Is my pregnancy normal? by Dr Patrick Chia & Dr S Raman

For most women, pregnancy and childbirth is a significant event that brings with it tremendous joy, hope and fulfillment. However, when the initial excitement and relief the pregnancy test shows positive fades away, she begins to be worried and fears for her pregnancy and her baby. Amidst the enormous changes that pregnancy brings to the body, she begins to have questions about her pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and possible complications.Having a baby is a positive experience and most women will have no problems during their pregnancy, and childbirth. However, complications do and can occur and they can be frightening. Some women do not tolerate pregnancy well. Yet others may experience complications suddenly. Often couples look to others for advice, care and guidance. They may look to their own parents, doctors, midwives, counselors, friends, and authors of books and the Internet, only to be astounded with the vast amount of information that is available. This may leave them utterly confused and more anxious about their pregnancy.This book takes its readers from the pre-pregnancy stage to pregnancy, childbirth and into the postnatal period, and aims to clarify the array of immense information and medical jargon that is often encountered. The body undergoes tremendous changes and strain, which makes it vulnerable to complications. The importance of antenatal care and risks assessment is stressed. Some of the common problems encountered during pregnancy and childbirth are discussed. The chapters are written in the form of frequently-asked-questions. The book tries to be as practical as possible and helps its readers understand the normal processes of pregnancy and childbirth first. Early recognition of common problems and up-to-date, evidence-based management is emphasized. The last chapter adds a "local flavour" to the book and discusses the cultural practices and traditions with the merits of herbal medicines in pregnancy. Each chapter ends with "Key Points" which summarizes the main points and emphasizes the "take-home" messages of each chapter.