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Having your baby at home: The total experience
Contemporary Obstetric and Gynecologic Nursing, Vol. 3. Edited by Leota Kester McNall. St. Louis: C. V. Mosby Co., 1980.265 pages. $13.95 soft cover. Reviewed by: Virginia M. Mecikalski, M.S.N., C.N.M., Clinical SpecialistCoordinator Maternity, St. Joseph Hospital, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The editor has compiled a collection of contributions from various practitioners and researchers which she feels address themselves to the specific concerns of women and their health. The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 presents a discussion of the formal organization of the women’s movement in the midnineteenth century with emphasis on its effect on health care for women in regard to contraception and abortion legislation, the physician-client relationship, and the current trend of the expanded role of the nurse. It also includes a chapter on the cultural beliefs and practices of Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and North Americans. A chapter on the psychophysical preparation for childbirth is vey comprehensive and excellent resource material. Part 2 deals with fetal growth and size, assessment of fetal behaviors, and the various tools and concepts used to identify problems, and a chapter on the Torch syndrome. Part 3 discusses assault and battery of women and children including a chapter on the social, legal, medical, and psychological aspects of sexual assault. Part 4 is a collection of selected obstetric and gynecologic problems that includes sexual dysfunction, premenstrual tension, vulvovaginitis, cervical pathology, pelvic muscle relaxation, and the use of real-time ultrasound. The author states in the preface that she wishes to “present theoretical knowledge, research findings, and therapeutic strategies from a multiprofessional approach, and assist a practitioner in meet-
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
??
ing the challenges and demands of both the health care system and the consumers of that system.” The chapter dealing with the psychophysical preparations for childbirth and part 3 in which assault and battery are discussed seem to adhere to these purposes. Subjects such as assessment of fetal size and growth, and realtime ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology are limited in their coverage. The book could be used as a resource in the study of the women’s movement as it developed in the United States. Its value in relation to broader subject matter addressed is limited and would require the use of other resource material for depth and verification. Having Your Baby at Home: The Total Experience. By Kathy Fielding. Monterey, California: Angel Press, 1981. 46 pages. $3.95 paperback. Reviewed by: Elizabeth Hartford, Connecticut
Vitale, C.N.M.,
This is a short paperback book which can be easily read in one sitting. It is written informally, in the form of a diary. In sharing with the reader the subjective experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood, the author skillfully incorporates useful information and advice. For example, she describes some of the normal symptoms of early pregnancy, and remedies for them (e.g., crackers for “morning sickness”); and in enumerating changes in her diet, she briefly explains why she would avoid taking any medicines during pregnancy. She presents to the reader the steps in her decision to have a home birth, stressing the importance of prenatal care, and appropriate screening for high-risk factors. An interesting aspect of this book is that it provides information which is useful for couples planning a hospital birth, even though the title seems to address the book to home birth couples. A brief
Vol. 26, No. 6. November/December
1981
description of prepared childbirth outlines the major differences between the Bradley Method and the Lamaze Method. The section on the labor and delivery, while extremely personal, offers an excellent description of both positive and negative sensations of labor, as well as comfort measures for various stages. Ms. Fielding is very matter-of-fact about the need for an episiotomy in her case, offering those who fear all interventions at all costs an opportunity to see another viewpoint presented in a nonthreatening way. Considering the shortness of the book the author presents an incredible amount of valuable information. Several topics however, are covered too briefly, and may mislead uninformed readers. For example, her mention of a friend whose home birth was attended by a first-year medical student neglects to point out the importance of a qualified attendant with good medical (hospital) back-up; the casual mention of young children present during labor and delivery fails to recognize the complexities of the situation, and the role of preparation; and in comparing the positive aspects of her home birth with the negative aspects of a hospital birth, she describes some out-dated hospital practices without presenting the possibilities of true family-oriented care within a hospital setting. When I reached what I thought was the end of the book, I felt as if I had just had a relaxing chat with a close friend, and looked through some very special photographs of her birth experiences. Then I turned the page and found that there was an epilogue. 1 was abruptly shaken from that relaxed mood as 1 read of the baby of that home birth dying four years later in an accident. There follows a very sad, intense, and moving description of how Kathy Fielding worked through her daughter’s death, how she saw the connections between birth and death, and how she recaptured meaning in her life
35 0091.2182/81/060035+7$02.50
following her loss. It is an artfully written piece, reflecting the author’s profound courage. My only criticism of the “epilogue” is that it was so unexpected. The title, the preface, and the statement on the back cover may lead one to choose this as relaxing warm bedtime reading, only to find oneself sleepless with the sadness and anxiety evoked by the piece. It is a beautiful and powerful book in its entirety, and the title should more fully reflect the wholeness of the contents. Having a Baby After 30. By Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman. New York: Bantam Books, Inc., 1980. 174 pages. $2.50, paperback. Reviewed by: Katherine Rubin, R.N., M.S., Assistant Professor, Maternal Child Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
