My Pregnancy Guide: Ensuring A Healthy Pregnancy and Labour
My Pregnancy Guide by Dr (TCM) Attilio D'Alberto is a comprehensive week-by-week pregnancy book that combines evidence-based obstetric science with the proven principles of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Drawing on over 750 peer-reviewed research studies and 20 years of clinical experience, it gives expectant mothers everything they need for a healthy pregnancy and a positive birth.
On this page
- About the book
- What makes this pregnancy book different
- Who this book is for
- Pregnancy week by week
- Diet and supplements
- Risks and how to avoid them
- Labour and birth
- About the author
- Where to buy
- Frequently asked questions
1. About My Pregnancy Guide
My Pregnancy Guide is based on my 20 years of clinical experience supporting women through pregnancy and labour, combined with the latest scientific evidence from over 750 peer-reviewed research studies. This comprehensive self-help guide blends modern fact-based research with the proven theories of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) to give you everything you need for a healthy, confident pregnancy and a positive birth experience.
The book is designed to be both a thorough reference and a practical week-by-week companion throughout your entire pregnancy. Whether you conceived naturally or through IVF, whether this is your first pregnancy or not, My Pregnancy Guide will provide you with information and guidance that goes significantly beyond what is offered in standard antenatal resources — combining the best that western obstetric medicine and Chinese medicine have to offer.
2. What makes this pregnancy book different
Most pregnancy books fall into one of two camps: clinical NHS-style manuals that read like a textbook, or wellness-focused titles that lack scientific rigour. My Pregnancy Guide is unusual in bringing both together in a single volume:
- Integrative approach — the only mainstream pregnancy book that systematically combines Western obstetric science with traditional Chinese medicine theory, allowing you to draw on the strengths of both traditions throughout your pregnancy
- Heavily evidence-based — every recommendation is backed by peer-reviewed research; over 750 studies are referenced throughout the book
- Practical week-by-week format — rather than presenting general principles you have to work out how to apply, the book takes you through each week of pregnancy with specific guidance for that stage
- Written by a clinician — based on 20 years of one-to-one clinical practice with thousands of pregnant women, not on theoretical research alone
- Covers what other books skip — including endocrine-disrupting chemicals, environmental risks, autism risk reduction, breech presentation management, IVF-specific considerations, and post-COVID pregnancy
- Includes acupuncture, moxibustion and Chinese herbs — with the modern research evidence behind each, alongside how and when they are clinically used
3. Who this book is for
My Pregnancy Guide is written for:
- First-time mothers who want a comprehensive, trustworthy, easy-to-navigate guide for the whole pregnancy journey
- Mothers expecting their second or third baby who want to go deeper than NHS antenatal materials and proactively shape a healthier pregnancy
- Women who have conceived through IVF, IUI or other assisted reproduction and want IVF-aware pregnancy guidance
- Women with previous pregnancy loss who want practical, evidence-based steps to reduce the risk of complications this time around
- Partners who want to understand what is happening week by week and how best to support their partner
- Acupuncturists, herbalists, midwives and obstetricians looking for a reference that integrates Chinese medicine and Western obstetric care
4. Pregnancy week by week
My Pregnancy Guide explains what to expect at every stage of pregnancy, from conception through to the postnatal period. For each week, I explain how your baby is developing, what physical and hormonal changes you can expect in your body, and what you can do to support your baby’s growth and your own health at that specific stage. The book covers:
- A complete week-by-week guide to your baby’s development and your body’s changes throughout all three trimesters
- The full range of antenatal tests available and what the results mean
- How pregnancy acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in pregnancy can support your health at each stage
- Common pregnancy problems and what to do about them — including morning sickness, fatigue, back pain, oedema and heartburn
- How to manage pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, slow baby growth and breech presentation
- The impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy and how to protect yourself and your baby
- How to reduce your baby’s risk of developing autism, based on the latest research evidence
- Optimising your health for breastfeeding and postnatal recovery
5. Diet and supplements
An optimal pregnancy diet is set out in detail, based on both nutritional science and the principles of Chinese food therapy. A comprehensive supplement guide covers the evidence base for the most important nutrients for mother and baby throughout pregnancy, including folic acid, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, iron, iodine and a wide range of others shown in research to support healthy fetal development and reduce the risk of complications.
In-depth guidance is also given on how to optimise your lifestyle throughout pregnancy — from exercise, work, sleep and stress management to clothing, footwear and environmental exposures — all based on current research alongside the tried and tested principles of Chinese medicine.
