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Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

What are some good books about pregnancy and staying sane?

Re: What are some good books about pregnancy and staying sane?

The Bump Expert

There a million books out there -- it can be tough to know which ones to go for. To help you sort through the masses, here are some of our users' faves:

Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance From a Doctor, a Midwife and a Mom by Victoria Clayton, Stuart Fischbein, and Joyce Weckl
vanillacourage: It addresses what you really need to worry about and how realistic those fears are. It was very helpful to me in the 1st trimester. For example, it goes through how once you have heard the heartbeat/seen a healthy baby on an ultrasound, the risk of miscarriage drops to 2% or less.

Baby Bargains, 7th Edition: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on baby furniture, gear, clothes, toys, maternity wear and much more! by Denise Fields
Lstaylor73: It's a must. It will answer so many questions.

The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
BartsGirl: It is funny and informative at the same time. It feels like a friend speaking to you, not a holier than thou medical professional.

Great Expectations: Your All-in-One Resource for Pregnancy & Childbirth by Sandy Jones and Marcie Jones
mrs.jenni: It's very informative, but not scary. It has a ton of information as well as a week-by-week guide of what is going on with you and the baby.
 
Pregnancy Sucks: What to Do When Your Miracle Makes You Miserable by Joanne Kimes
mamamoos: This book is humorous and honest. Plus it gives you tips on how to alleviate the dozens of discomforts associated with pregnancy and tells you what money traps to avoid. It feels like you're actually getting advice from a real mom and not a doctor.

The Belly Book: A Nine-Month Journal for You and Your Growing Belly by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
nancyanderik: a GREAT pregnancy journal!

Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy from Mayo Clinic
Kzeksbg: best book ever
Lstaylor73: my personal fave

Pregnancy Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, and Ann Keppler
b&r2006: It gives tons of helpful information, especially in terms of labor and delivery -- what your body is doing, pros and cons of every specific drug you might use for pain relief during L& D, etc.

Paula Kashtan | June 01 , 2009 8:54 AM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I have the Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy and I absolutely love it! It is very friend and does make you feel like a friend is speaking to you. I also bought the Girlfriends Guide To Pregnancy Journal and I really like it too. It has entries every couple of weeks or so then more the further you go & every one has a spot for you to write about what is going on that week of your pregnancy.

Mrs. VanKirk | December 16 , 2008 5:09 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

Hands down, "From the hips" is the best REAL guide ever...

hipchykk | December 23 , 2008 2:57 AM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I have "What To Expect When You're Expecting" and it's fantabulous!!! It's completelt step by step with great advice without completely freaking you out. It helps my hubsy understand what's going on with me and why I'm so out of whack. :)

dewitthm | January 16 , 2009 11:52 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I also highly recommend "The Big Book of Birth" by Erica Lyon. This is my second pregnancy and my first was an attempted natural birth that ended in a C-section. I read her during my first pregnancy and I really felt like I understood all of my options and felt good about the decision to finally have the C-section. She is VERY balanced on the use of meds and goes through the pros and cons of each procedure and gives examples of when they are not necessary and when they actually are a good idea. She has a great sense of humor and her advice on postpartum is hysterical and a must!

e.sarah.mason | February 03 , 2009 9:15 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I am very thifty and i have found many of these books in my local library system, i had to put in requests from other libaries but i get the info and if i love the book i buy it online.

Kena&Jese | February 20 , 2009 1:15 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I have your Pregnancy Week by Week and it is great!

cntrygrl123 | March 21 , 2009 8:21 AM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I have your pregnancy week by week and what to expect when your expecting and both books are great.. In the book what to expect when your expecting is a chapter for men and my husband has been reading it and theres some good tips for the men!!

mtonevski | April 02 , 2009 1:01 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

You might want to check used stores for pregnancy books. I found "What to Expect When You're Expecting" at the local Goodwill for $2.99.

siam | May 03 , 2009 2:36 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I bought What to Expect When You're Expecting and it is wonderful! This book has basically everything that you need to know! It even has a section for Expectant Fathers! I absolutely love it!

Kanne0729 | May 29 , 2009 12:55 AM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I am definitely a fan of "What to Expect When You're Expecting"! At my first prenatal visit, my doctor gave me a copy of "Your Pregnancy, Labor and Birth", and I didn't really like it...WTE has a LOT more information in it. One chapter about a particular month in WTE was almost as long as the entire book that's supposed to cover everything from pregnancy to birth!

alysson_j | June 12 , 2009 9:24 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I absolutly LOVE "The Pregnancy Bible" edited by Joanne Stone, MD and Keith Eddleman, MD. It has everything that I ever wanted to know in it, right from Preconception to Post Partum in it. It even has a baby care section in it. I also read What to Expect While Your Expecting and I LOVE the Pregnancy Bible a lot more.

jknallen | June 17 , 2009 6:40 PM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

I have "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" and it has been useful so far but I think I'll check out some of these other suggestions. Thanks!

ergy | June 26 , 2009 10:24 AM

re: Q: Pregnancy books?

