A fresh, inclusive update to Mayo Clinic's comprehensive pregnancy guide, pairing world-class medical expertise and real-world guidance for every step of the journey from bump to baby.
Pregnancy can be an adventure — full of thrilling moments, unknowns, decisions, and joy.

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is the ultimate guidebook for navigating the road to parenthood, with everything you need to know along the way to help you have a healthy pregnancy and baby. This inclusive, updated manual is packed with research-backed advice for every part of the journey, from conception to postpartum and the newborn weeks.

Inside you'll find the latest expertise from Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D., a mom of four — along with contributions from many other pregnancy specialists at Mayo Clinic. Month-by-month chapters walk you through the physical changes you can expect as your baby grows and develops, milestones to watch for (feel those kicks!), and key steps in prenatal care. You'll also learn about diet and lifestyle choices to give you and your baby a healthy start, exercises to stay active and strong, and treatments that can actually help with morning sickness. Other key guidance includes:

• Health issues that may arise, including depression and anxiety during pregnancy and postpartum, with tips for managing stress and recognizing when to reach out for help
• A symptoms guide offering explanations and suggestions for many of the most common changes in pregnancy
• What to know about current genetic screening and prenatal testing options
• Detailed breakdown of the process of labor and childbirth, so you know what to expect and what's possible
• Practical information on the transition to parenthood, feeding your newborn, the cost of childcare, and getting through those first few weeks with your baby
• Extra focus on pelvic strength and health during and after pregnancy, which are important to prevent or treat disruptive and potentially long-lasting effects of pregnancy and childbirth

Every pregnancy, and every parent, is unique. That's why this guide is designed to be accessible to all, with information and advice for parents and families of all backgrounds and identities. Easy-to-understand language and colorful medical illustrations help bring Mayo Clinic expertise to every reader.

For anyone beginning (or continuing!) the great adventure of parenting, this book is an essential companion.

Myra Wick, M.D., Ph.D., is a specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Clinical Genomics at the Mayo Clinic. She is also an associate professor at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. As a mother of four, Dr. Wick calls upon both a mother’s perspective and three decades’ worth of extensive medical training to provide indispensable insight for moms and moms-to-be.