meta-dad

INTERVIEW: Dr. Glade Curtis – Your Pregnancy Week by Week

I have had the special pleasure of talking briefly with Dr. Glade Curtis of the famed series, Your Pregnancy Week By Week. This being the penultimate primer for both first time Moms and Dads. Dr. Curtis and co-author Judith Schuler provide detailed information about the current development of your baby and describes in detail all the changes happening in mother right up until birth as well as important health issues (for both mother and baby) to be aware of during the course of the pregnancy.

meta-DAD: First I would love to find out how long this week-by-week book series has been going on? And what led you to create the first one?

Dr. Curtis: Your Pregnancy Week By Week was first published in 1989. Looking at pregnancy a week at a time makes sense to me, and it is the way I was taught as a medical resident and resident. As a practicing OB/GYN I found that my patients wanted to follow their progress through pregnancy this way as well. I came across a book with photographs of fetuses and developing babies beginning very early in pregnancy. I thought patients could benefit from understanding the changes taking place in their growing baby. The first edition came out my desire to share this information with pregnant couples.

mD: With technology and medical practices changing as quickly as they do, does it affect how you approach each new edition?

Dr. Curtis: People looking for medical information want it to be current and up to date. This has been important to me and is the reason that this is the “Sixth Edition” of Your Pregnancy Week By Week I am constantly looking at many resources for new developments and advancements in technology and information. I believe it is important to look carefully at advances making sure they are proven, safe and effective. This is an important responsibility that I take very seriously.

mD: Can you give me an example of one of these changes or advancements in the recent past?

Dr. Curtis: Until recently, the standard of care dictated that women age 35 or older at the time of delivery were offered ultrasound guided amniocentesis. This age was picked years ago because the risk of delivering a baby with Down syndrome at this age (1 in 350) was about the same as the risk of miscarrying as a complication of the More »