The Disabled Woman's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth

Book excerpt: 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.