Aromatherapy in Midwifery Practice. Denise Tran, $45.95

Aromatherapy is increasingly incorporated into midwifery practice, particularly in midwife-led units. It is the most commonly used therapy by midwives and birthing practitioners but access to up-to-date safety information is limited. Almost 90% of women may be using complementary therapies during pregnancy and birth and so it is very important that midwives are aware of safe and appropriate use based on contemporary evidence. This book covers safety, effectiveness, evidence, benefits and risks, and legal, ethical and professional issues related to incorporating aromatherapy into maternity care. Useful charts and tables are included for quick reference in clinical practice, making this is the ultimate handbook for using aromatherapy in midwifery practice.

The scientific basis behind aromatherapy, including relevant anatomy and physiology, chemistry and pharmacology are covered, as well as a critical appraisal of the contemporary research evidence supporting the use of aromatherapy in maternity care. Essential oil profiles of the oils that can be safely used in pregnancy, birth and postpartum are also included.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress. Amy Wenzel & Karen Kleiman, $63.50

Countless studies have established the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for many manifestations of depression and anxiety. In Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Perinatal Distress,Wenzel and Kleiman discuss the benefits of CBT for pregnant and postpartum women who suffer from emotional distress. The myths of CBT as rigid and intrusive are shattered as the authors describe its flexible application for perinatal women. This text teaches practitioners how to successfully integrate CBT structure and strategy into a supportive approach in working with this population. The examples used in the book will be familiar to postpartum specialists, making this an easily comprehensive and useful resource.

Complementary & Alternative Medicine in Breastfeeding Therapy. Nikki Lee, $24.50

Sometimes there are challenges for lactation therapists that can't be completely resolved by current lactation practices. In COMPLEMENTARY & ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE IN BREASTFEEDING THERAPY, author Nikki Lee describes mother-baby situations that benefit from complementary and alternative therapy techniques in order to have a thriving baby and a happy mother, with an abundant milk supply and easy breastfeeding. Therapies covered include:

• Creating a healing environment
• Skin-to-skin
• Massage
• Acupuncture
• Chiropractic
• Craniosacral therapy
• Remedial co-bathing
• Homeopathy

This book is not an instruction manual. It is an open door to the world of other ways of healing. Some or all of these therapies may be gentle and helpful additions to your lactation toolbox.

Complementary Therapies in Maternity Care: an Evidence-Based Approach. Denise Tiran, $49.95

An extensive resource for midwives and other professionals with complete information on how to use complementary therapies during pregnancy and childbirth. Covering all the necessary scientific, legal, ethical, and health issues, it gives you the knowledge and confidence to use complementary therapies safely and effectively.

Craniosacral Therapy for Babies and Small Children. Etienne & Neeto Peirsman, $30.95

In Craniosacral Therapy for Babies and Small Children, the authors approach babies as conscious beings who endure enormous stress during the birth process. They show how CS therapy can help restore the correct alignments in babies' bodies, freeing them to grow and attain their maximum potential without hindrance. The book focuses on what a trained CS therapist can do to remove the blockages that often arise during birth. It addresses both hands-on techniques and awareness of how to interact with a baby and what responses and effects to expect. Based on the authors’ extensive experience, this guide can also be used by parents or caregivers interested in knowing what babies need in order to be whole and healthy.

Craniosacral Therapy for Children: Treatments for Expecting Mothers, Babies, and Children. Daniel Agustoni, $35.00

CRANIOSACRAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN introduces a craniosacral therapy treatment protocol for babies and children up to 12 years of age. A gentle hands-on healing approach, craniosacral therapy releases tensions in the body in order to relieve pain, resolve trauma, and improve physical and emotional health. Author and craniosacral therapist Daniel Agustoni discusses the reasons for treating young children and for beginning treatment during pregnancy. He explains how the stress of birth can cause asymmetries and misalignments in babies' bodies that can lead to problems later in life: from suckling problems, abdominal colic, and fragmented sleep patterns to anxiety, hyperactivity, and ADD. Agustoni demonstrates how craniosacral therapy can also offset the effects of stress, trauma, and PTSD that may affect the growing child depending on his or her environment, biology, and temperament. 

Enhanced with over 120 instructional photos and illustrations, the book's hands-on techniques are presented along with suggestions for interacting with parents, babies, and young children. The book discusses methods of evaluation and treatment following structural, functional, and biodynamic models. Engaging case examples describe the therapeutic results of the treatment, which include increased security and confidence, relaxation, support for the immune system, and a sense of well-being. An important resource for healthcare practitioners, this book is also useful for educators, parents, and caregivers interested in learning new ways to help their children. 

The Effects of Antenatal Exercise on Psychological Well-Being, Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes. Jean Rankin, $101.99

Pregnancy is a time when women need to be prepared mentally and physically to meet the challenges of childbirth and the transitions to parenthood... The study on which this book is based is derived from the author's work as a midwife with a special interest in exercise. The main aims of the study were to investigate the effects of undertaking a regular exercise programme during and following pregnancy on psychological well-being, pregnancy and birth outcomes.

