Pre- and Perinatal Massage Therapy: A Comprehensive Practitioners' Guide to Pregnancy, Labor, Postpartum is skillfully written, well-researched, well-organized, and easy to follow.

Osborne-Sheets explains the physiological, psychological, and spiritual aspects of pregnancy with knwoledge and caring. Clear instruction is given for client body positioning, manual techniques, and therapist body mechanics. Detailed descriptions of each trimester and important contraindications are included. Osborne-Sheeets clarifies when to use what technique during pregnancy. The information is also useful for working with midwives and the medical profession.

An impressive reference and resource list indicates the amount of research that went into this book. Pictures, diagrams, and presonal testimonies from clients provide anecdotal support. Differing views are addressed. For example, in the information on positioning for third trimester massage therapy, a mid-wife's and childbirth educator's argument against the semi-reclining position are included.

This book will be of great assistance to any massage therapist working with women from the beginning of pregnancy, through childbirth, to months after the birth. I highly recommend this be in every pre-, peri- and postnatal massage therapist's professional library.

Carolan McFarland taught health and physical education for 23 years before starting her career in massage therapy. She received training and worked in Kansas City for the Jewish Community Center, Puritian-Bennett Corp., and Life Work Ctr. In 1995, she took her training in Hostipal-Based Massage Therapy at Boulder, and moved to Central Kansas where she now provides massage therapy to patients and staff at St. Luke's Medical Clinic in Marion, KS. McFarland works with pregnant women and infants in the hospital

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