healthy mom healthy baby

story by | otmom

There are literally a bazillion books available for expectant parents. Head to the bookstore or Google it—you’ll see what we mean. It’s not surprising this is a category flooded with options. Approximately four million babies are born in the US each year and what mama in her right mind doesn’t want to make sure she knows what she’s getting into and that she is doing everything she can to ensure a healthy wee one? Happily, there is now a real resource that trumps the rest: Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby: The Ultimate Pregnancy Guide.

So what’s the deal about this mama-to-be periodical?

Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby is designed for women at any stage of pregnancy and as we see it there are three clear reasons to give it a read:

#1 credibility First, Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby is written by moms with credentials. Siobhan Dolan, M.D., is mama to three teenagers, an associate professor in the OBGYN department at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, an attending physician at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City, and medical advisor to the March of Dimes. Alice Lesch Kelly is also the mama of teenagers and has co-written seven books about women’s health and writes for many magazines, including Fit Pregnancy and Conceive. These two women are reason enough to trust the information provided, but there is more.

#2 supported This book has the full backing of the March of Dimes, an organization that for 75 years has been focused on a future when all children are born healthy. Since its inception by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1938 the March of Dimes has devoted billions of dollars to aid scientific research and educational initiatives that have improved the lives of mamas and babies in the US and throughout the world. Wiping out polio from the US, promoting the use of the Apgar score for evaluating a baby’s health at birth, and educating women of childbearing age about the importance of folic acid fortification and supplements are just some of the accomplishments of the March of Dimes’ work. Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby is the first pregnancy guidebook written with the full support of the March of Dimes, which translates into a read you can truly trust.

#3 readable Simply, it’s a great read. It’s sensible and not preachy. It’s to the point and not wordy. It’s valuable and enjoyable. You’ll learn about important prenatal care, choosing a provider, how your baby grows, as well as information on the latest advances in areas such as:

• prenatal testing

• nutrition

• exercise

• breastfeeding

• infant screening and care

• making your home environment safe

• managing postpartum symptoms

The book also provides practical advice every mamato-be wants quick access to, including comprehensive checklists for labor, delivery and beyond, a glossary of terms women are likely to hear over the course of their pregnancies, and uncomfortable pregnancy happenings such as mood swings, headaches, heartburn and morning sickness [to name a few]. Lastly, it’s an easy, fun read. Chapters are concise, but also offer online resources and “in-depth” sections at the back of the book you can reference if the topic really speaks to you and your situation. In- depth sections cover areas such as having multiples, lacking health insurance, vaginal birth after C-section, drug safety, getting help for depression or domestic violence and abuse, as well as advice if you need to quit smoking or drinking alcohol.

This is just a small taste of what this book has to offer. So if you are thinking about having a baby or already have a bun in the oven, go get your copy of Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby today. Available in hardcopy or eReader:

• Hardcopy—http://www.marchofdimes.com/ catalog/product.aspx?productid=5291&

• Hardcopy & NOOK Book—http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/healthy-mom-healthy-babysiobhan-dolan/1111397910

• Hardcopy & Kindle—http://www.amazon.com/ Healthy-Baby-March-Dimes-Book/dp/006211929X

• iPad, iPhone & iPod touch—https://itunes.apple. com/us/book/healthy-mom-healthy-baby/ id533440925?mt=11

And don’t forget to visit the March of Dimes website [www.marchofdimes.com] for opportunities to support this wonderful organization and find valuable information and programs available for all.