Aviva Jill Romm - The Natural Pregnancy Book, Third Edition: Your Complete Guide to a Safe, Organic Pregnancy and Childbirth with Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices

The information contained in this book is based on the experience and research of the author. It is not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician or other health care provider. Any attempt to diagnose and treat an illness should be done under the direction of a health care professional. The publisher does not advocate the use of any particular health care protocol, but believes that the information in this book should be available to the public. The publisher and author are not responsible for any adverse effects or consequences resulting from the use of any of the suggestions, preparations, or procedures discussed in this book. Should the reader have any questions concerning the appropriateness of any procedure or preparation mentioned, the author and publisher strongly suggest consulting a professional health care advisor.

Copyright 1997, 2003, 2014 by Aviva Jill Romm
Illustrations 1997, 2003 by Marna Groves
All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Random House LLC, a Penguin Random House Company, New York.
www.crownpublishing.com
www.tenspeed.com

Ten Speed Press and the Ten Speed Press colophon are registered trademarks of Random House LLC.

Previous editions published in 1997 by Crossing Press, Freedom, California, and in 2003 by Celestial Arts, Berkeley, California.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Romm, Aviva Jill.
The natural pregnancy book : your complete guide to a safe, organic pregnancy and childbirth with herbs, nutrition, and other holistic choices / Aviva Jill Romm ; foreword by Ina May Gaskin.
Third edition.
pages cm
1. PregnancyPopular works. 2. Holistic medicinePopular works. 3. Alternative medicinePopular works. I. Title.
RG525.R675 2014
618.2dc23

2014008356

Trade Paperback ISBN: 978-1-60774-448-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-60774-449-8

Design by Chloe Rawlins

Third Edition

v3.1

This book is dedicated to all of the women who have,
over the centuries, kept womens wisdom alive
it is because of their courage that I am here today; to my husband,
Tracy Romm, and to our children, Iyah, Yemima, Forest, and Naomi;
to my sister-in-law, Felicity Romm, and her children,
Serenity, Caleb, and Keziah Romm, for their incredible strength;
and finally, to the spirit of my brother-in-law, Chip Romm.

This book could not have been written without the unfailing support of my mate, Tracy Romm. Tracy is truly a midwifes advocate, a man who understands what it means for me to leave home in the middle of the night to wipe a womans brow, say a few encouraging words, and be honored to greet a new member of our human familywhile he scrambles to juggle his own work schedule to accommodate my work. He also knows what it takes to midwife a bookand he has been my unfailing assistant in the process. He has joyfully played with, fed, read to, and nurtured our four children during the numerous hours it took to write this bookand in the intervening years since the first edition was published. And he has encouraged me to keep writing because he cares so much about those who might benefitthe next generations, as well as our own.

I am overjoyed by and thankful for the presence of my four childrenmy son, Iyah Khalil, my stalwart supporter and ardent encourager; and my three daughters, Yemima Shanti, who at six said, Mom, youre an awesome woman! and at fourteen says, Mom, you get more beautiful every day, and my Forest Grace and Naomi Shoshannah, who played the most magical games by my side as I typed away on these keys when they were babies, and who now, during these revisions, have grown into strong and competent young people. These four people have shared me generously with the world, and I am honored to be their mom.

I would like to thank all of the midwives, herbalists, and healers who have been my teachers, friends, and inspirationtoo numerous to mention, but you know who you are! A special place in my heart is reserved for Sarahn Henderson, my soul sister, midwife, and teacher; Lizzie McDaniels-Feigenbaum, Lisa Olko, and Kim Land, who shared the journeys of motherhood and midwifery with me in important ways. I also want to offer a special word of honor to Ina May Gaskin for being my original inspirationit was her book Spiritual Midwifery, which found its way to me when I was fifteen, that really opened my eyes to being a midwifeand to the late Jeannine Parvati Baker for welcoming me into the herbal and midwifery sisterhood. Also, thanks to my friends in the herbal world for their support and encouragement of my work in my fledgling years: Michael Tierra, Susun Weed, and Rosemary Gladstar.

Thanks to Elaine Gill and the staff at The Crossing Press for originally recognizing that this book needed to be published and for having full faith in me, and to the folks at Celestial Arts for making my dreams come true by bringing this book into the fold. Also, thanks go to Dr. Richard Clofine for carefully reviewing the manuscript and having the guts to support it as an obstetrician. And thank you Emily Timberlake and Ten Speed Press, for believing in keeping this book alive so new generations can benefit from its old and new wisdom.

Finally, I am eternally grateful to the families that have welcomed me into the sacred space of their pregnancies, and who have called me, with joy, their midwife.

When I was pregnant for the first time back in 1965, I naively supposed there must be a book that would answer the questions that continuously bubbled up in my mind. How was I to stay within the twelve- to fifteen-pound weight gain allowed by my obstetrician and not be constantly hungry? Why was this weight limit necessary? What should I expect when I went into labor? How was I to learn how to take care of a baby? How did maternal instincts develop? (I thought I was sadly lacking in this department because I hadnt played with baby dolls as a child.) I searched both the university and public libraries in my town for the book I wanted but came up with nothing.