preemie-l Preterm Labor Resources 5-27-96

MarAim@aol.com
Sat, 1 Jun 1996 21:37:06 -0400 

PRETERM LABOR RESOURCES

BOOKS:

The information given is all the publishing information that I have, if you
have more
information, please feel free to contact me.  The descriptions are taken from
the backs of
the book, unless otherwise stated.

Books and other articles followed by BLB can be obtained from the Birth and
Life
Bookstore, 141 Commercial Street NE, Salem, OR 97301,  customer service and
catalog
requests (503) 371-4445, orders (800) 443-9942, fax (503) 371-5395.

“Intensive Caring:  New Hope for High Risk Pregnancy” by Dianne Hales and
Timothy RB Johnson, MD, Crown Publishers, New York, 1990.
     Today one out of every seen mothers-to-be is identified as a high-risk
patient. 
Womenwho have almost given up hope of having a child are carrying perfectly
normal
babies to term, and, as word of their success has spread, the science that
has enabled them
to reach motherhood has grown by leaps and bounds.
     “Intensive Caring” defines who is at risk, explains what can be
expected, what you can
do to help your doctor and baby, how to cope with the stress of a high-risk
pregnancy,
what to do if you have a chronic illness, what happens if complications
develop, how to
avoid premature labor and birth, what a high-risk birth is like, and how to
care for a
high-risk infant.  Coauthored by one of the nation’s leading specialists in
the field,
“Intensive Caring” presents the newest information on medical advances in
easy and
reassuring language.
     Here’s all the good news about having a healthy baby.  “Maybe it’s
sweeter for us,”
one brand new mother who had lost a previous baby told the authors.
 “Millions of women
have babies.  I had a miracle.”

“Pregnancy Bedrest: A Guide for the Pregnant Woman and her Family” by Susan
Johnson and Deborah Kraut, Holt, New York, 1990.
     For women experiencing high-risk pregnancies, theraputic bedrest is
often prescribed. 
If you are one of these women, suddenly shut out of the “normal” pregnancy
routine, you
need this book.  It is an indispensable, practical guide that will help you
and your family
adjust to the trauma of spending your days, weeks, or months in bed.
     Among the subjects covered are: immidiate arrangements after you get the
news, leaving your job, basic equipment, setting up your room, planning your
days,
managing your household, caring for children, dealing with emotions and
boredom,
short-term and extended hospitalization.
     “Pregnancy Bedrest” discusses all the facets of a pregnant woman’s life
that abruptly
change when bedrest is required and offers dozens of practical, proven
suggestions to
make restricted confinement more comfortable and manageable.

“Bedrest Before Baby: What’s a Mother to Do? - A Survival Handbook for
High-Risk Moms” by P. Isenock, Mustardseed, Huntington Beach (CA), 1992.
     Medical informatin - Explanation of pregnancy-induced hypertension
(PIH), preterm
labor (PTL), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), placenta previa,
gestational
diabetes, and multifetal pregnancies.  Descriptions of prenatal testing
techniques and
results.
     Bedrest Support Network - Local listings of support groups for mothers
on bedrest.
     Childcare Alternatives - Sources of childcare.  How to relieve sibling
stress.
     Financial Assistance - Medical bill payment strategies.
     Personalized Record - Chart your progress!  Space to record your own
experiences,
test results, important names and phone numbers.
     Boredom Busters  - Lists of bedrest activities.

“(Every Pregnant Woman’s Guide to) Preventing Preterm Birth” by Barbara Like,
ScD, MPH, RN, RD, Times Books, New York, 1995.
     One out of every ten babies in the United States is born prematurely,
and prematurity is
the leading cause of death among infants before their first birthday.  In
addition to being
small, premature babies are developmentally unprepared for life, which can
result in
physical and mental disabilitites.  Premature babies are more likely to have
respiratory
problems during childhood, as well as a higher incidence of learning
disabilities and
problems with speech, hearing, and vision.  The good news is that in many
cases
prematurity can be prevented.
     Most women don’t realize how much they can do to reduce their risks and
improve the
health of their unborn babies.  “Every Pregnant Woman’s Guide to Preventing
Premature
Birth” is the only book of it’s kind to present practical, scientifically
sound information on
the sixty most important risk factors identified with prematurity and how to
reduce them. 
This book begins with a questionnaire to help you assess your personal risk
factors for
premature birth (e.g., family background; gynecological, obstetrical, and
medical risks;
stress levels; home and work environment), and makes practical
recommendations for
reducing those risks that you can change.  Many of these suggestions are as
surprising as
they are effective.  Did you know that vacuuming is one of the most stressful
activities you
can perform while pregnant?  Or that noise increases your level of
stress-related hormones
(turn down that radio!)?  Dr. Luke explains step-by-step how to make small
changes in
your lifestyle that can have huge benefits for your child.

