Review: About.com Guide to Having a Baby
Weiss, Robin Elise. The About.com Guide to Having a Baby: Important Information, Advice, and Support for Your Pregnancy. Adams Media. 2006. 277p. illus. index. ISBN 1-59869-095-7 [ISBN 978-1-59869-095-8]. pap. $17.95. HEALTH
Women often have questions about pregnancy, especially if they're having their first child. A licensed childbirth educator and mother of seven, Weiss (The Everything Pregnancy Fitness Book) is the resident childbirth expert for About.com. In this new series debut, she provides a detailed overview of the pregnancy and birth stages, beginning with preparation for pregnancy and addressing issues such as infertility, genetic disease, and insurance coverage. She then covers the topics of conception, how to choose healthcare practitioners and birthing facilities, prenatal care, complications, and the birth process. She discusses both vaginal and cesarean births as well as practical issues (e.g., naming the child, deciding what to bring to the hospital). A series of appendixes covers fetal development, defines terms, and lists books and web sites for further information (MedlinePlus is noticeably absent here). Easy to read and understand, with main points in bold type and sidebars offering "What's Hot" and "Tools You Need," this is an excellent guide for those who want a quick overview and detest What To Expect When You're Expecting. Highly recommended for public and consumer health libraries. (Illustrations not seen.)—Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
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