Tori Kropp Talks about The Joy of Pregnancy

Joining us is registered nurse Tori Kropp. Tori is the author of The Joy of Pregnancy (The Harvard Common Press). We´ll get to know a bit more about Tori and her book during our discussion today.

Welcome Tori. It´s great to have you with us.

It is great to be here. Thanks for having me.

Let´s start off by finding out a bit more about you. When did you begin your nursing career? Have you always worked with expectant women?

I completed nursing school in 1984 and although I worked for a very brief time in an Intensive Care setting, I have been a Perinatal nurse for more than 20 years. Even years before that I had a fascination with birth that has led me on this long and expanding road of pregnancy. There is nothing I know more about than "birthing" babies. I have seen more that 2000 babies come into the world in hospitals, birth centers, bedrooms, bathtubs, hammocks and even in the back of a pickup truck!

What can you tell us about The Joy of Pregnancy?

It is simply different than the most popular books out there. It is warm and contemporary. Because I actively work with pregnant women, the information is absolutely current and sound. So many books focus on the negative possibilities and that is simply unfair to women. I focus on the realistic experiences that women may have and present information in a positive way. I talk about how normal most of what women experience is. I also share a lot of myself in the book and it is very personal and honest. My goal with The Joy of Pregnancy is to help women in the most non-judgmental way possible prepare for their babies. The book is fresh, uplifting, funny and empowering.

How did your professional experiences shape the format and content of this book?

Many years ago, I began to recognize that many women who were "prepared" for birth by having read books and taken classes were coming into their births ill prepared for actual labor. They were trusting a variety of "experts" and writers more than they trusted themselves. They were struggling to "think" their way through and to try to control the very primal and uncontrollable experience of childbirth.

Women today are more worried, anxious and serious than I have ever seen. Where is the humor of that expanding belly, the funny stories, and the old wives´ tales? It seems as though the common sense and lightness of this wonderful time has been replaced by dry facts about procedures, tests, and nutrition. These are all important things but certainly not the whole picture.

For a very long time, I have been able to really connect with this audience. On a very visceral level I understand pregnant women and am able to share that ability with them in a very personable and supportive way. I have been able to use the skills I have in my work with pregnant women in a variety of ways. I have worked with women during labor, through my childbirth education company, PillowTalk® and online via my community website, Stork Site. And I know I have been able to have a positive impact. My heart warms when a woman, with a child (or two or three) in tow, makes a beeline across the street to say, "Tori, do you remember me? You were with me eight years ago when my son was born, " or "Thanks! We learned so much in your classes. They made such a difference for us." What could be more fulfilling?

I have always wanted to reach out to more women through a book and the time finally presented itself. I hope women can feel as though they have a trusted companion walking with them through their pregnancies.

How long did it take you to bring this book from the first draft to the final published product?

Harvard Common Press first contacted me in 2003 and the book came out this past April 2008. The whole process took about five years. The publication date was delayed by a year due to my family´s personal tragedy and the time I needed away from writing.

Were there any special obstacles or challenges you faced during the publishing process?

Yes, while I was writing the book, my life took a heart-wrenching turn. The love of my life, my husband Ray, was shockingly diagnosed with terminal cancer. At the time, our son, Alexander was 3 ˝ years old. After a grueling course of chemotherapy, Ray died 14 weeks later. I wasn´t certain I could finish the book, but knowing how happy Ray was for my opportunity to write it helped me continue. Ray was my best friend and best critic, and his strength and spirit will always guide me. The Joy of Pregnancy stands a monument to his enthusiasm for the work I so love.

Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?

The Joy of Pregnancy is widely available wherever books are sold, as well as at Target, Babies R Us and on Amazon.

Do you have a website?

Yes, I have a professional website --- www.torikropp.com

The book has a website --- www.thejoyofpregnancy.com

And we have a wonderful online community website called Stork Site --- www.storksite.net

What´s up next for you?

My dream is to bring about a change in the negativity that so often surrounds childbirth, in this country. Why is it that there is so much polarization in how women "should" or are expected" to experience their pregnancies? And especially what should and should not happen during labor and birth. There are so many "opinions" about what the "right or better" choices are. The truth is that all those opinions do is create guilt for women. Of course, we want to do what is best and it simply unfair for women to feel as though a reasonable choice they make is not the "right" one. I plan to work hard on getting the word out that women can and deserve to feel empowered by becoming mothers. I want to help women capture back more of the joy of this incredible time.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I just want to say, come join me. I welcome women to read and learn and take from the pages of The Joy of Pregnancy anything that they find to be helpful. Feel free to leave the rest.

"The ride is great. There is nothing more beautiful than a pregnant woman. Babies are unbelievable, and humor is the ingredient that keeps us sane and happy."

Thank you for sharing with us today, Tori. Good luck with your book.

Thanks so much and I appreciate the opportunity to share all of this with you and your readers.

Warmly, Tori Kropp