6. Risks and how to avoid them
My Pregnancy Guide explains the full range of environmental and dietary risks to your baby’s development and how to avoid them, including:
- Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in food, cosmetics, household products and plastics
- Heavy metals and their specific effects on fetal neurological development
- Air pollution, pharmaceutical drugs and other environmental hazards
- Foods and substances to avoid during pregnancy and the evidence behind each recommendation
- How to minimise the risk of miscarriage and fetal abnormalities
7. Labour and birth
Detailed guidance is given on preparing for and managing every stage of labour, including:
- The three stages of labour and what to expect at each
- Evidence-based advice on going beyond 40 weeks
- Acupuncture for labour induction and prebirth acupuncture — the research evidence and how it works
- Pain relief options including acupressure points for labour that have been shown in research to reduce labour pain
- Natural herbs and Chinese medicine approaches to support labour and reduce complications
- How to manage and treat a breech baby using moxibustion
- Postpartum recovery — how to restore your energy, Blood and Qi after birth
8. About the author
My Pregnancy Guide is written by Dr (TCM) Attilio D’Alberto, BSc (Hons), MSc, FBAcC, FRCHM — a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine with over 20 years of clinical experience and a particular specialism in fertility, pregnancy and women’s health.
Dr D’Alberto holds a first-class BSc in Traditional Chinese Medicine from Middlesex University in London and an MSc in Chinese Herbal Medicine from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing. He is a senior fellow of the British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) and the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM), the UK’s two leading professional bodies. He practises in Wokingham, Berkshire and also offers online consultations to patients throughout the UK and internationally.
He has published widely in the peer-reviewed Chinese medicine literature, including the Journal of Chinese Medicine, is the author of My Fertility Guide, and runs the How to Get Pregnant online fertility course.
9. Where to buy
Paperback
ISBN: 978-1-9162142-0-0
The paperback edition is available from Amazon UK, Amazon US, Waterstones and all good bookshops.
Kindle
ISBN: 978-1-9162142-1-7
The Kindle edition is available from Amazon.
EBook
ISBN: 978-1-9162142-3-1
The ebook edition is available from Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo and Barnes & Noble.
Languages
My Pregnancy Guide is currently available in English. Foreign language rights are available — please contact me for further information.
10. Frequently asked questions
Is My Pregnancy Guide suitable for first-time mothers?
Yes. The book is written to be a complete companion for a first pregnancy — with no prior knowledge assumed — while still offering enough depth to be useful for second and third pregnancies. The week-by-week structure means you can dip in and out as your pregnancy progresses, rather than read it cover to cover.
Can I use this book if I conceived through IVF or other fertility treatment?
Yes. IVF and assisted reproduction pregnancies are addressed specifically throughout the book. The early-pregnancy guidance covers the additional support that mothers who have been through fertility treatment often benefit from, including how Chinese medicine can help reduce the higher early-miscarriage risk associated with IVF.
Does the book cover acupuncture and Chinese medicine in pregnancy?
Yes — this is one of its distinguishing features. Pregnancy acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine in pregnancy, moxibustion (including for breech babies) and acupressure for labour are explained throughout, alongside the modern research evidence for each. You do not need any prior knowledge of Chinese medicine to follow the guidance.
Is the advice in My Pregnancy Guide safe to follow alongside NHS antenatal care?
Yes. The book is written to complement standard NHS antenatal care, not to replace it. All the dietary, lifestyle and Chinese-medicine recommendations are designed to sit alongside your routine midwifery and obstetric appointments. The book explains what each NHS antenatal test is for, what the results mean and how to interpret them within the wider picture of your pregnancy.
Does the book cover labour pain relief?
Yes. There is a detailed chapter on labour and birth, including the three stages of labour, evidence-based information on going beyond 40 weeks, the full range of pain-relief options, and specific acupressure points for labour that have been shown in research to reduce pain and shorten the second stage.
Does the book include postnatal recovery?
Yes — the final section covers postpartum recovery, breastfeeding, sleep, mood and how to restore your energy, Blood and Qi after birth using both nutritional and Chinese-medicine approaches.
Is the book available outside the UK?
Yes. The paperback ships internationally from Amazon UK, Amazon US and other regional Amazon stores. The Kindle, Apple Books, Google Play, Kobo and Barnes & Noble ebook editions are available worldwide.
Are the research studies referenced in the book?
Yes. The book is heavily evidence-based, with over 750 peer-reviewed research studies cited throughout. Every recommendation includes the reference so you can look up the original research if you wish.
