Birth Book: An Ob-Gyn’s Guide to Demystifying Labor and Delivery

Ob-gyn Lincoln (Let’s Talk About Down There) delivers a comprehensive and sensitive guide to giving birth. She presents her advice in question-and-answer format, beginning with logistics like choosing where to have the baby (a hospital offers access to pain medication options, while birthing at home with a midwife can be more affordable and comforting) and how to know when it’s time to go there (when one’s water breaks or contractions are regular and painful). Providing an overview of the stages of labor, she notes that the duration can be affected by whether the mother has an epidural and if she has given birth before. Possible complications are discussed as well, such as preeclampsia, or high blood pressure during pregnancy, and shoulder dystocia, which is when the baby’s shoulder gets stuck under the mother’s pubic bone. Lincoln also addresses challenges that arise after labor, such as postpartum depression, explaining that mood changes are common and therapy and medication can help. With a kind, informed voice, Lincoln anticipates common questions pregnant people are likely to have, from the lighthearted (“Will [the baby] always look... like this?”) to the practical (“How do I prevent tearing?”). This is a solid addition to any new mother’s bookshelf. (Mar.)