“How to Prevent Miscarriage and Other Crises of Pregnancy” by Stefan
Semchyshyn, MD and Carol Colman, Collier Books, New York, 1989.  BLB.
     If you have miscarried, given birth prematurely, experienced a
stillbirth, or would like to avoid these tragedies in the first place, you
need to read “How
to Prevent Miscarriage and Other Crises of Pregnancy” by Dr. Stefan
Semchyshyn and
Carol Colman.  Dr. Semchyshyn is one of only four hundred doctors in the
United States
certified in maternal-fetal medicine and has a remarkable 97.5 percent
success rate for
brining healthy babies to term in his high-risk pregnancy practice.  In “How
to Prevent
Miscarriage and Other Crises of Pregnancy,” Dr. Semchyshyn looks at the
causes of
miscarriage and premature labor, and offers sound, state-of-the-art advice on
treatment
and prevention.  He details how to monitor your pregnancy from conception to
birth and
outlines a home-care program and emergency procedures designed to prevent a
small
problem in your pregnancy from becoming a crisis.  Dr. Semchyshyn also
discusses
exercise, nutrition, coping with a difficult pregnancy, and much more.  This
is an essential
book for every woman who wants to have a healthy baby.

“Preventing Preterm Birth: A Parents’ Guide” by Michael Katz, 1988.
     The best place for most developing babies is inside their mother’s womb.
 Yet each
year, thousands of women deliver their babies before their pregnancy has
reached full
term.  these preterm infants can have serious medical problems, requiring
lengthy and
expensive hospital care.
     many preterm births can be prevented.  “Preventing Preterm Birth” gives
the
parent-to-be information on the risk of preterm labor, how it can be
diagnosed and
treated, and health problems the premature infant can face.
     This book will help you know if you are “at risk” for delivering your
baby early, and
what to do if you are.
     “Preventing Preterm Birth” tells you: how to work with your doctor to
increase your
chances of having a healthy baby, concrete suggestions about living your life
during a
high-risk pregnancy, how to find high quality prenatal care from experienced
health care
providers, tailored to your individual needs, what you can do to help
discover early sighns
of preterm labor, and how to work with your doctor to prevent preterm
delivery, how to
weigh the risks and benefits of different treatments that may be recommended
to prevent
preterm labor, how to reach decisions about your own case in cooperation with
your
doctor.
     For every parent-to-be who knows or wonders if they have a “high-risk”
pregnancy,
“Preventing Preterm Birth” provides information they need to do their best to
bring a
healthy baby into the world.  BLB.

“When Pregnancy Isn’t Perfect” by Laurie Rich, 1991.
     Like most women, Laurie Rich expected her pregnancy to be perfect.
 Instead, she had
ten major, painful and debilitating complications that kept her bedridden for
seven months,
ending with a five-week hospital stay and her premature delivery by cesarian
section. 
During this time, Laurie searched in vain for a book that would tell her what
was
happening to her and why.  That is why she decided to write the book she
wished she had
read while she was pregnant.  The result is this invaluable guide, packed
with
comprehensive information and reassurance for the many women who, like
Laurie,
develop such conditions as: hypertension, toxemia, preeclamsia, and
eclampsia;
intrauterine growth retardation syndrome; placenta previa, prenatal
abruption, and other
causes of bleeding during pregnancy; threatened miscarriage and “incompetent
cervix”;
preterm labor and delivery.
     There is also a wealth of advice on coping with such problems as
multiple pregnancy
and cesarian delivery and a special chapter for fathers - who are too often
negleted when
complications arise.  Filled with both help and hope, this information-packed
book is
essential reading for all expectant mothers. BLB.


AUDIO TAPES:

“Baby & Me: Guided Relaxation Especially for Preterm Labor” by Sylvia Klein
Olkin.
1993.
     (From BLB catalog)  A relaxing tape designed for the mother in preterm
labor.
Features stress management, inner bonding, and relaxation techniques.  Two
sections for
the mother to help alleviate her fears and two sections for the baby that
encourage it to
stay near its mother’s heart.  50 minutes.


ORGANIZATIONS:

Sidelines National Support Network
P.O. Box 1808
Laguna Beach, CA 92652
(714) 497-2265
     Sidelines is a non-profit organization that proviedes support,
education, and advocacy
to women with high risk pregnancies and their families.  They have
community-based
chapters throughout the country.  Call for a referral to a local chapter, and
ask for a
patient packet and a copy of “Left Sidelines” magazine.

The Confinement Line
c/o The Childbirth Education Association
P.O. Box 1609
Springfield, VA 22151
(703) 941-7183
     The confinement line provides a support line and newsletter for women on
bedrest in
the Greater Washington, DC area.  They are happy to mail out their newsletter
to women
on bedrest throughout the country.  They also offer assistance to those
establishing a
support system for women on bedrest in their own community.


ONLINE/INTERNET RESOURCES

Pillowtalk Presonalized Childbirth Teaching Pregnancy/Childbirth Resource
Internet Site
http://www.pillowtalk.com/~vpkropp
     Pillowtalk offers specific support and chatrooms for moms on bedrest.

Look in the health and parenting sections of your online service to find
other women on
bedrest, or women who have survived bedrest.

You can often find other women on bedrest on the Usenet Newsgroup
misc.kids.pregnancy also.




If you have any resources that you would like to add to this list, or any
corrections or
problems with the list, please contact me.  Also, please contact me if you
would like to
receive updated versions of this list.  I would be happy to send copies of
updates out
either by email or traditional mail.  Thank you.  Mary Searcy, 1118 34th
Street SW,
Wyoming, MI 49509, MarAim@aol.com.