Ann Douglas is the co--author of The Unofficial Guide to Having A Baby and Trying Again: A Guide to Pregnancy After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss. She is also the author The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, Americanized edition publishing in January 2002. In addition, she is the author Before You Were Born: The Inside Story and Baby Science: How Babies Really Work, a recent Book of the Month Club selection for both Canada and the U.S.A. She is a regular contributor to Canadian Living and CANOE.ca. Ann is the mother of four young children, and has been through a variety of pregnancy--related experiences, including infertility, miscarriage, and stillbirth.

"Covering everything imaginable...this valuable resource gives you lots of ways to nurture this amazing new person in your life while still keeping your sanity." -- ePregnancy Magazine, July 2002

• Introduction. A One--of--a--Kind Baby Book. CHAPTER 1: Your Pre--Game Plan. Planning Your Babymoon. Decisions, Decisions. Umbilical Cord Banking. The Circumcision Decision. Breast Or Bottle? The Name Game. CHAPTER 2: The Final Countdown. What You Can Do Ahead Of Time To Make The First Few Weeks Less Crazy. Put Your Support Team In Place. Consider Hiring A Postpartum Doula. Stock Your Home With Healthy, Easy--To--Prepare Foods. Keep On Top Of Chores On The Homefront. Get The Rest Of Your Life In Order. The Last Hurrah. CHAPTER 3: Decorating Your Baby's Room. Getting The Best Deals On Baby Equipment. Hitting The Garage Sale Circuit. The Necessities Vs. The Frills: What Your Baby Really Needs. Car Seats. Baby Carriers. Strollers. A Safe Place For Baby To Sleep. Bassinets/Cradles. Cribs. Other Baby Gear. The Diaper Dilemma. Clothes Call. Other Bits And Pieces. To Thine Own Self Be True. CHAPTER 4: A Star Is Born. Meeting Your Baby. Getting To Know Your Baby. What Newborns Look Like. Size. Head. Muscle Weakness. Face. Eyes. Ears. Skin. Birthmarks. Abdomen And Chest. Umbilical Cord Stump. Hands And Feet. Legs And Arms. Genitalia. What To Expect If Your Baby Is Premature. Baby Geniuses. Rooting Reflex. Grasping Reflex. Moro Reflex. Stepping Reflex. Tonic Neck Reflex (Fencer's Reflex) . Placing Reflex. "Crawling" Reflex. Doll's Eye Reflex. The APGAR Test. The Newborn Exam. Other Tests. Jaundice. Congenital Problems. How Long To Stay In The Hospital. Leaving The Hospital Without Your Baby. CHAPTER 5: Your Postpartum Body. After The Birth. Your Postpartum Body: What To Expect. Heavy Vaginal Bleeding. Perineal Pain. Changes To Tone And Feel Of Your Vagina. Incontinence. Difficulty Having A Bowel Movement. Afterpains. A Flabby Belly. A Separation Of The Abdominal Muscles. Stretch Marks. Breast Changes. Faintness. Shivers And Shakes. Sweating. Weight Loss. Hair Loss. Caesarian Recovery. More Than The Baby Blues? Getting Back Into Shape. (Is There) Sex After Baby? CHAPTER 6: The Truth About Newborns. What Babies Know. Sight. Hearing. Taste. Smell. Touch. The Sleep Department. Sleeping Like A Baby. Co--Sleeping: Is It For You? Sleeping Through The Night. The Crying Game. Could It Be Colic? Who's Crying Now? CHAPTER 7: Bosom Buddies. The Joys And Challenges Of Breastfeeding. Paradise Lost? Trends In Breastfeeding. The Science Of Breastfeeding. Prolactin, Not Prozac. Getting Breastfeeding Off To The Best Possible Start. The Art Of The Latch. What Breastfeeding Feels Like. Your Biggest Breastfeeding Questions Answered. Troubleshooting Common Problems. Nipple Confusion. Breast Engorgement. Sore Nipples. Flat Or Inverted Nipples. Leaking. Plugged Ducts. Mastitis (Breast Infection) . Thrush (Oral Pseudomembranous Candidiasis) . Breastfeeding Under Special Circumstances. Breastfeeding A Premature Baby. Breastfeeding A Baby With A Congenital Problem. Breastfeeding After Adoption. Breastfeeding After Breast Enhancement Or Reduction Surgery. Breastfeeding Multiples. Choosing An Infant Formula. How To Prepare Your Baby's Bottles. Offering A Bottle. Common Questions About Formula Feeding. CHAPTER 8: The Owner's Manual. The Care And Handling Of Babies. The Dirt On Diapers. Rash Decisions. Caring For A Circumcised Baby. Umbilical Cord Care. A Baby For All Seasons. Nail Care. Dental Care. Before Your Baby's Teeth Come In. After Your Baby's Teeth Come In. Dressing The Part. Bathtime Basics. How To Sponge Bath A Baby. Your Baby's First "Real" Bath. Moving Up To The "Big Tub" . Infant Massage. CHAPTER 9: Boot Camp. The Top Ten Reasons Why The Early Weeks Of Parenthood Are Such A Challenge. CHAPTER 10: What's Up, Doc? How Often Should Your Baby See The Doctor? What To Expect. The Facts On Immunizations. How Immunizations Work. DTP--Polio--Hib. Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) Vaccine. About The Chickenpox Vaccine. How Will I Know If My Child Is Sick? Respiratory Symptoms. Gastrointestinal Symptoms. Skin Changes. Other Symptoms. More About Fever. Fever Is Not The Bad Guy; The Illness Is. This Does Not Compute. What Type Of Thermometer To Use. How To Take Your Baby's Temperature. What You Need To Know About Febrile Convulsions. When To Call The Doctor. Treating A Fever. Coping With Common Childhood Illnesses And Infections. Respiratory And Related Conditions. Skin And Scalp Conditions. Gastrointestinal Conditions. Other Conditions. Caring For A Sick Baby. Reducing The Risk Of SIDS. Coping With SIDS--Related Fears. Babyproofing 101. Every Room. Halls And Stairways. Nursery. Bedroom. Bathroom. Kitchen. Family Room. Living Room. Laundry Room. Basement. Garage. Backyard. Safety On The Road. Infant Car Seats. Toddler Car Seats . Convertible Car Seats. Other Car Safety Tips. When Plan A Fails. When A Baby Dies. Grieving The Loss Of Your Baby. CHAPTER 11: Food For Thought. On Solid Ground. Health And Safety Concerns. Making Your Own Baby Food. Tricks Of The Trade. CHAPTER12: The Working Parent's Survival Guide. Deciding Whether Or Not To Work Outside The Home. The Good News Department. Show Me The Money! . Easy Come, Easy Go. How To Apply. Choosing Childcare. Breastfeeding And Working. Finding A Breastfeeding--Friendly Caregiver. Choosing A Breast Pump. Pumping 101. The First Week Survival Guide. CHAPTER 13: The Incredible Growing Baby. Baby Geniuses. Feeding Your Baby's Brain. Growing With Your Baby. Appendix A: Glossary. Appendix B: Directory of Organizations. Appendix C: Directory of Internet Resources. Appendix D: Important Statistics. Appendix E: Recommended Reading.