Newborn Connections offers a comprehensive book and video lending library open to the public. You can come in and browse through our material at any time. If you would like to check our materials, an annual membership fee of $30 is required. Books can be borrowed for 2 weeks while videos are available for a 5-day checkout period. Some of our selections include:
Books
Pregnancy and Childbirth
A Child is Born, The Completely New Edition, Lennart Nilsson, Dell Publishing, 1993.
Active Birth, the New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, Revised Edition, Janet Balaskas. Harvard Common Press, 1992.
The Birth Book, William Sears MD and Martha Sears RN, Little Brown and Co., 1994.
The Birth Partner, Everything You Need to Know to Help a Woman Through Childbirth, Second Edition, Penny Simkin, Harvard Common Press, 2001.
The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, New Edition, Sheila Kitzinger, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., 2000.
Easing Labor Pain, The Complete Guide to a More Comfortable and Rewarding Birth, Revised Edition, Adrienne B. Lieberman, Harvard Common Press, 1992.
A Good Birth, A Safe Birth, Third Revised Edition, Choosing and Having the Childbirth Experience You Want, Diana Korte and Roberta M. Scaer, Harvard Common Press, 1992.
Mothering the Mother, How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier and Healthier Birth; Marshal H. Klaus, John H. Kennell and Phyllis H. Klaus; Perseus Books, 1993.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way, Revised Edition, Susan McCutcheon, Penguin Books, 1996.
Pregnancy Bedrest, A Guide for the Pregnant Woman and Her Family, Susan H. Johsnton and Deborah A. Kraut, Henry Holt & Co., 1990.
The Pregnancy Book, William Sears MD and Martha Sears RN, Little Brown and Co., 1977.
Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn, The Complete Guide. Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, and Ann Keppler; Meadowbrook Press, 2001.
Preventing Preterm Birth: A Parent’s Guide. Michael Katz, Pamela Gill and Judith Jurrel; Health Publishing Co., 1988.
Parenting
Attachment Parenting, Katie Allison Granju with Betsy Kennedy, RN, MSN; Pocket Books, 1999.
The Baby Book, William and Martha Sears; Little, Brown & Co., Boston, MA, 1994.
Baby Steps: Exercises for Baby’s First Year of Life, Susan Fox, Berkley Publishing Group, 1999.
Games Babies Play, Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1993.
Finding a Nanny for Your Child in San Francisco Bay Area, Alyce Desrosiers, LCSW; Pince-Nez Press, 2001.
Finding a Preschool for Your Child in San Francisco, Second Edition, Lori Rifkin, Vera Obermeyer and Irene Byrne, Pince-Nez Press, 2000.
Fussy Baby Book, William and Martha Sears, Little Brown & Co., 1996
Getting Your Child to Sleep….And Back to Sleep, Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers; Deephaven, MN, 1991.
Infant Massage, Revised, Vimala Schneider McClure, Bantam Books, 1989.
Nighttime Parenting: How to Get Your Baby and Child to Sleep, William Sears MD, La Leche League International. 1999
Our Babies Ourselves, Meredith F. Small, Anchor Books, 1999.
Practical Parenting Tips, Vicki Lansky, Meadowbrook Press, 1992.
Touchpoints, the Essential Reference, T. Berry Brazelton, M.D. Addison-Wesley; Reading, MA, 1992.
Trouble-Free Travel with Children, Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1996.
Twenty-five Things Every New Mother Should Know, Martha Sears and William Sears. Harvard Common Press, Boston, 1996.
You and Your Newborn Baby, Linda Todd, Harvard Common Press, 1993.
Breastfeeding
Bestfeeding: Getting Breastfeeding Right for You, Mary Renfrew, Chloe Fisher, and Suzanne Arms; Celestial Arts, 2000.
The Nursing Mother’s Companion, 4th Revised Edition, Kathleen Huggins, The Harvard Common Press; Boston, MA, 1999.
Nursing Mother’s Guide to Weaning, Kathleen Huggins and Linda Zierich. Harvard Common Press, Boston, 1994.
