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Dr. Guttmacher's Pregnancy, Birth; Family Planning
MEDIA REVIEWS
Cheri Van Hoover, CNM, MS
Dr. Guttmacher’s Pregnancy, Birth & Family Planning By Ronnie Lichtman, Lynn Louise Simpson, and Allan Rosenfield. New American Library, 2003. 880 pages. $17.95. Reviewed by: Suzan Ulrich, CNM, DrPH, Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health: Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. The first paragraph of this completely revised edition of the classic consumer guide to pregnancy sets the stage by honoring Dr. Guttmacher for his commitment to providing information to women about how their bodies work. First published in 1937, this pregnancy guide was revolutionary. It provided sound scientific information to women that allowed them to be active participants in their care. Dr. Guttmacher’s emphasis on education and partnership with women is the heart of the midwifery model. The authors state that collaboration between physicians and midwives was uncommon at the time of the first printing of this book but is now becoming the norm. Thus, it is fitting that the lead author of this new edition be a Certified NurseMidwife, Ronnie Lichtman, CNM, PhD. The book describes the types of providers a woman may choose for her care, including obstetrician, family physician, and midwife. Throughout this book the phrase “your physician or midwife” is used repeatedly to describe the providers of health care to women, a welcome acknowledgment of the professional role of the modern midwife. Midwifery is described as the “oldest profession— or perhaps the second oldest, following motherhood.” The various kinds of midwives present in the United States today are described. The authors help women decide which provider would be best for them by explaining that midwives “believe in being with women throughout most of labor and birth and the postpartum period.” Settings for birth including home, freestanding birth center, hospital-based birth center, and hospital are explained, with pros and cons of each option delineated. Studies are cited that show the safety of out of hospital birth for women who are carefully assessed for risk factors. The National Association of Childbearing Centers is listed as a reference for out of hospital births. This book provides clear information, including complications and problems that can occur during pregnancy and birth, without frightening the reader. It is emphasized repeatedly that most pregnancies and births are normal physiologic processes with social and spiritual dimensions. Women are reassured about the normal physiology of pregnancy and birth. This tone is set early when the authors describe how women tend to hear birth stories only after they become pregnant themselves. The stories they are told tend to be the exciting ones with terrible things happening Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • www.jmwh.org © 2004 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Issued by Elsevier Inc.
because women with normal births think their stories are too boring to tell. Women are cautioned to remember that every pregnancy and birth is unique and not to expect the high drama of the stories they hear. Information is given carefully and in depth, citing scientific studies to show the evidence for various concepts. Controversies in current knowledge are presented even handedly. A strong point of the book is how well the information is reinforced. The authors present information and then strengthen and repeat it once or twice, which as any good teacher knows helps promote understanding and learning of new information. This careful description and reinforcement of information is in sharp contrast to the short brief bullet point type of writing that is quite common today in magazines, newspapers, and many consumer pregnancy guides. This can be considered a drawback to this book because of the decreased attention span of many young adult readers today. However, this depth and clarity allow readers a more complete understanding of information and is thus less likely to be frightening to them. This is very important since this information is intended to assist women to make informed choices in their care, not to frighten them into submitting to a standard, high technological care modality. The book has 28 chapters and covers information ranging from becoming pregnant through newborn care and breastfeeding, including problems such as infertility and operative birth. Family planning is presented, as well as an appendix with a list of rich resources for the pregnant woman and her family. There are nice boxed areas in the text that highlight various topics and help pinpoint information. Many of these boxes include positive affirmations from the authors that support women. As on page 761: A Happy Note Breast-feeding is a gift you give to your baby. It is also a gift your baby gives to you. It should be joyful and happy. Seek help if it is anything but. These personal tips are positive and charming. They highlight the authors’ real concern for women. This book is an essential in any midwife’s collection of consumer guides to pregnancy and should be recommended highly to women to assist them in becoming informed, active participants in their care. The Johns Hopkins Manual of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2nd Edition Editors: Bankowski, Hearne, Lambrou, et al. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002. 610 pages. 1 1526-9523/04/$30.00
