Pregnancy: Handle with care
What kind of companion do you want to have next to you when you’re expecting a child? Probably the attentive, tender kind. These are the qualities found in a new pregnancy book penned by Stefanos Chandakas, published in Greek by Fereniki Editions with the support of Mothercare and illustrated by Maria Bithipoulia. The book «9 Mines: Odigos Engymossinis» (9 Months: A Pregnancy Guide) is straightforward reading, in which Chandakas, writing in a relaxed manner, takes things step by step. You think you might be pregnant? Some women have symptoms early on, many rely on pregnancy tests, others just know they are. Once you know for sure, the book becomes a good friend, offering lots of practical advice, beginning with the first medical visit all the way to all kinds of complications that may arise surrounding the pregnancy itself or coping with unfortunate events in the life of the mother-to-be. Iron supplements, limited alcohol, balanced diets and moderate exercise are some of the things that expectant moms have to think about before giving birth, while facilitating breastfeeding comes later on. Giving birth your own way, says Chandakas, is vital and that might include special needs and requirements such as the presence of an all-female medical staff, pain-relief medication during labor as well as being accompanied by your partner, another member of your family or friends. While covering much ground on the physical side, the author takes time to talk about the importance of dealing with a variety of emotional levels: feeling low and feeling high, for instance, are emotions intrinsically linked to any pregnancy. An obstetrician and gynecologist with an interest in robotic surgery, minimal access surgery, infertility, pelvic floor reconstruction, surgery and urogynecology, Chandakas is a lecturer in minimal invasive surgery at London’s Imperial College, Washington DC’s Howard University, Hamburg’s European Surgical Institute and the Athens University Medical School. He is a founder and managing partner of TheDayClinic Ltd, a vehicle for developing forward-looking healthcare delivery systems in partnership with Britain’s NHS. He collaborates with the Iaso group of companies in Athens. He holds a medical degree, a PhD and an MBA in healthcare management. The author is donating proceeds from the book to the Hellenic Society for Disabled Children (ELEPAP), a non-profit non-governmental organization founded in 1937.
