Pregnancy 411
I've been on a reading frenzy so I thought I'd share some of my favorite pregnancy books/resources so far...
The Big Book of Birth - A must. Probably my favorite so far.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - I had to skip through some of the birthing stories in the beginning of the book but enjoyed the rest of it. This book has given me a different perspective and the motivation/inspiration that I've been looking for. PS. This one is known for being a little "crunchy" :)
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way - Desperately needs to be updated but has some great exercises and techniques that might come in handy when dealing with labor pains. (luckily my local library had this one)
The Business of Being Born (documentary) - the force that piqued my interest in learning more about the benefits of natural Birth (via Netflix)
The Happiest Baby on the Block - most mothers I've met swear by this book/technique (I've yet to vouch for it)
The Expectant Father - Hillsy is reading this one...
Baby Bargains - was really helpful in figuring out what baby stuff I needed, super helpful when working on your baby registry!
Baby 411 - sorta like a cliff notes version of what to expect in the first months, I haven't finished it yet.
What to Expect When you're Expecting (not pictured) - this one has been getting a bad rap lately but I personally didn't have a problem with it. It's not something that I read cover to cover in one sitting. I just read one chapter at a time as my pregnancy progressed.
The Pregnancy Journal: A Day to Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy (not pictured) - Hillsy has been reading this book out loud every night before we go to bed since day one. Each day you get a little progress report of what's happening inside of you and the progress of your baby.
Please feel free to share some of your favorites or post about it on your blog and add a link to it on your comment!
Images: Amazon.com
13 comments:
i'm due mid-july... and enjoyed the girlfriends guide to pregnancy early on when i needed a good laugh:)
i started reading babywise as well recently. some good things to think about, maybe a little controversial.
i have been on a reading frenzy as well, trying to take in as much info as possible.
good luck in your final weeks!
The Truth About Children's Health: The Comprehensive Guide to Understanding, Preventing, and Reversing Disease
I LOVE Ina May...though I had to skip a few too. = ) Sounds like a great reading list!
I also liked Dr. Sear's Guide to Birth (or whatever it's called)...I liked anything by Dr. Sears and his wife.
bookmarking this for my future pregnancy (in a few years, of course!).
thanks for the tips. ;)
e.
Hi! I'm not pregnant, or even engaged for that matter (hopefully soon!!), but I just watched the Business of Being Born because it was on my list of things to read, and my boss' daughter just went in on Monday with a scheduled cesarean. My mom did everything naturally, in a hospital with both of us. She got mad at the nurses when they put the numbing gel to cut the perineum!
I have always wanted to attempt to birth my future children 100% naturally, barring any unforseen circumstances that would harm the baby, of course. This move COMPLETELY opened my eyes and made me rethink hospitals. I've got a lot of nieces and nephews sprouting up and most of them were products of labor that didn't follow the mother's birthplan at all, and all were born at hospitals. Watching that movie made me angry and aware and even excited to birth with a midwife or at a birth center, especially when watching the births there versus those at hospitals. It seemed so calming and more natural than women screaming in a hospital bed, unable to walk around and being drugged up to speed up the labor.
Someday! And good luck on your pregnancy. :)
I read a little during pregnancy and A LOT once Joseph was first born - trying to make sense of my little bundle! My favourite pregnancy book was Kaz Cooke - Up the Duff. It's a light-heated diary style look at the progression of your pregnancy... kind of Bridget Jones for pregnancy. As for looking after your baby, my favourite is Tracy Hogg - The Baby Whisperer. She believes in structure but not routine and acknowledges that all babies are different!!
Good luck! Helen xx
I really enjoyed reading "From The Hips" by Rebecca Odes and Ceridwen Morris. The graphics are fun, and there are quotes all through out the book by new mothers with advice and stories. You can basically jump in wherever in the book and start reading.
I also enjoyed reading Jules Oliver's (famous chef husband, Jamie) "Dairy of an Honest Mum". Not really a typical pregnancy/baby book, but a fun read nonetheless. She has some recipes for natural baby food at the back and advice on what to buy and what not to. It's written like a dairy, so you sort of feel like a fly on the wall!
Love your blog, by the way!! Enjoy every minute of your little one, time goes by so very quickly.
:) Valerie
Hey Marichelle - I would check out some of Dr. Sears' books - http://www.drsearsfamilyessentials.com/Books-C7.aspx . The Birth Book and The Baby Book are must haves, IMO.
Thanks everyone!! I appreciate all of your suggestions and will definitely look up each one (hopefully find a few at the library). I better take advantage of the free time that I have right now and get to reading! Thanks again!
Hey Marichelle,
Congratulations on your pregnancy. I've been hanging out at your blog a lot 'cause I'm pregnant too (21 weeks). It's my favorite blog right now. I would agree with the previous posters about Dr. Sears book, but I think it's more of a month to month guide, and aren't you almost there? I loved Ina Mays, I'm planning on a birth center birth, so it's psyching me up.
YAY! for all the baby talk! Your Emma is gonna be adorable!
xx~Anisa
Congratulations Anisa! Aw, that's so nice of you to say and means a whole lot to me!! I'm definitely gonna check out some of his books - I think they also have books for after birth/parenting etc. Good luck with your pregnancy and definitely keep me posted!!
I was given so many baby books while I was pregnant, and honestly nothing can prepare you for motherhood when your child is born. It is an experience you have to go through individually, and no book should tell you what's right or wrong. You will have to make that decision yourself. Just look at them as a guide.
And for births, hospitals are there to take care of you in case you and your baby are in some sort of danger. Mine was going beautifully until the last minute when he had the cord around his neck. The doctor had to be called in quickly to get him out safely. Now why would you want to give birth at home?
All time favorites: (from a normal/not crunchy homebirth mom and doula :)
Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn by Penny Simkin (there is also a dad/partner counterpart called "The labor partner" that my husband loved): Great all around book if you are even slightly inclined toward natural childbirth
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer. Great book if you are considering natural childbirth but feel like you need some actual evidence (most US medical practices are not actually what has been proved best for mom and baby)
Also... make sure to pack your iPod & speakers... being in control of the background noise was a GREAT help for me.
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