The political and social unrest of the 1960’s coupled with increased availability and effectiveness of contraceptive techniques caused many young married couples to postpone childbearing indefinitely. Today, we are seeing increasing numbers of these couples, now in their thirties and early forties, delivering their first babies. Lacking an experienced reference group, such couples have often had only their inner selves to support them through the most important turning point in their lives. Haoing a &by After 30 is a much needed source of reassurance and guidance for any couple considering parenthood after the age of thirty. The strength of the book lies not in factual information about pregnancy and birth that can be found in numerous other references on childbirth, but in its psychological support for these older couples now facing the responsibilities of parenthood. The authors interviewed many couples who had become first time parents during their thirties and who were willing to share their own experiences and feelings with others like themselves. Their innermost thoughts, joys, fears, hopes, and struggles are interspersed throughout the entire text. The first chapter addresses the phenomenon of delayed childbearing, including a historical perspective, the characteristics of the couples, and medical considerations. The topics progress to include the special concerns of pregnancy
36
and birth to older couples and the major tasks faced by these couples during their babies’ first months. Since women in this age group are likely to combine motherhood with careers, a chapter is devoted to the working mother. Although the entire book is focused on the couple as a family, there is a separate chapter that addresses the needs and feelings of the fathers who have waited so long. Both Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman have personal as well as professional interest in their topic. Mrs. Bing became a mother at the age of forty when she was in the process of establishing her career as a childbirth educator. Libby Colman is a child of parents who began their family in their thirties. In a moving epilogue, the authors share their personal stories as older parents and children of older parents. Peter Bing, now in his early twenties, writes a delightful account of what it has been like to be the child of parents over forty. Having a Baby Ajter 30 is written for married couples. It does not address the special needs of those women and men who have decided to become single parents in midcareer. The authors recognize this limitation and include two resources for single parents in their bibliography. Modem Nutrition in Health and Disease, 6th Edition. Edited by Robert S.
Goodhart and Maurice E. Shils. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1980. 1370 pages. $47.50, hardcover. Reviewed by: Dorothy L. Brooks, R.D., Assistant Professor and Program Director, Dietetic Internship Program, College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Allied Health Professions.
The preface
of Modern Nutrition in Disease states that this textbook of nutrition is designed as a ready reference book for students and practitioners in the fields of nutrition, medicine, dentistry and public health. The book is divided into six major sections: (I) The Foundations of Nutrition, (II) Safety and Adequacy of the Food Supply, (III) Interrelations of Nutrients and Metabolism, (IV) Malnutrition, (V) Nutrition during “Physiologic Stress” and (VI) Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease. The six sections are comprised of forty chapters featuring contributions by physicians or scientists renowned for their work in each respective area. Each
Health
and
Journal
of Nurse-Midwifery
??
chapter presents a comprehensive review of a topic usually beginning with a historical perspective and progressing through a review of the most recent research on the subject. The chapters conclude with an extensive bibliography. For a book published in 1980, the literature cited in some of the chapters is not as “recent” as might be expected. The chapter on “Iron” is an example as no citations later than 1976 are included. The style and readability of books comprised of the writing of many authors frequently vary from chapter to chapter. Modem Nutrition in Health and Disease is no exception to this truism. Certain chapters read easily while others seem tedious and unnecessarily technical. One of the outstanding features of this book is the Appendix which contains many tables related to nutrient requirements, calculation of energy needs, and growth charts. Food composition lists, modified diet plans, and nutrient content of enteral and parenteral products are also included. The Appendix was assembled by Abby Stolper Block, one of the three dietitians who contributed to the book. Ms. Block, Clinical Diet/Nutrition Specialist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, works closely with Dr. Shils, one of the book’s co-editors. Does the book achieve its purpose? I think that it does-it is a comprehensive, (perhaps exhaustive) presentation of essential nutrition information; it is an important reference text. For nurses, and in particular for nurse-midwives, my feelings are ambivalent. There are certain chapters that most nurses will find interesting and/or useful. Many of these chapters are included in Part II of the book, namely, “Safety and Adequacy of the Food Supply.” This section contains chapters on Criteria of an Adequate Diet, Food Fads and Faddism, Effects of Processing on the Nutritional Values of Foods, and Chemical Additives in Foods. Other chapters of particular interest are those on physiology of hunger and the role of nutrition in immunity and cell growth. Depending upon their own particular interests, midwives may find the chapters on individual nutrients informative. The chapters on pregnancy and infancy and adolescence represent good reviews of current knowledge. Finally, information contained in the Appendix may prove valuable. Whether an individual nurse or nurse-midwife will find these specific indi-
Vol. 26, No. 6, November/December
1981
Journal of Nurse-Midwifery
??
