A revised and updated edition of the classic handbook for women seeking a safe, organic, eco-friendly, and natural pregnancy, featuring an integrative-based approach with new medical, herbal, and nutritional information.

Every mother wants the best for her unborn child, from the baby’s conception to birth. What’s more, every mother wants clear, straightforward information delivered in a calm, empowering voice from someone who knows the facts. Enter Dr. Aviva Jill Romm, an expert in natural childbirth with more than twenty years of experience in both alternative and allopathic medicine. In this newly revised third edition, Dr. Romm takes a holistic approach, emphasizing natural remedies wherever possible and providing up-to-date advice on herbs that promote wellness during pregnancy, and alleviate such familiar concerns as anxiety, fatigue, morning sickness, and stretch marks. With tips for a nutritious diet, exercise and posture, and information on the emotional and physical changes that childbearing brings, The Natural Pregnancy Book is your comprehensive guide to a safe, healthy pregnancy, as nature intended it.

AVIVA JILL ROMM, MD, is a physician and highly respected expert in botanical medicine, childbirth, women’s health, and pediatrics. She practiced as a homebirth midwife and herbalist for more than twenty years, becoming one of the first certified professional midwives (CPM) in the United States, and graduated from Yale School of Medicine, where she was instrumental in creating the school’s first integrative medicine curriculum. Visit www.avivaromm.com.

Acknowledgments
Foreword by Ina May Gaskin
Preface

Part I: Your Pregnancy

Chapter 1: The Basics 
A Brief History of Birthing Practices in the United States   
What I Mean by Natural   
Alternative Childbirth and the
Resurgence of Midwifery   
Looking to the Future 
 
Chapter 2: Becoming Body Centered
Learning to Listen to Your Body
Feelings and Fears About Your Body
Moving Your Body Joyously
Reclaiming Women’s Wisdom

Chapter 3: The Baby Inside You
Your Growing Baby
Creating a Healthy Prenatal Environment
Communicating with Your Baby

Chapter 4: Prenatal Care
Prenatal Care Basics
Choosing Your Birth Place
Choosing Your Birth Attendant
Prenatal Visits
Prenatal Testing
Childbirth Education Classes

Chapter 5: What to Eat When You’re Pregnant
Getting Started
We Bring Home More Than the Bacon: Hidden Dangers in Our Foods
What Should You Eat?
The Nutrients
Vegetarian and Other Natural Foods Diets
Cravings
Weight Gain—How Much?
Take Inventory
Foods to Avoid in Pregnancy

Chapter 6: Herbs, Safety, and Pregnancy Health
Are Herbs Safe During Pregnancy?
Using Herbs During Pregnancy
Herbs Considered Safe in Pregnancy
Herbs to Avoid During Pregnancy
What Forms of Herbs Are Safe During Pregnancy?

Chapter 7: Exercise and Posture
Posture
Essential Movements for Pregnant Women
Pelvic Health
Massage: Passive Exercise

Chapter 8: The Need for Rest
Relaxation Techniques
Spending Time Outdoors

Chapter 9: 106 Physical Changes During Pregnancy
Your Breasts
Your Yoni
Digestive Tract
Urinary Tract
Uterus and Belly
Hair and Skin
Bones and Muscles
Touch, Sound, and Smell

Chapter 10: Emotional Changes by Trimester
First Trimester
Second Trimester
Third Trimester

Chapter 11: The Month Before Birth
Nutrition and Rest During Late Pregnancy
Herbs for Late Pregnancy and Birth Preparation
Preparing Your Body for Birth
Preparing for Breastfeeding
What You Need After the Baby Is Born

Chapter 12: Pregnancy as a Rite of Passage
An Opportunity for Personal Growth
Self-Empowerment
Celebrating Pregnancy

Chapter 13: Your Changing Family
Your Relationship with Your Mate
Single Mommas
When You Already Have Children
A Partner's Point of View

Part II: Common Concerns During Pregnancy

Chapter 14: A Guide to Common Pregnancy Issues
Anemia
Anxiety
Backaches and Sciatica
Bleeding and Cramping in Early Pregnancy
Bleeding in Late-Pregnancy
Breasts, Sore
Breech Births
Colds, Flu, and Mild Illnesses
Constipation
Cramping
Depression
Ectopic Pregnancy
Edema
Emotional Swings
Fatigue
Gestational Diabetes
Headaches
Herpes
High Blood Pressure
Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Indigestion and Heartburn
Insomnia and Anxiety
Itchiness and Skin Troubles
Leg Cramps and Restless Legs
Miscarriage
Morning Sickness
Preeclampsia
Stretch Marks
Swelling
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
Vaginal Infections
Varicose Veins and Hemorrhoids

Appendix A: Herbal Preparations
Gathering Herbs
Purchasing Herbs
Preparing Herbs

Appendix B: Common and Latin Names for Herbs in This Book

Resources:
Childbirth Education and Doula Organizations
Herbal Organizations
Herbal Product Resources
HypnoBirthing
Magazines
Midwifery Organizations
Pregnancy and Birth Supplies for Midwives and Home-birth Mamas
Pregnancy and Birth Websites and Blogs
Women’s Herbal Education

Bibliography
About the Author
Index