Cheri Van Hoover, CNM, MS
Dr. Guttmacher’s Pregnancy, Birth & Family Planning By Ronnie Lichtman, Lynn Louise Simpson, and Allan Rosenfield. New American Library, 2003. 880 pages. $17.95. Reviewed by: Suzan Ulrich, CNM, DrPH, Chair of Midwifery and Women’s Health: Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing. The first paragraph of this completely revised edition of the classic consumer guide to pregnancy sets the stage by honoring Dr. Guttmacher for his commitment to providing information to women about how their bodies work. First published in 1937, this pregnancy guide was revolutionary. It provided sound scientific information to women that allowed them to be active participants in their care. Dr. Guttmacher’s emphasis on education and partnership with women is the heart of the midwifery model. The authors state that collaboration between physicians and midwives was uncommon at the time of the first printing of this book but is now becoming the norm. Thus, it is fitting that the lead author of this new edition be a Certified NurseMidwife, Ronnie Lichtman, CNM, PhD. The book describes the types of providers a woman may choose for her care, including obstetrician, family physician, and midwife. Throughout this book the phrase “your physician or midwife” is used repeatedly to describe the providers of health care to women, a welcome acknowledgment of the professional role of the modern midwife. Midwifery is described as the “oldest profession— or perhaps the second oldest, following motherhood.” The various kinds of midwives present in the United States today are described. The authors help women decide which provider would be best for them by explaining that midwives “believe in being with women throughout most of labor and birth and the postpartum period.” Settings for birth including home, freestanding birth center, hospital-based birth center, and hospital are explained, with pros and cons of each option delineated. Studies are cited that show the safety of out of hospital birth for women who are carefully assessed for risk factors. The National Association of Childbearing Centers is listed as a reference for out of hospital births. This book provides clear information, including complications and problems that can occur during pregnancy and birth, without frightening the reader. It is emphasized repeatedly that most pregnancies and births are normal physiologic processes with social and spiritual dimensions. Women are reassured about the normal physiology of pregnancy and birth. This tone is set early when the authors describe how women tend to hear birth stories only after they become pregnant themselves. The stories they are told tend to be the exciting ones with terrible things happening Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health • www.jmwh.org © 2004 by the American College of Nurse-Midwives Issued by Elsevier Inc.
because women with normal births think their stories are too boring to tell. Women are cautioned to remember that every pregnancy and birth is unique and not to expect the high drama of the stories they hear. Information is given carefully and in depth, citing scientific studies to show the evidence for various concepts. Controversies in current knowledge are presented even handedly. A strong point of the book is how well the information is reinforced. The authors present information and then strengthen and repeat it once or twice, which as any good teacher knows helps promote understanding and learning of new information. This careful description and reinforcement of information is in sharp contrast to the short brief bullet point type of writing that is quite common today in magazines, newspapers, and many consumer pregnancy guides. This can be considered a drawback to this book because of the decreased attention span of many young adult readers today. However, this depth and clarity allow readers a more complete understanding of information and is thus less likely to be frightening to them. This is very important since this information is intended to assist women to make informed choices in their care, not to frighten them into submitting to a standard, high technological care modality. The book has 28 chapters and covers information ranging from becoming pregnant through newborn care and breastfeeding, including problems such as infertility and operative birth. Family planning is presented, as well as an appendix with a list of rich resources for the pregnant woman and her family. There are nice boxed areas in the text that highlight various topics and help pinpoint information. Many of these boxes include positive affirmations from the authors that support women. As on page 761: A Happy Note Breast-feeding is a gift you give to your baby. It is also a gift your baby gives to you. It should be joyful and happy. Seek help if it is anything but. These personal tips are positive and charming. They highlight the authors’ real concern for women. This book is an essential in any midwife’s collection of consumer guides to pregnancy and should be recommended highly to women to assist them in becoming informed, active participants in their care. The Johns Hopkins Manual of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2nd Edition Editors: Bankowski, Hearne, Lambrou, et al. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2002. 610 pages. 1 1526-9523/04/$30.00