ing the challenges and demands of both the health care system and the consumers of that system.” The chapter dealing with the psychophysical preparations for childbirth and part 3 in which assault and battery are discussed seem to adhere to these purposes. Subjects such as assessment of fetal size and growth, and realtime ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology are limited in their coverage. The book could be used as a resource in the study of the women’s movement as it developed in the United States. Its value in relation to broader subject matter addressed is limited and would require the use of other resource material for depth and verification. Having Your Baby at Home: The Total Experience. By Kathy Fielding. Monterey, California: Angel Press, 1981. 46 pages. $3.95 paperback. Reviewed by: Elizabeth Hartford, Connecticut
Vitale, C.N.M.,
This is a short paperback book which can be easily read in one sitting. It is written informally, in the form of a diary. In sharing with the reader the subjective experiences of pregnancy, childbirth, and parenthood, the author skillfully incorporates useful information and advice. For example, she describes some of the normal symptoms of early pregnancy, and remedies for them (e.g., crackers for “morning sickness”); and in enumerating changes in her diet, she briefly explains why she would avoid taking any medicines during pregnancy. She presents to the reader the steps in her decision to have a home birth, stressing the importance of prenatal care, and appropriate screening for high-risk factors. An interesting aspect of this book is that it provides information which is useful for couples planning a hospital birth, even though the title seems to address the book to home birth couples. A brief
Vol. 26, No. 6. November/December
1981
description of prepared childbirth outlines the major differences between the Bradley Method and the Lamaze Method. The section on the labor and delivery, while extremely personal, offers an excellent description of both positive and negative sensations of labor, as well as comfort measures for various stages. Ms. Fielding is very matter-of-fact about the need for an episiotomy in her case, offering those who fear all interventions at all costs an opportunity to see another viewpoint presented in a nonthreatening way. Considering the shortness of the book the author presents an incredible amount of valuable information. Several topics however, are covered too briefly, and may mislead uninformed readers. For example, her mention of a friend whose home birth was attended by a first-year medical student neglects to point out the importance of a qualified attendant with good medical (hospital) back-up; the casual mention of young children present during labor and delivery fails to recognize the complexities of the situation, and the role of preparation; and in comparing the positive aspects of her home birth with the negative aspects of a hospital birth, she describes some out-dated hospital practices without presenting the possibilities of true family-oriented care within a hospital setting. When I reached what I thought was the end of the book, I felt as if I had just had a relaxing chat with a close friend, and looked through some very special photographs of her birth experiences. Then I turned the page and found that there was an epilogue. 1 was abruptly shaken from that relaxed mood as 1 read of the baby of that home birth dying four years later in an accident. There follows a very sad, intense, and moving description of how Kathy Fielding worked through her daughter’s death, how she saw the connections between birth and death, and how she recaptured meaning in her life
35 0091.2182/81/060035+7$02.50
following her loss. It is an artfully written piece, reflecting the author’s profound courage. My only criticism of the “epilogue” is that it was so unexpected. The title, the preface, and the statement on the back cover may lead one to choose this as relaxing warm bedtime reading, only to find oneself sleepless with the sadness and anxiety evoked by the piece. It is a beautiful and powerful book in its entirety, and the title should more fully reflect the wholeness of the contents. Having a Baby After 30. By Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman. New York: Bantam Books, Inc., 1980. 174 pages. $2.50, paperback. Reviewed by: Katherine Rubin, R.N., M.S., Assistant Professor, Maternal Child Nursing, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
The political and social unrest of the 1960’s coupled with increased availability and effectiveness of contraceptive techniques caused many young married couples to postpone childbearing indefinitely. Today, we are seeing increasing numbers of these couples, now in their thirties and early forties, delivering their first babies. Lacking an experienced reference group, such couples have often had only their inner selves to support them through the most important turning point in their lives. Haoing a &by After 30 is a much needed source of reassurance and guidance for any couple considering parenthood after the age of thirty. The strength of the book lies not in factual information about pregnancy and birth that can be found in numerous other references on childbirth, but in its psychological support for these older couples now facing the responsibilities of parenthood. The authors interviewed many couples who had become first time parents during their thirties and who were willing to share their own experiences and feelings with others like themselves. Their innermost thoughts, joys, fears, hopes, and struggles are interspersed throughout the entire text. The first chapter addresses the phenomenon of delayed childbearing, including a historical perspective, the characteristics of the couples, and medical considerations. The topics progress to include the special concerns of pregnancy
