The Jewish Pregnancy Book

Women are increasingly looking to make their pregnancy and birth a spiritually meaningful experience, but those looking for Jewish resources to help them have found little available.

Acknowledgments

ix

Introduction

xi

The First Trimester

1

(18)

You're Pregnant! B'sha-ah Tovah!

A Prayer upon Learning of a Pregnancy

Morning Sickness

Exercise & Diet

Cravings

Fetal Development in the First Trimester

Ensoulment

The Spiritual Development of the Fetus

Sex during Pregnancy

Protection against Miscarriage

An Eighteenth-Century Prayer for Every Day of Pregnancy

The Second Trimester

19

(22)

Quickening

Prayer Following Quickening

Will My Child Be Normal?

Kavvana for a Healthy Child

Prenatal Diagnostic Testing

Blood Tests for Jewish Genetic Diseases

Ultrasound

Prayer before an Ultrasound

Prayer before an Amniocentesis

What Do We Do Now?

Prayer for Carrying a Fetus with a Problem

Aborting a Fetus with a Problem: Jewish Perspectives

Multiple Gestation

Selective Reduction: Jewish Perspectives

Sephardic Celebration of Pregnancy

The Third Trimester

41

(22)

Prayer for Entering the Seventh Month of Pregnancy

Prayer for a Good Neshama (Soul)

B'sha-ah Tovah: Jewish Customs around Baby Showers

Preparing to Become a Jewish Parent

Preparing for Birth

What Will You Bring? A Jewish Packing List

Drugs or Not?

Home Birthing

Visiting the Mikvah

Preterm Labor

Maternal Illness in Pregnancy

Almost There

Labor and Delivery

63

(20)

When Will I Go into Labor?

Prayer on the Approach of Accouchement (Delivery)

The First Stage of Labor: Moving through the Red Sea

Damn Snake, Damn Eve: The Pain of Labor

An Etrog a Day Keeps the Pain Away: A Jewish Folk Custom for Easing the Pain of Labor

Prayers and Psalms for Labor and Delivery

Kavvanot (Intentions) for Labor and Delivery

The Second Stage of Labor: Pushing and Delivery

Cesarean Section

Prayer before a Cesarean Section

The Moment of Delivery

The Third Stage of Labor: Delivering the Placenta

Birth Pangs of the Messiah

The Days after Birth

83

(20)

Bringing Your Baby Home

Prayer for Bringing a Baby Home for the First Time

Welcoming a Jewish Baby

Older Siblings Welcoming a New Baby

The Partner

Prayer for Sleep

Lilith

Breast-feeding

Postpartum Depression

Psalm 27

Rituals of Closure

Visiting the Mikvah

Birkat Hagomel: Thanksgiving Blessing

From This Narrow Place I Call to You: Pregnancy Loss

103

(8)

A Synagogue Ritual for Miscarriage

One Hundred and Eighty Degrees: A Miscarriage

Aleph-Bet Yoga for Pregnancy

111

(56)

Yoga for Overall Well-Being during Pregnancy

What Is Yoga?

Why Practice Yoga during Pregnancy

Yoga for Each Stage of Your Pregnancy

Yoga for the Jewish Soul

Getting Ready to Practice

How to Practice the Aleph-Bet Yoga Series

Cautionary Notes for Practicing Yoga during Pregnancy

The Aleph-Bet Yoga Poses

What Is the Correct Order for Practicing Aleph-Bet Yoga during Each Trimester?

Guidelines for a Shorter Session

Notes

167

(6)

Glossary

173

(2)

Further Resources

175

(4)

Index

179

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

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The Jewish Pregnancy Book

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

FREE SHIPPING

Rent More, Save More! Use code: BBRENTAL

5% off 1 book, 7% off 2 books, 10% off 3+ books

The Jewish Pregnancy Book

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Digital License