Praise for Life Before Birth: The Challenges of Fetal Development from Midwives around the world.

USA:

I invited Peter Nathanielsz to give the Therese Dondero lecture at the annual meeting of the American College of Nurse Midwives. His presentation was based on the first edition of Life before birth the challenges of fetal development, and synthesized forty years of his research. He shared his considerable knowledge  and enthusiasm with us in a clearly communicated style, which was understood and appreciated by midwives in direct practice as well as scholars with much more experience in the basic sciences of reproductive physiology and embryology. Peter Nathanielsz received a standing ovation at the end of his lecture!

Peter Nathanielsz’  book  with its easily understood writing style and illustrations, will fascinate and educate everyone from the general reader with very basic biological knowledge to midwifery students, educators, and scientists.

Margaret McGill, Assistant Professor, Midwifery Program, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing

Peter Nathanielsz' book Life before Birth: The Challenges of Fetal Development is an easily readable text for anyone interested in the life of the developing fetus. The book inspires the reader to view the life of the developing fetus in a very beautiful and unique way- one with awe and amazement!   The title alone sets the reader up for a journey into a world that the author has devoted his professional career researching- the life of the fetus before it is born. With clear and accessible scientific language, the story is an easy read for the enquiring  general reader  as well as any birth professional, aspiring scientist or student. Each in their own way will find so very much that is beneficial and informative. Cheers to Peter Nathanielsz for writing this sort of book!

Lisa Preller CNM, LM,  Midwife at Albany Obstetrics and Gynecology PLLC Albany, NY

UNITED KINGDOM:

This is certainly is a special book.  Peter Nathanielsz takes the reader on a remarkable journey of discovery and wonder. Even my midwifery students, and indeed many midwives with vast experience, struggle to learn and understand the complexities of fetal anatomy and development. With care increasingly focused on the preconceptual period and identification of appropriate fetal growth throughout pregnancy, understanding the complex mechanisms that influence fetal growth has never been more important to midwifery students. This book presents highly complex fetal and pregnancy related physiology in a wonderfully accessible style, even for the non expert.  Perhaps its greatest achievement is that it is so well written and presented that  it can be read from cover to cover. I would recommend the book to any health professional and others at whatever level wanting to expand their knowledge on the fascinating intrauterine world.  

Julia Sanders, Professor of Clinical Nursing and Midwifery, Cardiff University, UK.

As a midwifery educator and researcher, students have often told me they were drawn to midwifery by a fascination with pregnancy and the extraordinary relationships between mother and fetus before birth. There are surprisingly few high-quality resources to support learning on these topics and none presents complex genetic, structural, and functional relationships between fetus, mother and environment as engagingly as this book.  It is my firm belief that clear understanding of development and physiology is key to midwifery practice supporting  decision making and explanations which empower women. Student often find the traditional texts impenetrable, so an engaging accessible introduction would be a fantastic resource! Prof Nathanielz enthusiastically leads the reader through the most fundamental and often asked questions, the evolution of current scientific knowledge and understanding is presented with unique clarity.  The chapters covering genetics, epigenetics, and fetal growth encapsulate the powerful rationale for supporting women during pregnancy through effective midwifery care, ending with a fantastic introduction to DoHAD. I would thoroughly recommend this book to anyone considering a career in maternity care to support preparation for applications. Also, to student and practicing midwives wanting to strengthen their knowledge and abilities to offer skillful and compassionate support to women and families at each stage of gestation.     I’m currently  mainly involved in global health research in Africa and Asia, building research capacity with midwives working in front line settings but could also see potential for use with these audiences. Tracey A. Mills Midwife, Senior Lecturer, International Public Health Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine 

BELGIUM:

Life Before Birth is a “must have book” for both midwife students and all midwives working in the wonderful field of young and expectant families. Peter Nathanielsz’ book provides a clear, easy-to-understand insight into the impact of fetal development and maternal health and well-being on later life health. The importance of good nutrition and a stable environment throughout life begins before conception. This paradigm shift in scientific data needs to be fully explored and disseminated to expectant parents. Midwives from around the world can be important ambassadors and facilitators in using the information in this excellent book to provide timely and up-to-date information to all women of childbearing age so that they can make informed decisions about conception, lifestyle and medical care. In addition to telling this awesome story in a fascinating way, this second edition of Life Before Birth emphasizes the importance of a life course approach in the care of women of childbearing age and thus also in midwifery care and teaching.

