Recommended Books?

I really liked "Chicken Soup for the Expectant Mother's Soul". It's a good quick read in bite sized chunks which is good if don't have a ton of time to read.

All the Jenny McCarthy books are great. My husband even read them and laughed a lot. I also find Parenting and American baby maginizes helpful.

You've gotten a lot of good suggestions. Personally, I'm pretty light-hearted and I really enjoyed reading Jenny McCarthy's "Belly Laughs." If you want a good laugh and a quick, easy read, get "Belly Laughs."

Definately "What to Expect When you are Expecting". This is a great book and I loved it to death. It divides everything into months and has separate chapters on nutrition, exercise, etc. When you are further along in your pregnancy, you may enjoy "Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy. I don't really care for her, but her book was full of humor which I could appreciate after I had been pregnant.
Good luck
D.

I'd go to Borders or someplace and browse. Open each pregnancy book somewhere random and read a few paragraphs or pages. If you like it, buy it used on amazon.
I've found that tastes are just so different - I could tell you which book I loved (Great Expectations), but you might still hate it as much as I hate "What to Expect When You're Expecting". I'd bet that right now, as people are reading this, some are going "How can she hate that book? I loved it!"
Things I'd pay attention to:
- the index in the back - is it easy to find something specific?
- the format - do you want straight info, or do you want to read questions and answers?
- the scariness level - find a page about miscarriage or genetic disorders. Does it scare the living daylights out of you, or does it give you information that makes you feel a bit concerned yet confident?
Also: Don't discount the internet. A google search on pregnancy might lead you to some great sites!
And most importantly: Congratulations!!!

Aloha J.-

I don't know what your views are on natural childbirth or home births, but I had home births and the best book ever was called Special Delivery. I don't know the author. I had a midwife who actually let my husband deliver my baby. She told me later that it was the most perfect birth she had ever attended. I was in labor from the first contraction to the birth a total of 1 hour & 40 min. She encouraged me to walk around the whole time which I did (gravity is a marvelous thing). I had very special friends over for the birth and afterwards had a Birthday Party. We had a cake with a big "0" candle atop, scrambled eggs, etc.( Morning). 20 min. after the birth I had taken a shower and was downstairs eating with everyone. It was a wonderful experience! I was 38 years old at the time and the boys are now 24 & 27 so maybe the book is now out of print, but it had so many marvelous ideas for an experience I will (or my friends) will never forget. Good luck with you own event!

C.

State farm insurance puts out this fantastic book about pregnancy and raising a baby thru age 5. I will see if i can find the information for you. You can keep in touch with me if you like and I will keep you posted.

For anyone else looking, Natural Hospital Birth is awesome!! I always recommend it to everyone I know! :) Read it, http://www.amazon.com/Natural-Hospital-Birth-Best-Worlds/...

What to Expect When You're Expecting is the BEST! And afterwards, try What to Expect the First Year. it's fabulous set of books I wouldn't be without! Good luck,

Hands down, the pregnancy "Bible" is What To Expect While You're Expecting. It takes you month-by-month and lets you know what's going on inside your body-what to expect at your doctor visit, and goes over the most common questions women have during that stage of pregnancy. If I'm invited to a shower-that is what they get as a present from me. They also have What To Expect The First Year. So, if you like the first one I mentioned, ask for the second one for your shower.

Definitely the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg... make sure you get the most recent edition.

The baby whispered. It's a wonderful book, it would help you to schedule the baby, and find time for yourself.
It's a great book.
Mary

Hi there,

I liked "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" the best, better than "What to Expect When You're Expecting", but I had both to compare notes. Also, looks like "What to Expect..." has a new edition out this year.

Congratulations! And I hope your pregnancy goes well!

H.

Congratulations! I am a book junkie by nature so when I found out that I was pregnant I read darn near every single baby/mother book out there. When it was all said and done, the only two books that I felt contained all the information I needed to know were The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine and The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg. Both are filled to capacity with practical, helpful and entertaining advice. I would wait until you are about 7 months before you read Baby Whisperer, otherwise you risk forgetting all that great info by the time the baby comes. Best of luck for a quick and painless delivery!

my best friend gave me some advice when i got pregnant - and that was NOT to read the what to expect book. it was the best advice!! there is so much information that it can freak you out. it gives you many worst case scenarios - and to be honest - you don't need to know them until you need to know them! :-) instead - i bought The Pregnancy Journal, Revised Edition: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy. here's a link to it on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Pregnancy-Journal-Revised-Day-Day/d...

the thing i love about it is that it tells you what your baby is doing each day. what part of them is growing - what you might expect to feel, etc. i also used it to keep track of my appts - weigh-ins, etc.

congratulations!! one more piece of advice - don't read too much before having your baby - you never know what it's like until it happens or what type of mom you will be, i swore my child would not sleep in our bed - and we ended up cosleeping and loving it!!