What about the "What to Expect" series? Those are the ones I've been looking at, though I haven't bought them. My friend, who's also pregnant, has two of them, and she finds them quite informative

Faeliea | July 09 , 2009 6:49 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I bought "The Pregnancy Journal" by A. Christine Harris and I love it so much! It gives DAY-TO-DAY updates about your baby and you. Another thing really cool about it is the updates on the nutrition. I had no idea that on certain days/weeks, I should up my magnesium intake! Who knew? It's very informative and calms my crazy nerves (had a past miscarriage). I recommend this book completely!

Janae2317 | July 30 , 2009 6:58 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I have "What to Expect" and I think it's awful. It gives you answers designed to make you feel good about whatever decision you make, but no actual information. I LOVE "The Thinking Woman's Guide to A Better Birth." It goes through every procedure and intervention in the birth process and gives pros and cons.

kwalz82 | July 30 , 2009 10:16 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

"Birthing from Within" and "An Easier Childbirth" Both books concentrate on the MENTAL issues around pregnancy and childbirth and in making childbirth a journey of personal transformation for the Mother. Both books take the issue that you can find medical information in a lot of good places but that women do not experience childbirth "medically" but as a journey and process that starts in pregnancy all the way through labor and delivery. The books also talk about the different ways that people process pain mentally and suggests different excercises including journaling, art therapy, hypnosis, making a labor project to work on at home when you start your labor. Fantastic, can't recommend them enough. Very women-centric and women powerful. "An Easier Childbirth" is a classic and "Birthing from Within" is a recent book.

amjra | August 11 , 2009 3:33 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I love "Baby Wise"! It was the only way I got my first son to sleep through the night. It thought me how to get him on a schedule. And many many other things

amandalane | August 25 , 2009 10:33 AM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

Belly laughs by Jenny McCarthy. She has great humor and also makes you realize everything that is going on w/ you is totally normal.

kimmorelli | September 04 , 2009 7:50 AM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I love the Sears books. THey give you the encouragement and any information you could ever need. My husband and I read these together.

caitymckinney | September 04 , 2009 10:30 AM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I'm reading "The Mother of All Pregnancy Books" and it's great - it's not preachy like some books are, but it's also not too lax on symptoms, details and overall preparedness. Highly recommend this one!

praman79 | October 19 , 2009 3:16 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I bought " What to expect when expecting" at the goodwill for a buck! What a deal !

fruity_2008 | October 30 , 2009 12:06 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

"Belly Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy is absolutely hysterical. It's a quick read and a nice addition to the pregnancy "reference" books.

Brannan | October 30 , 2009 11:07 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I bought "Your Pregnancy week by week" and I really love it. It has good information, pictures of what the baby looks like every week as well as what is happening with you each week and the baby. For a first time mom-to-be I found it useful!

| November 08 , 2009 8:33 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I bought the "girlfriend guide" and hated it I brought it back the next day. It was very judge mental and preachy. I especially hated what she had to say about exercise. I also didn't like the "Anxious parents guide" also a book to make you worried about everything, she even said you shouldn't fly in your first trimester because you MAY miscarry, not that the flight will have any harm but if you are going to miscarry, you don't want to do it on a plane. What a nice outlook. I did love "from the hips' "expect when you are expecting" (only because I feel everyone has read this one.) and "pregnancy week by week." I'm pretty new to the game, and I don't want to get my self freaked out.

scmillington@gmail.com | November 11 , 2009 5:13 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I like Your Pregnancy Week By Week AND The Mother of All Pregnancy Books.

netoohey13 | December 12 , 2009 5:39 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

Has anyone read Dr. Oz's book on pregnancy? I believe the title is something like "YOU...Pregnant." I have both "What to expect" and "The Girlfriend's Guide." The former is informative, the latter funny and helpful...puts things into perspective. Thanks all!

aamayer | December 21 , 2009 7:01 AM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

What to expect while your expecting. Its a wonderful book. We have sworn by it. There are many out there so research a few and find the one that is right for you.

sjuthe83 | January 03 , 2010 10:04 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

i have read dr oz's book on pregnancy. overall i like it. some things did confuse me a bit...for example he recommends several meals which include things like goat cheese which i thought we couldn't have. other then that it gives a good overall look but i am definitely planning on reading others as i didn't really feel it was that detailed.

kskaggs7@hotmail.com | January 09 , 2010 9:38 AM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

My favorite book so far is "What to Expect When Your Expecting" and i absolutly love the detailed week guide of what is going on with the pregnancy. i write down every week what i experience, wether its pain or sleepyness to my pant size increasing

myfirstbaby1 | January 23 , 2010 5:18 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

I suggest "What to expect, when your expecting"...

rmeliza83@hotmail.com | January 26 , 2010 3:45 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is a wonderful look at pregnancy and birth as processes our bodies were made for, and can even excel at. It sheds light on a more natural way to give birth.

mwysong05m | February 01 , 2010 4:25 PM

Q&A: Good pregnancy books?

Thank goodness I checked out the "girlfriend guide" because I absolutely hated it. I agree with "scmillington@gmail.com." I felt like it was written for a young teenager. It's very juvenile. My "girlfriends" are educated and we definitely don't communicate in the same way she writes. I just felt like I was being "talked" at rather than reading educated information (or someone's experience at that). I'll definitely write down some of the recommendations!

JennVE | February 05 , 2010 10:25 AM

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