Prenatal and Postnatal Care

Situate pregnancy in the emotional and physical life of the whole person with this bestselling guide

Prenatal and postnatal care are important and dynamic areas in healthcare research and practice. The needs of the childbearing person before and after birth are complex and intensely personal, combining significant physiological impact with broader emotional needs. In order to supply optimal care, providers must account not only for physiological factors, but also for cultural, social, experiential, and psychological ones.

Prenatal and Postnatal Care takes a holistic, person-centered approach to prenatal and postnatal care. Emphasizing the pregnant person and their unique needs, this book presents prenatal and postnatal care as foundational care for a healthy start to family life. This accessible, comprehensive book provides unique knowledge and skills to practitioners so that they can make a positive difference to the people they serve.

Readers of the third edition of Prenatal and Postnatal Care will also find:

• New chapters covering health equity, ethics in perinatal care, exercise, and more
• All chapters updated to reflect evidence concerning health disparities and inequities
• Concrete ways for clinicians to disrupt the systems of harm and exclusion that can mediate care at every level

Prenatal and Postnatal Care is essential for midwives, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other healthcare providers who work with childbearing people.