Product Description

In the past 10 years the number of twin births has risen 52 percent and the number of higher-order multiples has increased more than 400 percent! Written by a perinatal nurse specializing in multiple birth education, The Multiple Pregnancy Sourcebook explores the physical, financial, and emotional challenges of this high-risk condition. Included is an extensive list of support resources.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #32076 in Books
• Published on: 2001-04-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Amazon.com
Your reaction might have been something like this: "Hurrah! I'm pregnant! What? TWINS?!" Being pregnant with two (or more!) is different from being pregnant with one, and The Multiple Pregnancy Sourcebook tells it like it is, from weight gain to proper preparation for bringing your duplicate (or triplicate) bundles of joy home from the hospital. Author Nancy Bowers couldn't be more qualified to write such a book: not only is she a nurse and teacher of birth classes, she is also the mother of her own set of twins.

This book covers the same material as any pregnancy guide, and in approximately the same order. Starting with proper nutrition and continuing through the standard routines of visits and testing, it finishes up with the actual labor, postnatal care, and a walk-through of those first few days at home. Because all this information is aimed specifically at multiple pregnancies, you'll also find information about subjects like selective reduction, bed rest, and the chances of having at least one baby delivered by cesarean section. Through it all, Bowers's wise and experienced tone manages to soothe while educating. Bowers emphasizes that "multiple pregnancy is demanding work, but the rewards are matchless." She frequently encourages parents to seek out support, whether through a parenting group or a counselor, and provides an excellent guide at the end of the book that offers contact information for all sorts of potential help.

Destined to become a classic for parents of multiples, this sourcebook is one you'll want to keep handy throughout your pregnancy and beyond. --Jill Lightner

About the Author

Nancy Bowers, R.N., B.S.N., is the president of Marvelous Multiples and teaches perinatal classes for families expecting multiple birth.

Customer Reviews

Only useful for the 1st time mother
I have no doubt that this book is great for the first time mother, but for someone who has had a child previously, there was not a lot of new information. There is a lot of good basic pregnancy information here, but much of the multiple pregnancy info could be concluded from singleton pregnancy books and good common sense. I wanted specific information on what I could do to prevent pre-term labor, how much to eat and what, and my limitations. This book did not enlighten me very much at all.

Great book. Right on target.
When I was pregnant with my twins, I was looking for a book that was very factual. I wanted the facts, I wanted the numbers, and I wanted it in a straight way. This book does just that. It's no sugar-coated description of a multiple pregnancy and its possible risks. I would greatly recommended to all expecting multiples.

However, as much as I thought I was prepared, I really wasn't. My twins came 2 months earlier and spent 6 weeks in the NICU. I kept referring to the book as the babies were resting in the hospital. They are now happy and healthy and very active 19 month olds! Good luck!

Good Overall Intro. to Multiples
The complications with a multiple birth can hardly be tackled in-depth in any one volume, but this book does a great job balancing common-sense medical wisdos and spelling out the innumerable risks to mother and babies. Your OB-GYN can point you to another book that deals with your specific medical problems. As a present for being stuck in bed-rest,I gave my wife: "I SLEEP AT RED LIGHTS: A TRUE STORY OF LIFE AFTER TRIPLETS," by Bruce Stockler, and she loved it. The funniest and most hopeful book about the troubles of multiples and parenting in general. Good luck to all mutiples parents!