The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth. Debra Betts, $100.95

In this beautifully-designed clinical textbook, acupuncturist Debra Betts draws on more than 15 years of experience specializing in the use of acupuncture during pregnancy and childbirth. Acupuncture is an ideal form of treatment in that it offers women drug-free relief from a multitude of problems that can arise during this time. Even for conditions like morning sickness, sciatica and symphysis pubis pain, which are often regarded as part of a normal pregnancy, acupuncture can not only improve a woman’s quality of life, but also prevent them from becoming serious enough to necessitate medical treatment … Each topic in The Essential Guide to Acupuncture in Pregnancy & Childbirth is presented from both a Western and traditional Chinese medical perspective. The discussion of clinical treatments reflects what has actually worked in practice for the author and the midwives she has worked with. The text is illuminated with clinical case histories, illustrations, and color photographs.

Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy & Childbirth. Richard Moskowitz, $25.95

Homeopathy offers a useful alternative set of medications for the reproductive cycle. The book offers an introduction to the philosophy and practice of homeopathy, as well as case presentations of successful homeopathic treatments for fertility, pregnancy, labor, teething, depression, irritability, and more.

Nurturing Massage for Pregnancy: a Practical Guide to Bodywork for the Perinatal Cycle. Leslie Stager, $84.95

Nurturing Massage for Pregnancy is a textbook for massage students and certified massage therapists who treat clients who are pregnant or in labor, or who have recently given birth. The book focuses on general soft-tissue and Swedish massage and assumes the reader is already familiar with those techniques as well as the basics of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology … To address the concerns of many practitioners with regard to working with pregnant clients, contraindications and precautions are examined thoroughly, along with a review of basic obstetrical practices.

Pre and Perinatal Massage Therapy, 2nd Edition. Carole Osborne, $80.95

Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy explores techniques of therapeutic massage and bodywork that enable massage therapists to support mothers and their babies throughout the childbearing year. In this updated edition of her widely referenced text, noted maternity massage therapist and teacher, Carole Osborne, details the physiological, functional, and emotional developments of childbearing. The three included technique manuals teach clinically refined techniques, conveniently woven around women’s common needs. With its solid research foundation and practical business wisdom, this book will prepare you to successfully integrate therapeutic touch into today’s maternity healthcare. Experienced massage therapists’ stories from decades of personal experiences and clinical successes will inspire your heart, mind, and bottom line.

Prenatal Massage: a Textbook of Pregnancy, Labor, and Postpartum Bodywork. Elaine Stillerman, $92.95

Authored by a well-known expert on prenatal massage, this comprehensive text helps you understand the intricate physiology of pregnancy so you can confidently apply appropriate massage techniques for each trimester, and throughout labor and postpartum. You'll find clear, colorfully illustrated explanations of a wide range of techniques and procedures, including Swedish massage, acupuncture points, myofascial release, trigger point therapy, lymphatic drainage, and reflexology. A companion DVD packaged with the book enables you to watch demonstrations of techniques. Contraindications and precautions are also provided where necessary to help you provide safe and effective care for every client.

Reflexology in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Denise Tiran, $57.95

Reflexology in Pregnancy and Childbirth is a definitive text on the safe and appropriate use of reflex zone therapy in pregnancy, labour and the puerperium, focusing on evidence-based practice, professional accountability and application of a comprehensive knowledge of the therapy related to reproductive physiology. Denise Tiran, an experienced midwife, reflex zone therapist, university lecturer and Director of Expectancy — the Expectant Parents’ Complementary Therapies Consultancy — has an international reputation in the field of maternity complementary therapies, has researched and written extensively on reflexology, and has treated nearly 5000 pregnant women with structural reflex zone therapy.

• Case histories to ease application of theory to practice
• Charts, tables and diagrams are used throughout for ease of learning
• Includes a section on conception, infertility and sub-fertility
• Covers legalities and ethical issues.

Fully evidence-based Focuses on safety Academic Includes Case histories to illustrate points discussed in the text Charts, Tables and diagrams used throughout for ease of learning Relevant anatomy, physiology and conventional care covered Section on conception, infertility and sub-fertility Legalities and ethical issues Professional accountability

Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year. Susun Weed, $22.50

Now in its 24th printing. A confirmed favorite with pregnant women, midwives, childbirth educators, and new parents. Packed with clear, comforting, and superbly helpful information. Beginning with the two months before pregnancy, herbs are enlisted to provide safe, effective birth control, or to help ensure pregnancy, even in the most difficult of situations. A special list of teratogens, including herbs to avoid before pregnancy, is included, as is a section on herbs to improve the father's fertility and reduce the risk of birth defects.

Herbs are safe and beneficial allies in reducing the distress of pregnancy, including hemorrhoids, high blood pressure, morning sickness, emotional changes, anemia, muscle cramps, bladder infections, and pre-clampsia. Tasty recipes and clear directions make use easy and fun. Herbs take a starring role in labor and delivery — whether initiating labor, increasing energy, diminishing pain, or staunching postpartum bleeding — and in postpartum care of the mother's perineum, breasts, and emotions, and the infants umbilicus, skin, scalp, digestive system, and immune system.

Humorous, tender, and detailed, this classic text is supported by illustrations, references, resource lists, glossary, and index.