Without a doubt, I would recommend "What To Expect When Expecting" It answered so many of my questions when I was pregnant with my two girls. I've given it to 4 other mother's to be and all have relied heavily on it for their questions.
God Bless and best wishes!
C. Y

Hi,

What to Expect When You Are Expecting is a wonderful book. It is actually a series of books. If you go to some place like Barnes and Noble they have a set. It has a book about the pregnancy, the first year and toddler years. They also have a separate book on what to look for in a good baby sitter. They are wonderful books and they are constantly updating the book so the info you are reading is never far off. Good luck!!

By far my favorite book was Dr Sears' "The Pregnancy Book".
I know everyone swears by "What to expect when your expecting" but I didn't really like it too much, although the pregnancy was far better than their baby book with I loath! I hated reading something that was always trying to scare me and making me feel like something might be wrong because I wasn't following the "standard way of things". Everyone's pregnancy is different as is everyone's baby and all they can spout out is the "averages". But the way they present things makes you scared if you don't fit into the little box. Maybe the newer editions have gotten better, I don't know.
Unfortunately I gave all my pregnancy books to my SIL since they're trying and I can't for the life of me remember the other book I loved.
But hands down any of the Sears' books are worth their weight in gold.

Pregnancy Week by Week...it is my favorite!

I've actually been compiling information since my own was born with the eventual goal of publishing a booklet or something that recomends books for parents, because there are so many out there it is hard to weed through them all. These are the ones I would recommend (and a few I wouldn't) so far:

Prenatal:

I don't love "What to Expect When You're Expecting" but it is an extremely popular choice. Why not to choose it: it's repetative, and it seems to scare moms who tend to be more skittish and paranoyed. But when I was reading reviews it was often refered to as one of the most comprehensive.

"The Mother of All Pregnancy Books" is another popular one because it has a lot of information on pre-pregnancy and conception, but many readers found it to be less comprehensive; one refered to it as a quicker read than the others, though.

DO NOT read "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy." Based on my own experience and that of almost everyone I talked to and every review I read it is not a good choice. The information is good, but the overall attitude of the book is negative and condescending, like "darn it, I'm pregnant, I guess I'll make the best of it."

On the other hand "The Modern Girl's Guide to Motherhood" is a great book. It covers both pregnancy and infancy, but doesn't cover pregnancy in as much depth as the others. However, I would recommend it over all the others. It covers all the "need to knows" and is a lot more real than the other books, and the infant info is totally more important than the pregnancy stuff.

Last Month or two before birth: As you are sitting around with your swollen feet propped up, read these. They will help you in your first months as a mother.

"The Happiest Baby on the Block" literally saved my life. I won't go into it, but I have never heard a negative word on this book. At the worst, the tips will be helpful. But if you do have a colicy newborn you'll be glad you read it ahead. Read at LEAST by the time your baby is 6 weeks old.

"The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer"- I love this book because it takes a very moderate approach on polarizing isses that come up in infancy such as crying it out, routines, etc. Most helpful if you read before baby is born.

"Infant Massage" (by Vimila McClure) Massage is not something that is necessary by any means, but it is a wonderful experience for both mother and baby, and many feel if done consistantly would create more compasionate people. I would also recommend signing up for a class if you can.

"Your Child At Play" (there's an entire series spanning birth to grade school) Read the birth to one book around the time your child starts to sit up or sooner. They are wonderful, easy to read books with practical information on your child's behavior.

"Parenting With Dignity: The Early Years" You won't need this one until around one or so. It is a wonderful guide for disciplining toddlers and preschoolers.

Hope this helps! Good luck with your pregnancy and congratulations. Being a parent is a wonderful thing!

J. -

Congratulations!! I'm sure you're excited and nervous and all kinds of other things all at once - just enjoy each moment!!

On a somewhat spiritual/maternal level, my favorite book is called "The Secret Life of the Unborn Child." It's an older book, but the info is classic and valid. It talks about fetal development through each month, and delves into how what you are experiencing on an emotional/physical/spiritual level affects your hormones and therefore that of your growing baby. After (or while) reading it, I chose to give up my sick love of Stephen King novels and scary movies while pregnant with my son (who is now 14) because, although I as an adult am able to discern that it is "not real", the physical response to the stimulus is very real to the fetus. The hormones don't modify just because the adult mind knows how to filter the information.

Anyway, lots of other good recommendations here. My only other suggestion is, if you ever feel like you're getting too caught up in too much info, put the books down for awhile and just listen to your own body/mind/spirit because only you can know if something feels right.

Happy pregnancy!!

"Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" to keep your sanity and "What to Expect While Expecty" for all the technical questions.

Ohh, congratulations! A friend of mine loaned me "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy". The book offers great info, with a twist of humor! If you like to be well-informed of what to REALLY expect and laugh about it, I highly recommend this book.

Congratulations!

I definitely recommend any of the Dr. Sears books. The Birth Book and The Baby Book are great.

Also check out Mothering Magazine available at Wild Oats or Borders. Definitely not mainstream material!

B.

Make sure you check out www.half.com to purchase your books - save TONS of money!!!

