The Beginnings Pregnancy Guide in English & Spanish presents current, scientifically accurate, easy to read, engaging guidance about pregnancy and prenatal care. It is a companion series to the Beginnings Parent's Guide.

What is the content of Beginnings Pregnancy Guide?
Beginnings Pregnancy Guide puts into print the most current, evidence-based health promotion content of prenatal care as defined by national guidelines for the US and Canada. Focus is on key messages that directly affect outcomes.

Information and advice in the Pregnancy Guide reflect the conversations an articulate, caring, fully-informed prenatal care provider or home visitor would have with each pregnant woman at each visit if time and economics permitted. In addition, Beginnings Pregnancy Guide addresses fathers' concerns and answers non-medical questions mothers frequently ask. View the table of contents.

What is the format of Beginnings Pregnancy Guide?
Beginnings Pregnancy Guide is a series of 6 booklets totaling 96 pages. The series is referenced by gestational age and follows the usual course of prenatal care visits. This staged learning approach means that mothers are not overwhelmed by too much information at one time and not intimidated by the prospect of wading through a book. Information is presented when mothers are most likely to need it. Photos and Illustrations reinforce messages and aid teaching. Supplemental teaching and learning aids are included. Design and layout reflect the most current research on adult learning, health literacy and type and graphics.

How is Beginnings distributed?
In Home Visits: Home visitors in family support, parent education, and violence prevention programs review with the parent(s) topics of particular importance to them, highlighting them in the materials. The visitor increases comprehension by asking parents to read aloud selected sections, or reading it to them when necessary. The visitor explains how information applies specifically to the family and answers questions. Parents keep the Beginnings Pregnancy Guide, which reinforces and complements teaching and serves as a handy reference. This staged learning model and brief counseling increases recall of key messages and supports healthy behaviors. In a survey of parents by New Mexico Department of Health, 83% said they saved the Beginnings Pregnancy Guide for future reference; another 10% gave it to a friend or relative.

By Mail: Health Plans and other programs mail Beginnings Pregnancy Guide to mothers at home. This enables mothers to articulate appropriate questions and get the most out of prenatal visits. Mailing enables insurers and community programs to complement and reinforce prenatal care providers' counseling and advice while maintaining a presence with key constituents.

In Medical Offices and Clinics: Prenatal care providers typically incorporate Beginnings into routine prenatal care visits. Optimally, physicians hand each mother the booklet appropriate to her stage of pregnancy, reinforce key messages, and encourage the mother to read it and call with questions. Then a nurse or educator reviews with the mother topics of particular importance, highlighting them in the materials. She explains how information applies specifically to the mother and answers questions. This brief counseling - less than half a minute by the physician and 5 to 15 minutes by the nurse - increases recall of key messages and supports positive behavior change. Health Plans and other programs mail to mothers at home. This enables mothers to articulate appropriate questions, and get the most out of prenatal visits. Mailing enables insurers and community programs to complement and reinforce prenatal care providers' counseling and advice while maintaining a presence with key constituents.

Is Beginnings Pregnancy Guide suitable for a Medicaid population?
Yes. Beginnings Pregnancy Guide is easy to read in English and Spanish. In testing funded by the US Public Health Service, 50% of women with 6 to 8 years education and 80% of those with 9 to 12 years found Beginnings easy to read and comprehend independently. Others may require brief counseling to fully understand and act on the information.

For more information on readability and its value in multi-cultural healthcare, read this article by Sandra Smith & Virginia Gonzales:
Developing Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Health Education Materials
Studies in Communication Science:5 (2) 111-128 Dec 2005

Is Beginnings Pregnancy Guide suitable for a commercially insured population?
Yes. Easy to read does not mean over simplified or "talking down". It's just easy. In testing, college-educated women express extreme satisfaction with Beginnings Pregnancy Guide. This is in accordance with other research, finding that college-educated readers prefer simply written information. Compared to women who received routine care only, those who also received Beginnings Pregnancy Guide reported greater satisfaction with care and providers, and better recall of key messages.

Can we personalize the Beginnings Pregnancy Guide?
Yes. You can personalize the Keepsake Folders or order a Special Edition. Please email sandras@beginningsguides.net or call 800-444-8806 for information and assistance.

What is the reading level of Beginnings Pregnancy Guide?
English edition: 3rd-5th grade per the Flesch Kincaid Scale and Fry Graph. Flesch Reading Ease Score = 88, easy.
Spanish edition: 2nd-3rd grade per the Spanish Fry Graph

Read what providers say about Beginnings

Read what mothers say about Beginnings

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How can we preview the Beginnings Pregnancy Guide?
You can download the Pregnancy Guide eBook in English or Spanish for easy, free preview on your screen just email us and request a copy. Free Adobe Reader required, download here. Or request a Hardcopy Preview online or call us at 800-444-8806 to request a copy to hold in your hand. You pay only $8 shipping & handling.

How can we place an order?

• Email your order or quote request.
• Call in your order: 800-444-8806. Leave a message any time. Reach a live person Mon-Fri during business hours. We're in Seattle on Pacific Time.
• Print and fax or mail a paper order form.

Still have questions?
Email the editor
Call 800-444-8806

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