Best and Worst Books for Expectant Parents

ecpdvm

Hey guys,
As I mentioned, I'm a blogger for a birth center and I want to write a blog about the best and worst books for expecting moms (and/or dads). Have you guys read anything you'd highly recommend? Or picked up a book that made you cringe with its impractical or outdated advice? 

ashleymn-2

I really liked"The Expectant Father". A friend had gifted it to my SO and I ended up reading it out of curiosity and it was actually really informative. I found parts of it to be a sarcastic tone though or at least I hope that's what the tone was XD

Schell2013

I liked the what to expect when your expecting book. It's easy to follow and nicely laid out. It's the only one I've ever read so I can't compare but I liked it.

MRSCORKER

I personally did not like What to Expect. I found it to be a bit alarmist and doom and gloom. I actually had to put it down until after first tri because it was making me anxious. Just another take on it that might be useful. I got my H "Dude you're gonna be a dad". He has yet to read it but I thought it was funny and informative. I also liked "The Girlfriends guide to pregnancy". I'm currently reading "The womanly art of breastfeeding". It is definitely useful and informative but parts are a little sanctimonious and formula-shaming which I'm not down with. I'm committed to bf to the best of my ability but 100% not opposed to formula and the book is pretty negative about it. 

socks2819

I loved the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy pregnancy. It was very straightforward without being scary and I loved the comprehensive symptom section. Made all the weird things happening to me seem very normal which is calming to the mind for sure.

duckmay

I like Expecting Better because it respects pregnant women's intelligence. I thought the Girlfriend's Guide was sexist and shallow.

mothernorth

I liked What to Expect personally, but I haven't read anything else either. And I read that back in 2011 so don't remember much and have since gifted it off to another expecting FTM. 

krzyriver

Someone bought me What to Expect so same as with others, I have nothing to compare it to. Pregnancy is stressful for me to begin with, but I didn't find that it made me more anxious. I read each month as it comes and find it to be very helpful that way. Easy to find things from the index when I need it. It's answered all my questions and kept me away from Dr. Google.

kmvisioli

I'm with pp that I did not like What to Expect. While it does have some useful information, it really is unnecessarily alarming and "doom and gloom". I liked Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (even though it is a bit hippy trippy in parts) because it is informative and empowering. My husband liked the cheesily-named "Congratulations, you're gonna be a dad!" because it is simple, easy to read and understand, but good information.

ignoscemihi

I liked both What to Expect and The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy.  I thought both were informative.  I think a reason I didn't find What to Expect alarmist is because I didn't read it cover to cover.  I read the monthly guides and then looked up symptoms in the back of the book to find only the things that applied to me.  (I did find the weight gain section a little... I'm not sure what the word is.  Too jokey, maybe?  A little mean?  But that could just be my own insecurities.)

annabenanna

I loved "Expecting Better".  Having all the statistics and information I needed allowed me to relax a little.  

Kaessi

+1 for Expecting Better. I agree with @annabenanna that it helped me to relax a bit & feel like I was making informed decisions, not just going with what society says is best. 

anna.oskar

Best Dad book:  Husband says it was absolutely hilarious and still informative.  A lighthearted look at some serious business.



Worst Dad book:  Husband said he found it to be incredibly offensive in tone as he often read bits implying that he as the father needed to tell the mother to be what to do for her own good since women are too emotional and stressed at this time to make their own decisions.

mrskratt

I didn't care for What to Expect When You're Expecting.

But one I LOVED and recommend is The Womenly Art of Breastfeeding. It was my bible and it was so imformative. I would have failed breastfeeding miserably without it. 

krzyriver

mrskratt said:

I didn't care for What to Expect When You're Expecting.

But one I LOVED and recommend is The Womenly Art of Breastfeeding. It was my bible and it was so imformative. I would have failed breastfeeding miserably without it. 

I'm a worrier, so I'm already stressing about breastfeeding. Lol. Will definitely be getting this one when I'm at the bookstore tomorrow.

mrskratt

krzyriver said:

mrskratt said:

I didn't care for What to Expect When You're Expecting.

But one I LOVED and recommend is The Womenly Art of Breastfeeding. It was my bible and it was so imformative. I would have failed breastfeeding miserably without it. 

I'm a worrier, so I'm already stressing about breastfeeding. Lol. Will definitely be getting this one when I'm at the bookstore tomorrow.

