Week 16: Time to think about signing up for great childbirth classes. Lamaze classes are a great choice!

BirthWatch Tips
  • Women's bodies are perfectly designed to nourish and nurture their babies through pregnancy. -- The Lamaze Approach to Pregnancy. Lamaze International
  • What facilities are available for having a baby in your area? Do you have birth centers? Do different hospitals offer birth tubs or other tools to cope with labor? The Birth Survey
  • The months of pregnancy are necessary for babies to develop and grow, for women's bodies to prepare for birth and for women to become mothers. -- The Lamaze Approach to Pregnancy. How are you preparing to become a mother? Lamaze International
  • A good support system, a healthy lifestyle and the ability to cope with the stresses of life promote a healthy pregnancy, a healthy birth and a healthy baby. -- The Lamaze Approach to Pregnancy. How are you making adjustments to cope with the stresses of life during pregnancy?
  • Your health care provider and place of birth can increase or decrease Your confidence in the normalcy of pregnancy and Your ability to have a healthy baby (from Lamaze International). Lamaze International
  • Lamaze education empowers women to gain confidence in their bodies, trust their inner wisdom and to make informed decisions about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding and parenting (The Lamaze Approach to Pregnancy). Lamaze International
  • Many women enjoy the "glow of pregnancy" with clear, healthy skin and thicker hair. Some women will find their freckles stand out during pregnancy.

Tips for Week 15

Tips for Week 17

BirthWatch Recommends:

Birthing From Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Yes this book was first published in 1998, but it's one of the best out there addressing the spirituality of giving birth. Birthing From Within offers concrete exercises for mentally and emotionally coping with labor pain. This is a classic (even if it's on the woo woo side of things). If you've been all left brain oriented about your pregnancy and childbirth up to this point, give this book a try. You'll likely find it quite soothing and comforting.

See All Reading Recommendations For the Second Trimester