. The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth supports the right of all women to choose motherhood, and will be useful for any disabled woman who desires to have a child. The subjects covered include: an introduction to the ninety women and their specific disabilities; the decision to have a baby; parenting with a disability; emotional concerns of the mother, family and friends; nutrition and exercise in pregnancy; a look at each trimester; labor and delivery; caesarean delivery; the postpartum period; and breast-feeding. A list of references and a glossary will assist the reader in obtaining additional information and understanding medical terminology. Empathetic, balanced, comprehensive, and practical, this guide provides all the facts needed by disabled women and their families. It stresses the importance of informed communication among the pregnant woman, her family members, and health care professionals. It is the only book that answers critical questions and provides guidance for the woman with a disability facing one of the biggest challenges of her life.

The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is a comprehensive and useful guide based on the real-life experiences of women with disabilities who have chosen to have children. Empathetic, balanced, and practical, it is the only book that answers critical questions and provides guidance for the woman with a disability facing one of the biggest challenges of her life. Get answers to important questions such as: Will my disability affect labor and delivery? How can pregnancy complications be prevented or treated? Can my disability be inherited? What resources should I look for in choosing a hospital or clinic? Will I need a caesarean section? And much more! Thoroughly researched and informative, this book is a practical guide for both disabled women planning for pregnancy and for the health professionals who work with them.

Here you will find an in-depth look at every aspect of pregnancy from the disabled woman's perspective, including how to find the best medical care...exercise...nutrition... body changes...fetal development...recognizing the onset of labor...delivery...Caesarean birth...postpartum issues. Empathetic, balanced, comprehensive, and practical, this guide stresses the importance of informed communication among the pregnant woman, her family members, and health care professionals.

Being both a mother and a woman with a disability - for several years I have faced many challenges. I have dealt with the onset of two neurological conditions whilst being pregnant with my daughter, who is now nine years old. I then went on to have my youngest son (three years old) and recently gave birth to a healthy baby girl (4 months old.) After conducting much research I have come to learn that, though there are support groups and online communities - which undoubtedly for many provide a beacon of hope, friendship and ongoing support - there are very few publications written for the disabled mother in mind and the recent ones I have come across(post 1990-7) appear to be mainly in the US. I wanted to write a more up-to date book easily accessible, relevant, affordable and most importantly written with the British mother/to be in mind. My name is Natalie Otley and this is my guide to everything you need to know about pregnancy with disability.

As an intelligent woman, you are probably used to learning as much as you can before making major decisions. But when it comes to one of the most important decisions of your life--how you will give birth—it is hard to gather accurate, unbiased information. Surprisingly, much of the research does not support common medical opinion and practice. Birth activist Henci Goer gives clear, concise information based on the latest medical studies. The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth helps you compare and contrast your various options and shows you how to avoid unnecessary procedures, drugs, restrictions, and tests. The book covers: Cesareans Breech babies Inducing labor Electronic Fetal Monitoring Rupturing Membranes Coping with slow labor Pain medication Epistiotomy Vaginal birth after a Ceasarean Doulas Deciding on a doctor or midwife Choosing where to have your baby and much more . . .