Body, Soul And Baby - Book Review

When I was newly pregnant with Myles, the first few months of my prenatal care were administered by the fertility specialist I had been seeing since I moved to Florida a few months before. He knew that I had had trouble conceiving and staying pregnant. He knew that I had lost two early pregnancies. Presumably, he knew how nervous and afraid I was this time around.

Imagine my disappointment, fear and uncertainty when at the 8 week ultrasound he told me the heartbeat was lower than where he would have expected. When I asked him what this meant for the baby and the viability of this pregnancy he replied and I quote: "You have a 50/50 chance. Either you'll bleed or you won't".

That was the last time I ever saw him.  I continued taking the Progesterone supplements he had prescribed (which I truly believe are what made it possible for Myles to be here today) and I made a conscious decision to stay as positive as I could about our chances of having a healthy baby.

Then, I immediately began looking for a medical provider who would support my more spiritual approach to pregnancy and who would make more of an effort to recognize and address my needs. Dr. Tracy Gaudet, author of "Body, Soul, And Baby"  - A Doctor's Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, from Preconception to Postpartum, is the prenatal care provider I wish I had.

Dr Gaudet, who is the Director of the Duke Center for Integrative Medicine, has written the hands-down best book about the pregnancy experience that I have come across. "Body, Soul and Baby..." contains the information that I had to gather from ten different online and print sources, all in one book.

This book places a refreshing emphasis on pregnancy as a natural condition, rather than an illness or disease to be treated. It recognizes the journey of pregnancy and how women change physically, emotionally and spiritually. It encourages women to listen to and trust their bodies, rather than fight them or work against them as is so often the case in modern medicine.

Through an integrated approach, incorporating both traditional medicine and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, self hypnosis and chiropractic, Dr. Gaudet has written a book that is one part reference, one part workbook and one part anecdotal stories for women who want a truly holistic pregnancy experience.

Unlike other popular pregnancy books such as The Girlfriend's Guide and What to Expect, this book provides straightforward honest information with no agenda. Without being judgmental or preachy, Dr. Gaudet imparts wisdom and knowledge about how best to care for your body, mind and spirit during pregnancy to ensure your baby is as healthy as possible.

She gives the kind of advice women really need to hear during pregnancy. For example, while she advocates making a birth plan, she is quick to point out that very often things do not happen the way we expect them to and counsels women to be flexible in their thinking.

The book contains exercises and tools for "tuning in" to the pregnant body so that women can be mindful and aware of what is happening every step of the way. This not only creates a more spiritual pregnancy experience, but also allows to pick up important cues from our bodies. One caveat when it comes to using the exercises that I found in my own experiences: You have to pay attention, you have to practice and you have to believe in the mind/body connection in order for them to work.

I truly cannot say enough good things about this book. It provides in depth information about what is happening to the body during pregnancy. It addresses fears with useful information based on medical science as well as traditional wisdom. It provides real stories of real women who have experienced pregnancy.

From choosing a caregiver to knowing what will happen during labor and delivery, this book provides all the practical information a pregnant woman needs, tempered with the kind of great advice you'd expect to receive from your mother or your best friend.

Dr. Gaudet really gets it. She is incredibly knowledgeable and has a genuine care and concern for her patients. "Body, Soul, And Baby..." should be required reading for all OB and fertility specialists.

And if you know a woman who is or wants to be in touch with her body and spirit during pregnancy and beyond rather than sleepwalk through the experience, this book is a must-have.

If you're interested in reading more reviews of "Body, Soul and Baby..." or in winning a free autographed copy of the book, check out the Parent Bloggers Network.

Comments

[Arabella]

Sounds wonderful. It's amazing to me how few medical professionals consider the total experience of pregnancy.

[Chris]

Thanks for the review - I'll put this on my recommendation list for friends!

[jess]

I might check this out. Like you, I went through the wringer to get pregnant, and was also under the care of an RE for the first 10 weeks. I actually appreciated his candor about odds and such, but I can see how someone might want a gentler approach. I actually tend too far to the clinical side in my approach to pregnancy and childbirth (science got me here, blah, blah, blah) but I also want to move more towards the middle and try to shake off, if I can, some of the negativity and fear and pain that has followed me here from my trying to conceive days. So thanks for the rec.

[savia]

Thanks for finding this book - I will definitely keep it on my list for when I take the plunge!