A counselor's handbook on pregnancy

I have written A Counselor’s Handbook on Pregnancy for the purpose of providing a ready compendium of the basic nature and stages of pregnancy. There are many resource books available on the physiological and psychological characteristics of pregnancy but not one concise book combining both areas and geared towards the counselor working therapeutically with a client who is pregnant. It is my hope that this Handbook will enable the reader to appreciate the scale and depth of the changes pregnancy brings into the life of a woman. The changes include both very specific changes to the pregnant woman’s body as well as to her emotional and psychological life. It is a time when she may re-evaluate important relationships in her life; when she may re-examine prior relationships and conflicts in her life; and when she may incorporate new concepts of herself as a woman, a mother and an adult. I have organized the Handbook in eight chapters. Chapter One is an introduction to the Handbook, chapters Two, Three and Four cover the physiological and psychological characteristics of the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy. In Chapter Five I discuss the decision-making involved in the pregnancy experience, including the choice of birth style, physician and whether or not to breast feed. In Chapter Six I provide an overview of the nutritional and exercise needs of the pregnant woman so that the counselor is aware of the total care needs of the client. Chapter Seven discusses the impact of pregnancy on the husband and the relationship of husband and wife. Chapter Eight highlights the fundamental issues of pregnancy and offers support and suggestions to the counselor.