This book helped me SO much with what is normal and what is not. I would have lost my mind without it. It's amazing how much goes into breastfeeding. 

westcoastfoodie

mrskratt said:

krzyriver said:

mrskratt said:

I didn't care for What to Expect When You're Expecting.

But one I LOVED and recommend is The Womenly Art of Breastfeeding. It was my bible and it was so imformative. I would have failed breastfeeding miserably without it. 

I'm a worrier, so I'm already stressing about breastfeeding. Lol. Will definitely be getting this one when I'm at the bookstore tomorrow.

This book helped me SO much with what is normal and what is not. I would have lost my mind without it. It's amazing how much goes into breastfeeding. 

I hadn't really thought about reading any books on breastfeeding, but your endorsement of this book makes me wanna grab a copy, so I think I will! Thanks for the info! 

Pupatella

I really enjoy the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, and also Your Pregnancy Week by Week. They are both very informative but not overwhelming. What to Expect was fair, but definitely isn't my favorite and I find myself not reading it much anymore.

I have to check out the breastfeeding book (thanks for the recommendation @mrskratt !!), and also want to get the Bradley Method book.

TurtleMomma

Love love love Breastfeeding Made Simple (Mohrbacher) and The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding. 

Worst: Babywise. That shit is insane and I can see why the American Academy of Pediatrics came out and condemned that practice!

KarenBM13

+1 for loving Expecting Better and disliking What to Expect.

I also loved Bringing Up Bebe. It was an easy read and made me feel much more relaxed about being able to handle parenting.

Tara0604

I only used What to Expect as a reference because it was given to me and I thought it was dry and made me anxious.

I loved Your Pregnancy Week by Week and Belly Laughs and Girlfriends Guide were super light reads.

I'm definitely going to check out the breastfeeding book recommendation. It didn't work out for us the first time around, but i'm willing to give it another go.

depineta

duckmay said:

I like Expecting Better because it respects pregnant women's intelligence. I thought the Girlfriend's Guide was sexist and shallow.

Based on the two people who HIGHLY recommended the Girlfriend's Guide to me, I suspected this was the case, but it's nice to see it confirmed.

MRSCORKER

depineta said:

duckmay said:

I like Expecting Better because it respects pregnant women's intelligence. I thought the Girlfriend's Guide was sexist and shallow.

Based on the two people who HIGHLY recommended the Girlfriend's Guide to me, I suspected this was the case, but it's nice to see it confirmed.

I liked it because it didn't make me feel anxious like What to expect did, but I agree that it was very shallow at times. 

bamacoop

@TurtleMomma I wanted to read Babywise! Can you give some more info about why the book was condemned? I hadn't heard about that!

booksandicecream

I like What to Expect and did not find it at all alarmist. It's just a list of facts. Fact: pregnancy is gross and can be dangerous. Having said that, it's also a bit dry and only focuses on mom rather than fetal development. 
I REALLY like Your Pregnancy Day by Day. It's one page a day, primarily focused on fetal development with a blurb or two about symptoms or feelings mom may be experiencing. It also has an in-depth section on the birth itself. 
I hate books written by celebrities (especially Jenny McCarthy, don't even get me started) - pregnancy books should be fact checked IMO. If you want anecdotes, then come talk to the awesome ladies on The Bump! 

Thanks all for the tip about reading breastfeeding books ahead of time! I'm going to have a midwife post-partum and didn't even think about preparing beforehand! 

lindzsers

+1 for Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and +1 for Bringing up Bebe.

Guide to Childbirth was a great look at how the body works going into labor, and really has helped me feel less scared about the whole process. Although it is, as some have mentioned, a little earthy crunchy at times. 

I loved Bringing up Bebe. It showed a European approach to parenting that is very non-alarmist, and places a lot of value on delayed gratification and the positive effects on behavior. And the chapters are short and fun.

TurtleMomma

bamacoop said:

@TurtleMomma I wanted to read Babywise! Can you give some more info about why the book was condemned? I hadn't heard about that!

Here's a quick blurb, I can find more if you want. 

https://www.aappublications.org/content/14/4/21

ammiddleton3

Currently reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth! I really enjoy it so far! This is a very hopeful VBAC, so it's reassuring to read positive birth stories, and understand the process and not be so scary! I haven't really read any others.