Pregnancy is an exciting time for a woman but all of the physical and emotional changes can become overwhelming. To help women experience birth as a pleasurable, one-of-a-kind event, Peggy O'Mara, the editor and publisher of Mothering magazine, has created a book, "Having a Baby, Naturally," that addresses common concerns and questions of pregnancy from conception through the first months of parenting. I highly recommend this practical, information-packed book to any woman who is pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant.

As technology advances, women are faced with many choices during pregnancy, such as where and how to give birth and what types of prenatal testing she will have done. "Having a Baby, Naturally" discusses these wide-ranging topics, as well as the best theories and safest practices used in natural childbirth, in a straightforward, nonjudgmental manner that allows the reader to make her own informed decisions.

Topics covered include:

• Nutrition, diet and exercise
• Emotional self-awareness during and after pregnancy
• A trimester-by-trimester guide to what is happening in your body and your child's
• Birth choices--offering suggestions, not "rules"
• Pain medication alternatives
• Birth locations, from hospitals to home birth
• Relieving morning sickness with natural remedies
• Prenatal testing
• Breastfeeding
• Prematurity and multiple births
• Balancing work and family
• The father's role during pregnancy and beyond
• Difficult subjects, such as birth defects, miscarriages and postpartum depression

Throughout the book, O'Mara, a leading expert on pregnancy and childbirth, explains why natural childbirth can be much more satisfying and safer for women. "Having a Baby, Naturally" can help you to decide how your birth experience will be and keep you from having an impersonal or overly medicated birth. The book also includes natural remedies, spiritual exercises and research on topics like midwives, Doulas, cesareans and diet.

The importance of breastfeeding, which is one of the most important things you can do for your newborn, is also discussed, along with how to do it and overcome any difficulties.

"Having a Baby, Naturally" is an excellent resource for first-time moms and those who have already had children but would like to gain a more natural perspective to childbirth. The book offers an easy-to-read, objective style that can ease the mind of any pregnant woman and ensure her that she is making the best possible choices to protect the health of her new baby.

Stay tuned for an interview with Peggy O'Mara in the next newsletter.

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