Nursing Mother, Working Mother; Gale Pryor. Harvard Common press, Boston, 1997.
Fathering
The New Father, Armin A. Brott, Abbeville Press, 1997.
The Expectant Father, Facts, Tips and Advice for Dads-to-Be, Second Edition; Armin A. Brott and Jennifer Ash, Abbeville Press, 2001.
Nutrition
Child of Mine, 2nd Edition, Ellyn Satter, Bull Publishing Co.; Palo Alton, CA, 1991.
Preemies/Newborn Intensive Care
Newborn Intensive Care, Jeanette Zaichkin, NICU Ink. Petaluma, CA, 1996.
Your Premature Baby, Frank Manginello, MD, and Theresa Di Geronimo, John Wiley & Sons, New York, NY 1991.
The Preemie Parent’s Companion, Susan L. Madden, MS, Harvard Common Press, 2000.
Your Premature Baby and Child, Amy E. Tracy and Dianne I. Maroney, RN with Judy C. Bernbaum, MD and Jessie R. Groothuis, MD
Safety
Baby Proofing Basics, Vicki Lansky, Book Peddlers, 1991
Safe and Sound, How to Prevent the Most Common Childhood Emergencies, revised edition, Elena Bosque and Sheila Watson, St. Martin’s Press; New York, NY 1998.
Twins
Everything You Need to Know to Have a Healthy Twin Pregnancy, Gila Leiter with Rachel Kranz, Dell Publishing, 2000.
When You’re Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads, Dr. Barbara Luke and Tamara Eberlein, Harper Collins, 1999.
The Art of Parenting Twins, The Unique Joys and Challenges of Raising Twins and Other Multiples, Patricia Maxwell Malmstrom and Janet Poland, Skylight Press, 1999.
Mothering Multiples, Breastfeeding and Caring for Twins, Revised Edition; Karen Kerkhoff Gromada, La Leche League International, 1999.
Videos
Our video library has more than 150 titles in subjects ranging from pregnancy and childbirth to exercise and childproofing. Our recommended selections in each category include:
Pregnancy and Childbirth
The Miracle of Life
This video is adapted from the NOVA public television series. The process of human conception, fetal development and birth are shown. Photographed by Lennart Nilsson using magnification of up to a million times actual size, this video allows the viewer to get a glimpse of the amazing process of conception and fetal developments.
Understanding Preterm Labor
In this video, risk factors for premature labor are identified. Also included are techniques for self-monitoring to help avoid premature labor and suggested actions if you think you may be having premature labor contractions.
Childbirth
Labors of Love (Birth Video)
Four couples are followed through their unique childbirth experiences. An unmedicated birth, an induced labor, an unscheduled cesarean and the birth of a second child are shown. Includes interviews with the expectant and new parents.
Comfort Measures for Childbirth
Childbirth educator Penny Simkin explains and demonstrates numerous physical and psychological measures for labor. This excellent video also shows women in labor and their partners using these comfort measures. Helps reinforce techniques taught in childbirth classes.
Birth of a Family (Asian Version)
A close-up look at one couple's labor and delivery. Support techniques and coping skills are highlighted. In Mandarin.
Stages of Labor
Amazing 3-D animation and non-technical narration make the stages of labor easy to understand. Combining detailed animation of the labor process, live birth footage and parents describing their experience of labor and delivery, this video is an anatomy lesson and birth story, all in one.
Prenatal and Postpartum Exercise
ACOG Pregnancy Exercise Program
This video demonstrates a home exercise program for women in all stages of pregnancy. Developed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), this tape includes stretching as well as low-impact aerobic exercises. The tape concludes with a relaxation segment.
Kathy Smith's Pregnancy Workout
An upbeat, fun and "user-friendly" pregnancy exercise video. These exercises adhere to ACOG standards and include pulse checks. Proper body alignment and posture are reinforced throughout the program. The tape is designed in a modular fashion enabling you to pick and choose from a number of programs of varying lengths and for various stages of prengnancy and beyond.
Pre- and Postnatal Yoga
Gentle stretching and concentration exercises appropriate throughout pregnancy and postpartum are demonstrated in this video. Slow, deep breathing and relaxation are included in the exercises.
