Jane Palmer Pregnancy For Dummies Interview

Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies

When it comes to pregnancy, dads' roles have changed so much in the past few decades that expectant fathers don't always know where to turn to for guidance and advice on this milestone event. Now they do!

Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies is packed with practical, straightforward information for fathers-to-be, covering all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy from dad's point of view.

What to expect at doctor's visits
Tips for being a supportive partner during pregnancy and preparing for fatherhood
Advice on birth plans, labor and delivery, and the first days and weeks of a baby's life

Packed with helpful information on the typical struggles and feelings expectant fathers face, Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives first-time fathers and veteran dads alike a wealth of useful information.

Matthew M. F. Miller is a writer/editor, stay-at-home dad, and author of Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story.

Sharon Perkins, RN, is the author of several books, including Breastfeeding For Dummies.

Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies
Wiley
Authors: Matthew M. F. Miller and Sharon Perkins
ISBN: 9780470767900

 

 

Jane Palmer Pregnancy for Dummies Interview

10 ways to get the best from your midwife or doctor
Your midwife or doctor plays a pivotal role during your pregnancy and the early postnatal period and the quality of care they provide may vary. Here are some tips from midwife Jane Palmer on how to gain the most from your prenatal visits and dramatically improve the quality of service you receive.

Understand that time is money:
Almost all practices have an appointment system. If your midwife or doctor is expecting you, your caregiver has an opportunity to look at your notes beforehand. While most midwives or doctors allocate a certain length of time for appointments, another woman with a complicated problem can throw the whole system into chaos. Sometimes waiting for you appointment is unavoidable. But try to be on time, even if your promptness means you sometimes have to wait.

Remember, knowledge is everything :
Your midwife or doctor needs to know your history as accurately as possible to provide you with the best care. And just as your midwife or doctor requires information about you, you need information about your care. As a health-care consumer, you have the right to informed consent so be sure you get adequate information to make an informed decision about your care.

Use communication as a key:
Communication is the key to learning from, relating to and influencing your midwife or doctor. Some simple points on improving communication include maintaining eye-to-eye contact, making your needs known in an assertive manner or sitting at the midwife or doctor's desk when asking your questions. If you're not confident, bring along your partner for support.

Ask lots of questions:
Ask your midwife or doctor what tests and procedures he or she routinely recommends. Try to find out information about each individual test, such as what the test is going to tell you that you don't already know, how reliable the test is, whether side effects are a possibility, and how much the tests cost.

Keep in contact:
Find out how you can best contact your midwife or doctor. Write down the phone number and keep it safe. Identify what times are better to call than others and ask how you can get in contact with them out of hours.

Regard honesty as the best policy:
To have trust in your relationship with your midwife or doctor, you need honesty. Various reasons exist why a woman chooses not to be honest but it can have an impact on whether you receive appropriate care. Being honest with someone can be difficult, particularly if you're unsure about an issue or you're unhappy about the midwife's or doctor's care. But, in the long run, if you let your midwife or doctor know about any concerns, you can work towards resolving issues.

Do your own research:
While asking your midwife or doctor questions is a great way to learn, you can choose to be much more informed and have quality information at your fingertips by seeking published information from alternative sources.

Convey your appreciation :
We know your midwife or doctor gets paid to provide your care and you may feel you're contributing sufficiently in this way. But midwives or doctors can feel overworked and under-appreciated at times. Sending a simple thing like a thank-you card can help convey that you value their care.
Get a second opinion, if in doubt:
Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion, especially if your midwife or doctor recommends procedures that are expensive, risky or troublesome. It may be a little awkward to ask for but your midwife or doctor may know the ideal person for you to see. If the midwife or doctor isn't forthcoming, you may have to seek out another caregiver on your own.

If all else fails…:
Not everyone is happy with her health care all of the time. If you've got a complaint about the midwife or doctor or the care you're receiving, let your caregiver know personally or in writing. Most midwives and doctors have a complaint procedure and hopefully the problem can be sorted out quickly and easily. If needs be, you can lodge a formal complaint with a health complaints commission.

For more information on Pregnancy for Dummies see www.femail.com.au/pregnancy-for-dummies

Pregnancy For Dummies
Wiley
Author: Jane Palmer, Joanne Stone, Keith Eddleman, Mary Duenwald
ISBN: 9780730377399
Price: $39.95

Interview with Jane Palmer

Question: How has the book changed over the three editions?

Jane Palmer: Yes, the book has changed because our knowledge of pregnancy and birth has changed to some degree, it may not be a dramatic degree but our knowledge has certainly changed and we are offering more up to date advice. We are giving people correct information because a lot of the things we used to believe isn't the case anymore.


Question: How important is knowledge surrounding pregnancy?

Jane Palmer: I think knowledge is hugely important surrounding pregnancy. Sometimes people put more time into choosing a car than choosing their care-giver during pregnancy or where they're going to give birth. Often people will take someone's word and off they go. Knowledge is everything because it makes a big difference to women for women if they are well informed beforehand and have the experience they want.

Question: What types of care do midwifes provide?

Jane Palmer: Different services provide different things; a private midwife will give people a lot time. When you have a prenatal visit it could be a 5 - 10 minute visit whereas a private midwife will be with you for an hour and you can ask questions, share experiences, plan for the labour and birth. If you choose a midwife in the hospital system you may be able to have the same midwife follow you through the pregnancy and that way you receive continuity as the midwife gets to know the patient well.


Question: How should women go about finding the best midwife, for them?

Jane Palmer: Australia is really huge and in rural areas there may not be many options. Certainty in cities you can book appointments with different midwifes and meet them to find out if they are the right midwife for you.


Question: What inspired you to begin a career in midwifery?

Jane Palmer: The birth of my first son inspired my career in midwifery. I was very passionate about women receiving good health care and once I started looking into midwifery I knew it was a good career for me. It took me six years to become a midwife, at the time, as that was the period of study, back then, you can study in three years now. I write, I have always written and was approached to write Pregnancy for Dummies.


Question: Can you talk a little bit about what pregnancy and birth is like from a father perspective?

Jane Palmer: Often the focus is very much on women and the men get forgotten. Particularly with first babies, a lot of men are very keen to come along to the partners visit and share the experience. Often men like to be at the birth although on that note there is a lot of expectation that men are at the birth and I think it should be very much an individual decision as some men do not want to be at the birth and that should be okay, if that is the case. It should be a choice, if the male is uncomfortable to at the birth, he may not be the best support person and that doesn't mean he won't be a good dad.


Interview by Brooke Hunter