Annick Bogaerts, Professor of Midwifery, Department of Development & Regeneration, University of Leuven, Belgium and Honorary Professor,  University of Plymouth, UK

The book seamlessly integrates basic knowledge with recent research advances into a powerful story with the fetus and newborn unadulterated protagonists. The author talks about the many challenges they  face, what a successful mission looks like and what risk the intrauterine journey and birth entail. With consequences that can manifest themselves for a lifetime and even affect future generations. In this fascinating story, the development of each organ is given a place accompanied by multiple impressive illustrations, many in color. Epigenetics, the conflict between growth and differentiation, the signals to birth, developmental origins of health and disease  are just a few of the topics that are woven into the story. The way the book is envisioned will greatly facilitate readers' comprehension of the big picture. The book  is eminently suited to the needs of biology and psychology students, nurses, midwives, medical students and even obstetricians who want a comprehensive update on fetal physiology in a well digested form.

Bea Vandenberg Honorary Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven and Department of  Welfare, Public Health and Family, Flemish Government Brussels, Belgium

VENEZUELA:

Thoughtful and engaging, Peter Nathanielsz’ s book is both illustrating and inspirational. Accessible for all those who enjoy knowing how their bodies work, the author focusses attention on many issues that until very recently had not been brought clearly to the mind of the general reader. Brain sparing, chronobiology, prematurity, epigenetics and fetal breathing movements to name a few are intertwined with history and solid science through magic words that captivate the reader with the complexities of the beginning of life. An extraordinary journey into the wonders of early life. This opinion comes from the mother of four children.

Marianella Herrera Cuenca Director, Venezuelan Health Observatory, Universidad Central de Venezuela 

AUSTRALIA:

Life before Birth provides an incredible insight into fetal development and maternal adaptation during pregnancy. It conveys complex ideas and processes simply, and is a great adjunct to more traditional textbooks. In addition to providing evidence based science, it pushes the reader to consider pregnancy and intrauterine development from a different perspective, which ultimately will improve knowledge and understanding, impacting how information is conveyed to midwives and nurses  and the women and families we care for.

Annette Briley, Professor of Women’s Health & Midwifery Research, Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Flinders University, South Australia.

THE NETHERLANDS:

Many people are a bit weary to start reading a book about biology. The many complicated terms put them off even if they are very interested in the miracles of foetal development. Peter Nathanielsz knows the topic so well that he is able to explain things in a simple, understandable manner. The book will be of interest to midwives and other professionals in maternity care and also to people who know little about this topic. After many years of doing research, Peter Nathanielsz still writes about the amazing origins of human life with an awe as if he only just found out about it. Life before birth is a comprehensive, very readable book that gives a wonderful insight into how a foetus is formed and how foetal development is influenced by so many things. The book is a fascinating read.

Ank de Jonge | Professor in Midwifery Science | Head of department of Midwifery Science, Amsterdam 

MEXICO:

The content of “Life Before Birth” gives parents and reproductive health providers the awareness of the great importance of physical and emotional health care during pregnancy,  for the well being  of the fetus and its future health. The book opens our eyes to the marvelous order of the nature laws of nature in creation. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge.

Alina Deborah Bishop Velarde, Midwife and Perinatal Educator, Mexico.

 CHILE:

Life before birth  provides a wonderfully  simple and clear  description of the challenges the fetus faces and the main milestones  that must be completed during  intrauterine development. This book  allows both working midwives and midwifery  students to follow  these  milestones clearly and understand their implications for the baby for the whole of life.

Marcela Díaz Navarrete, Midwife, Associate Professor, University of Chile. Director of the Department of Women's and Newborn Health Promotion.

NEW ZEALAND:

In Peter Nathanielsz' book, Life Before Birth: The Challenges of Fetal Development, he portrays the awe-inspiring, intricate process of fetal growth and development, and transition from fetus to newborn with great clarity. His ability to make the complex processes of epigenetics understandable is a gift, offering a positive message that environmental influence can modify genetic inheritance. The book provides insight into the importance of optimal pregnancy conditions, knowing that life course health is related to challenges experienced by the developing fetus. I highly recommend this unique book to midwifery students and experienced midwives  and the women and families they support through the life changing journey of pregnancy. 

Joyce Cowan, midwife and lead educator for the New Zealand Growth Assessment Programme