Do you plan on reading a pregnancy book?!

CarSaidYes

Well I bought what to expect when you are expecting because on of my friends swore by it but now as I read others post they say it's awful and if you want to read a pregnancy book you should pick one that's written by a doctor. I've only read like 15 pages and so far I think it's okay but they say when you start getting in to the 3rd trimester the author will
Make you feel like a loser if you don't do things her way. Your thoughts?! I really want to read a book that's comforting and explains the changes in my body and the baby's growth.

pblge

The Mayo clinic book is the only one I've seen that I like. I've heard mixed reviews of every other book on the market, although I'd love a bit more detail. Apps can be good, too.

southernyankeegirl

I like the Mayo guide.

I found WTE way too worst case scenario fear mongering! DH wanted to read it and I asked him not to so he wouldn't freak out at every little ache or pain I would have during pregnancy.

They should retitle WTE "Everything That Could Possibly Go Wrong When You Are Expecting!"

SKLH

The only book I've purchased and plan on reading is Baby Wise. I am determined to get my baby on a proper sleeping schedule as early as possible and have heard a TON of Mom's swear by this method. Other that, I honestly can't justify buying any of these books when 99% of it is already on the internet and is SO repetative!

rox825

I read WTE and the Mayo book and I thought both were fine. I also read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth which I loved, and am currently reading the Happiest Baby on the Block. Oh and the baby bargains book, get that one for sure when you're getting close to registering!

MissEm15

I'm reading a twin book only... but I've heard the Mayo Clinic book & Happiest Baby on the Block on both great!!

CarSaidYes

Thanks ladies. I think I'll keep reading the WTE and also go pick up the Mayo book.

1220winterbride

I just ordered "Expect Better". It's written by a Phd in Economics so she compared actual data and statistics regarding EVERYTHING so you can make the best choices for your pregnancy and delivery. (ie, caffeine, amnio, etc) She wrote it after becoming  pregnant and basically finding lots of vague and unfounded assumptions from books and doctors.

xc1148

I really hated WTE. I felt it was either too obvious or too fear-mongering. "Pregnant women shouldn't use cocaine..." REALLY? ya don't say. Also, I have a friend that read it, and she didn't seem to know some really basic things.

The Mayo Guide is definitely my favorite.

southernyankeegirl

I agree with @rox825‌ on the Baby Bargains - but buy a physical book, not the Kindle edition! It's hard to flip between sections, see charts, etc. I really regret buying it as a Kindle edition.

shirleymaeby

I bought The Healthy Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears and I mostly enjoy it.  I've heard good things about the Mayo Clinic book and Your Pregnancy Week by Week as well.

It was also suggested to me that rather than focusing on pregnancy books (since your body does most of the work anyway) you should start reading childbirth, breastfeeding, and baby books now.  I picked up The Happiest Baby on the Block, Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding.  So far the childbirth book is a little granola for my tastes, but there's still a lot of great info in it.

ajlmom

I bought the mayo clinic one and got a free book at the doctors.  I did some reading a few months ago, now I mostly rely on websites.  

MissEm15

sugar4bri said:

@MissEm15‌ what twin book are you reading?

@sugar4bri Ready or not here we come... it's actually really good & the only one I can get thru lol. I def. rec!!

Robeano

I second the Dr. Sears book. I read it with DD and I found it to be factual. Which I liked. Now I read a ton of pregnancy and birthing books. I watched the midwife documentary. But I speak from experience when I regrert not reading about breastfeeding. I assumed it would be easy peasy. A lot of women struggle with it. I also suggest finding a book that tells you what to expect for the first few months. I totally felt overwhelmed.

I also read Ina May's book and I did enjoy it but it's super hippie lol. What I took away from it was how your attitude and the people around you can make your birth experience a really good one. Relax and go with the contractions. Or as they might say "the waves of energy flowing through my body"

Ecarabeo217

Not planning any pregnancy books...I'm an OB so I think I've pretty much covered all the technical stuff :-)
My BFF is on baby #2 and highly highly recommends 12 hours by 12 weeks. It's about getting baby to sleep through the night by 12 weeks old. I'm also planning hypnobirthing class and breastfeeding. I find most of my patients regret not having breastfeeding classes before the baby comes. It really is tougher than people make it seem.

Momarazzi007

So funny story on the WTE series, my work place gave me the WTE first year book and my mil gave us the one we had when DH's older sister got pregnant the first time (early 90's). So he took that one and read it religiously at work on breaks and I sorta read mine but parented how I felt right. Well, we started having arguments and he was like, "The book says!" So I started looking it up in mine and was like wtf? I asked him to bring his home and we found out they totally contradicted each other. So he threw out the old one his mom gave him and stopped stressing. I still have the pregnancy one and it is good to kind of bounce some fears and or thoughts off of- but by no means do I read it religiously. Mainly I let my DD look at it and she tells me what is happening with baby (which is better than what is in the book...)

CandaceC1020

I've read a few since I am hoping to have a natural birth.  I would not read What to Expect ... it's dumb and there is a lot of unnecessary information.  I've been able to receive weekly updates on what should be happening in my pregnancy via Bump and BabyCenter and these have worked fine.

For anyone looking into the possibility of natural birth, I highly recommend looking into Ina May Gaskin books.  She even has a breastfeeding book that I plan on reading a little later. 

Ina May Gaskin - Guide To Childbirth
Cynthia Gabriel - Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds
Pam England - Birthing from Within

I have Babywise by Gary Ezzo and plan to read that.
Also plan to read The Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg

As for when the baby is born, I plan on reading The Wonder Weeks.