OH BABY... Birth, Babies & Motherhood Uncensored

Book Reviews - Book Excerpts - Breakfast Show Interview

Some Mums call it their "Bible" - others say they refer to it "religiously" - but either way it's a phenomenally informative book, written by a Kiwi mother for soon-to-be mothers, and researched alongside leading Obstetricians, Midwives, Paediatricians & Holistic Healers.

NZ's leading literary agent Ray Richards says "Kathy Fray writes with force and conviction in an instinctive manner that readers are finding irresistible". NZ's College of Midwives says "Oh Baby reads like a long, loving chat with a wise aunty...She is insightful, blunt, compassionate, self-deprecating, affectionate, funny". The Press says "Fray's line of attack is different [not neutral, cautionary or clean]. She writes so energetically you can almost hear her ... This book is alive". World renowned maternity guru Sheila Kitzinger calls it "punchy"!

Chapter Topics

CHAPTER-1:

Being very pregnant!

Preparing mum's mind (homebirth, hospital & waterbirth, labour support birth assistant, labour pain relief, active v physiological third stage, vitamin K, & more) - preparing mum's body - preparing dad for your labour of love - preparing for labour - preparing for baby's homecoming - preparing for mum's homecoming - preparing for the parental marital relationship - overdue and bored? - and loads more.

CHAPTER-2:

Organised for delivery…yip! Prepared for delivery…are you kidding!

The historical reality - medical interventions obstetric operations - signs labour is pending - inducing labour - first stage of labour (cervix dilatation) - second stage of labour (birthing the baby) - third stage of labour (birthing the placenta and membranes) - fourth stage of labour (the dawn of bonding) - and loads more.

CHAPTER-3:

And baby makes three … oh my gosh - we're parents!

Bonding - mother's postnatal hospital stay (lochia, constipation, haemorrhoids, mother's little helpers part-1 & more) - baby's postnatal hospital stay (APGAR, umbilical cord, jaundice, Guthrie heel-prick test & more) - maternity baby blues - and loads more.

CHAPTER-4:

Starting breast or bottle feeding

Breastmilk v formula - the very early days & colostrum - fundamentals of feeding & burping - engorgement - sore nipples - tongue-tie - yeast infection - blocked duct - breast infections - the pacifier debate - alcohol & medications - nipple confusion? - breast-&-bottle feeding - expressing - and loads more.

CHAPTER-5:

I beg you, wee darling, please go to sleep and stay asleep…I need the rest!

Comprehensive and logical explanation of the 12 Golden Rules, 12 Magical Secrets and 20 Do's & Don'ts of teaching a baby good sleep habits.

CHAPTER-6:

The fourth trimester

Welcome home mum (diastasis recti, dysuria, anaemia, puerperal sepsis, coccydynia, thyroiditis, & more) - welcome home dad - welcome home baby (pees & poos, conjunctivitis, nappy rashes, skin things, massage, fontanelles, umbilical hernia, disease & more) - postnatal psychosis - coffee groups - and loads more.

CHAPTER-7:

You've slept, fed, burped and you're dry… why are you still crying?

Sick baby - teething baby - bored baby - lactose-intolerant baby - milk-protein-allergic baby - reflux baby - colicky baby - crying solutions - and more.

CHAPTER-8:

Three's a crowd? Three's a family!

Parenting styles - parental marital relationship - sex? & contraceptives - help for the Life Sucks Syndrome - unpaid v paid work - the sacrifice - and loads more.

CHAPTER-9:

Double-edged swords, cans of worms and hot potatoes!

Circumcision - fluoride - immunization - organic food - and loads more.

CHAPTER-10:

Big miracles for our little miracles

Anatomy & physiology - Allopathic medicine V vis medicatrix naturae - naturopathy & homeopathy - cranial osteopathy - new trendy old medicines - and loads more.

CHAPTER-11:

This is more than baby blues … I really don't feel right!

Postnatal depression - post traumatic stress disorder - mother's little helpers part-2 - master's degree in womanly fortitude - and loads more.

CHAPTER-12:

They're only little for such a short time

Superwoman syndrome - bored baby - baby sign language - fevers & seizures - mother's little helpers part-3 - the maternity magical mystery tour - intuition - and loads more.

CHAPTER-13:

Starting solid foods

Ptyalin (why babies should not be fed starch) - sample menu - and more.

CHAPTER-14:

Almost time to post first-birthday invitations

Omega-3 - day-sleep changes - breastfeed weaning - the Uterosexual - and more.

CHAPTER-15:

My child is very bright…definitely above average, I'm sure!

Toddlerdom - meal suggestions - dummies - tantrums & meltdowns - clingy tyke - terrible two's arrive early - love is…a mother - and more.

APPENDIXES:

General development guide - benefits of breastmilk - maternal medications during breastfeeding - and more.