36
and birth to older couples and the major tasks faced by these couples during their babies’ first months. Since women in this age group are likely to combine motherhood with careers, a chapter is devoted to the working mother. Although the entire book is focused on the couple as a family, there is a separate chapter that addresses the needs and feelings of the fathers who have waited so long. Both Elisabeth Bing and Libby Colman have personal as well as professional interest in their topic. Mrs. Bing became a mother at the age of forty when she was in the process of establishing her career as a childbirth educator. Libby Colman is a child of parents who began their family in their thirties. In a moving epilogue, the authors share their personal stories as older parents and children of older parents. Peter Bing, now in his early twenties, writes a delightful account of what it has been like to be the child of parents over forty. Having a Baby Ajter 30 is written for married couples. It does not address the special needs of those women and men who have decided to become single parents in midcareer. The authors recognize this limitation and include two resources for single parents in their bibliography. Modem Nutrition in Health and Disease, 6th Edition. Edited by Robert S.
Goodhart and Maurice E. Shils. Philadelphia: Lea and Febiger, 1980. 1370 pages. $47.50, hardcover. Reviewed by: Dorothy L. Brooks, R.D., Assistant Professor and Program Director, Dietetic Internship Program, College of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-School of Allied Health Professions.
The preface
of Modern Nutrition in Disease states that this textbook of nutrition is designed as a ready reference book for students and practitioners in the fields of nutrition, medicine, dentistry and public health. The book is divided into six major sections: (I) The Foundations of Nutrition, (II) Safety and Adequacy of the Food Supply, (III) Interrelations of Nutrients and Metabolism, (IV) Malnutrition, (V) Nutrition during “Physiologic Stress” and (VI) Nutrition in the Prevention and Treatment of Disease. The six sections are comprised of forty chapters featuring contributions by physicians or scientists renowned for their work in each respective area. Each
Health
and
Journal
of Nurse-Midwifery
??
chapter presents a comprehensive review of a topic usually beginning with a historical perspective and progressing through a review of the most recent research on the subject. The chapters conclude with an extensive bibliography. For a book published in 1980, the literature cited in some of the chapters is not as “recent” as might be expected. The chapter on “Iron” is an example as no citations later than 1976 are included. The style and readability of books comprised of the writing of many authors frequently vary from chapter to chapter. Modem Nutrition in Health and Disease is no exception to this truism. Certain chapters read easily while others seem tedious and unnecessarily technical. One of the outstanding features of this book is the Appendix which contains many tables related to nutrient requirements, calculation of energy needs, and growth charts. Food composition lists, modified diet plans, and nutrient content of enteral and parenteral products are also included. The Appendix was assembled by Abby Stolper Block, one of the three dietitians who contributed to the book. Ms. Block, Clinical Diet/Nutrition Specialist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, works closely with Dr. Shils, one of the book’s co-editors. Does the book achieve its purpose? I think that it does-it is a comprehensive, (perhaps exhaustive) presentation of essential nutrition information; it is an important reference text. For nurses, and in particular for nurse-midwives, my feelings are ambivalent. There are certain chapters that most nurses will find interesting and/or useful. Many of these chapters are included in Part II of the book, namely, “Safety and Adequacy of the Food Supply.” This section contains chapters on Criteria of an Adequate Diet, Food Fads and Faddism, Effects of Processing on the Nutritional Values of Foods, and Chemical Additives in Foods. Other chapters of particular interest are those on physiology of hunger and the role of nutrition in immunity and cell growth. Depending upon their own particular interests, midwives may find the chapters on individual nutrients informative. The chapters on pregnancy and infancy and adolescence represent good reviews of current knowledge. Finally, information contained in the Appendix may prove valuable. Whether an individual nurse or nurse-midwife will find these specific indi-
Vol. 26, No. 6, November/December
1981