High-Risk Pregnancy-Why Me?: Understanding and Managing a Potential Preterm Pregnancy: A Medical and Emotional Guide

by Kelly Whitehead, Dr. Vincenzo Berghella

Facing a possible high-risk pregnancy?
Struggling to keep your fear and anxiety under control?
Overwhelmed by a long list of unknowns?
Seeking medical answers and emotional reassurance?
The road to parenthood is tough enough. Adding the fear of a possible premature baby can make it bed rest, countless meds, endless tests, no sex, the list goes on and on. So, when past history or known risk factors increase the likelihood of a high-risk pregnancy and a premature baby, Why Me? delivers...
Written by a mom-scientist who lost her first baby at nearly 23 weeks and endured two subsequently successful high-risk pregnancies in collaboration with one of the world's top medical authorities on premature birth, WM? provides the answers and knowledge your head craves, while addressing the heart's need to manage one's fears, to know they're normal and to be reassured that you can and will get through this.
Want to be as knowledgeable as your doctor?
In WM?, you will find the most current and in-depth medical research, treatments and strategies from the top experts in the field and provided by someone who has walked in your shoes. Some of the topics covered Preterm Labor
Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM)
Incompetent Cervix
Preeclampsia
Placental Abruption
Intrauterine Growth Restriction/Fetal Indications
Multiples (twins, triplets, etc)
You Have Questions & More Questions...
And WM? has answers.
From risk factors and finding the best doctor, to coping with months of bed rest and sexual abstinence. From transvaginal ultrasound and cervical lengths, to cerclage and progesterone. From fetal fibronectin testing and the value of steroids to contraction-stopping meds and much more.
Unique Focus on Prematurity
While many books cover high-risk pregnancy in general, virtually none concentrate exclusively on the heart-wrenching experience of a potential preemie scenario. Until now.
Countless healthy babies are born every day, against all the odds. Why not yours? Use WM? to move beyond the fear and into control of your pregnancy.
Hoping for a happy, healthy, and term pregnancy! Try to keep your chin up, the numbers are on your side.

424 pages, Paperback

First published November 20, 2011

Reviews

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have issues with high risk pregnancy issues such as pre-eclampsia, preterm labour and incompetent cervix - this book is a must-read. A well-researched book packed with practical information presented in a cordial, sympathetic (important for women who have already suffered losses) and easy-to-digest manner. This book is integral in helping me craft the right questions to ask my doctors and expectations of the type of pregnancy management in my future.

[Gareth Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very well put together study of high-risk pregnancy without too much detail to be overwhelming, but with enough detail for a curious/critical mind to understand the subjects on hand. If you've experienced any kind of high-risk pregnancy (PPROM, Pre-term labour, Incompetent Cervix, Infection etc) this is the book for you.

It might not make you feel better about some things, but it will let you know the data and the facts of your situation so you can be educated about how to manage the risk.

It was a hard read personally because of our history, but an important book to digest.

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full of extremely useful information and moving personal stories. As far as I can tell, it is the only book completely devoted to high-risk pregnancy and premature birth. Anyone at risk for or experiencing pre-term labor and delivery should find it helpful. And the author does a great job using humor to defuse the situation. What this book doesn't have is a lot information about premature babies.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: An Early Baby Can't Happen to Me ... Can It?
Chapter 2: Preterm Birth ... It Happens, and Yes, You Can have a Healthy Baby
Chapter 3: Incompe ... What? More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About Your Cervix
Chapter 4: The Link Between Infection/Inflammation and Early Birth
Chapter 5: Is It or Isn't It? What the Heck Does a Contraction Really Feel Like?
Chapter 6: Our Friend and Foe, Tocolytics
Chapter 7: To Cerclage or Not to Cerclage: That Is the Question. All About Transvaginal Cerclages
Chapter 8: Transvaginal Ultrasonography: The Only Allowable Penetration for the Lady on Pelvic Rest
Chapter 9: When Transvaginal Cerclages Fail, There's Still Hope of Beating IC: The Transabdominal Cerclage
Chapter 10: Summary of Treatment Options for a Short Cervix
Chapter 11: Dealing with a High-Risk Pregnancy Really Sucks!
Chapter 12: The Nuances of a High-Risk Pregnancy: Discharge, Pelvic Rest ... Oh, the Delight!
Chapter 13: 17 Alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (i.e., 17P) to Prevent Preterm Birth. Say That Two Times Fast
Chapter 14: Fetal Fibro ... Huh? Figuring Out Risk
Chapter 15: Choosing the Right Doc
Chapter 16: The High-Risk Pregnancy Woman's Jail, Bed Rest: Beating Bed Rest Boredom and Neuroticness ... Or Not!
Chapter 17: Medical Pregnancy, Natural Birth ... Can This Be Possible? ABSOLUTELY!
Chapter 18: The Amazing and Miraculous Preemie Baby
Chapter 19: You Baby Died ... Not You
Chapter 20: Stories of Hope and Amazing Babies