I had both my girls at home and took the Bradley Childbirth classes. Check out the Bradley Birth books so you are well informed on all the procedures that could happen before and after your precious birth.
I don't like needles and didn't want to have an IV stuck in me when I walked into the hospital to have a baby just because I was in a hospital...get as much info you can on your birth options and write it down - make sure your Dr. knows what you want and will give you the birth that YOU want...when you know what you want.

Better than a Lamaze (breathe until the epidural) class!

I have a six month old daughter, my first child... and my advice is READ THEM ALL. It is so important to have multiple references. Everyone recommended What to Expect to me when I was pregnant. I read it month by month as I progressed in pregnancy, but it was my LEAST favorite read. There are lots of great books and websites and magazines that all offer great information, advice, and encouragement. You can't possibly get all you are going to need/want to know in one reference book. Have fun, put your feet up, and READ for the next nine/ten months!! Soak it all in! I agree with the others that you can't go wrong with Dr. Sears and the Baby Whisperer, but I also have Dr. Spock's Baby and Child Care, 8th edition (updated and revised by Robert Needlman) and it has been very helpful in combination with all the others. Good Luck!!

I love books, and I love giving birth!!Here are my faves!!

Everywoman should have a copy of Dr. Christiane Northrups
"womens bodies, womens wisdom", this is all about women, in all our amazing cycles.
Then there is "The continuum concept" by Jean Liedloff, which is not about pregnancy, but baby/child development and is a great way to start off your babes life.
Then the classics, Spiritual Midwifery, by Ina May Gaskin, and Rediscovering Birth by Sheila Kitzinger. These are great book to read, even if your not alternitive. They can give you ideas and choices. As a woman, you have so many choices. It's empowering to know them all and get to choose for your self.Good luck to you!!

spiritual Midwifery
Birthing Within

Birthing Within is an amazing birthing technique. It is a holistic journey that takes you on the journey to parenthood. www.birthinwithin.com

Spiritual Midwifery tells hundreds of stories of beautiful homebirths done well.

If you have internet, i would subscribe to whattoexpect.com

its like the book, but online, free and they send you messages every day of the week to keep you posted where you should be...

-A..

Congrats! "What to expect when you're expecting" is good, "The Breastfeeding Book" by Drs. Sears is also good (if you plan on Breastfeeding), and a magazine that is fun to read and learn a few things is the Parenting Magazine.

Have fun!

B.

I do not enjoy reading, but one of the best books I ever bought was A Child Is Born, by Lennart Nilsson. It has the best pictures and explaination of every step of your pregnancy.

"What to Expect When You're Expecting". It is the most informative, most popular prenatal book there is. I don't recommend the food book, "What to Eat When You're Expecting" (or something like that), unless you are interested in a very militant diet. I was not! The next book you're going to want is called, "What to Expect in the First Year". You'll really need that one! Enjoy your pregnancy... the movement of the baby is totally amazing!

I second the Pregnancy Journal. Great source and a fun keepsake when you child is born. Congratulations. Another good read is "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" by Vicki Iovine. A little over the top but fun and informative. Pick one or two books to read and stick with that. You'll make yourself completely crazy otherwise. And remember to do what feels right for you. EVERYONE has advice. Just smile and go "thanks" and if it's completely off the wall, put it immediately out of your head. Congratulations and feel good!

As a mom of 3, now 19,15,and 10. I lived with the book "What to expect when you are expecting" it is a step by step., month to month guide with pictures of just about everything. you can find it at most baby stores or Target. Other places too I'm sure. Hope you have a great Pregnancy and HEALTHY BABY.

Congrates to you!!
I really liked the "pregnancy book, Month by month, everthing you should know". I was pretty accurate. And I didnt find it over whelming. I also would recommend the Girlfriends guide to prgnancy. It talks about all the things moms forget about, and thus forget to warn/advise new moms. Its a great experience, have fun and enjoy this precious time bonding with your little peanut!
Good Luck!

Books I had the second time around that I wish I would have had the first:

The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears

*depending on what kind of birth you want or would like - the second time around, I went with The Bradley Method, I didn't take the course but I read my friends books and they were invaluable - the best birthing method for me (in my opinion).

Birthing from Within

It's easy to become overwhelmed by all the resources and friends/families/strangers opinions. Just take what you can/want from each. I was not informed at all the first time around and had regrets. The second time I was and I felt so in control. Good luck to you!!

i suggest getting what to expect when your expecting. They have a set that includes that book, what to expect the first year and the toddler years. They are really good books with a lot of information.

You should try this book from http://pregnancyhours.com/naturalbirth. This book is such a wonderful, comprehensive resource! It is one I wish I had had access to when I was pregnant 8 1/2 years ago. Lleaon uses her extensive knowledge of herbal, traditional and ancient remedies to give you a complete guide to helping with every ailment and issue that can arise during pregnancy and preparing for birth. This book will be useful to any woman wanting to naturally deal with the common complaints and issues that arise during pregnancy such as itchy skin, hemorrhoids, edema, melasma, insomnia to name a few. I highly recommend this book for any woman who is expecting!

"The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" was the best, down to earth book, ut does not answer all of the other technical questions. Try "What to Expect" for that.