Buns & Abs of Steel-Post Pregnancy
This exercise video is designed with 10 minute segments to fit into your hectic day. This video follows the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and targets the legs and buttocks.
ACOG Postnatal Exercise Program
This video is a home exercise program designed by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for women who have recently given birth. Emphasis is on regaining muscle tone and strength, keeping in mind the unique changes a newly delivered woman's body has experienced.
Infant Care
Baby Talk - A Video Guide for New Parents
Baby care basics are reviewed and full of practical information and demonstrations. An easy-to-use index lets you go quickly to each of the 10 chapters.
Newborn Care
Caring for your baby in the first few weeks of life is the focus of this video. Normal newborn appearance is described. Cord care and circumcision are demonstrated as well as breastfeeding techniques. The basics of bottle feeding are reviewed as well as a sponge bath demonstration.
Infant Crying
Information in this video will assist you in recognizing your baby's different cries and suggests many soothing techniques.
When Your Baby is Sick
Common concerns when your baby is ill including taking the baby's temperature, giving medication and when to call your health care provider are discussed in this video.
Infant Massage - Tender Touch
In this video, the viewer is instructed in giving a full body massage to an infant, using 32 different strokes. Specific massage techniques for helping a baby with colic or gas are included.
Safe & Sound: Choosing Quality Childcare
This video is designed to give new parents the skills needed to locate and evaluate a high quality childcare program. Sections are included on finding childcare, education, health and safety, communications, consistency, in-home care and cost.
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding: A Special Relationship
Divided into 7 segments, this video not only focuses on breastfeeding techniques, especially latching on, but also teaches you how to read your baby's signals. Information is also included for working mothers.
Breastfeeding Your Baby - Medela
This video, produced by Medela, features numerous parents, doctors and lactation consultants discussing the health and emotional advantages of breastfeeding. Proper techniques and positions for getting started breastfeeding are demonstrated and common questions are addressed.
Postpartum/Parenting
New Mother Care
This video describes the new mother's emotional and physical recovery from childbirth. Questions a new mother or her partner may have concerning how her body recovers from pregnancy and childbirth are addressed. Also included are the topics of improving couple communication, resuming sexual relations and dealing with postpartum mood swings.
Mom Care: Postpartum Recovery
This excellent video addresses the physical concerns of the new mother including beginning to breastfeed, the importance of good nutrition, return of the uterus to its pre-pregnant size, lochia (bleeding), episiotomoy care, warning signals to be aware of, cesarean section recovery, resuming sexual relations and postpartum blues.
Contraceptive Choices
This video covers the full range of birth control methods currently available, including contraceptive implants. It also provides user instruction and the benefits, risks and possible side effects of each method. Also covers medical sterilization measures.
The Gifts of Fathering
This video identifies and explains the value of developing and maintaining a strong father/child bond during the formative years of a child's life. Dr. Klinger, president of The Center for Successful Fathering, provides insight on how and why a dad must play an active role in raising his child.
Staying Sane - Timesaving Tips for New Parents
Learn how to: simplify daily chores, grocery shop efficiently, create a cooking calendar, establish mom and diaper stations, make your kitchen baby friendly, avoid unnecessary disturbances, find mother/baby play groups, ask friends for help and much more.
The Working Mother's Survival Guide
Siblings
Lizzie and the Baby
Through the eyes and words of a charming three year old, Lizzie, we get a uniquely valuable view of the pregnancy process. Includes discussion about fetal development, pregnancy for mom, what happens during birth, why pregnancy can be hard on the family and how to adjust. Includes short birth sequence.
Safety/Childproofing
Baby Alive
This video presents a step-by-step guide for prevention and treatment of life-threatening situations facing children from birth to 5 years. Subjects addressed include choking, drowning, poisoning, head injuries, cuts, burns and first aid. CPR and rescue breathing are demonstrated.
Infant CPR for Parents
Using the American Heart Association guidelines, this video reviews the principles of CPR. This video should not be considered a substitute for attending a hands-on CPR class.