Pregnancy Book Recommendation

[dantri]

Hi all

Just found out I'm pregnant with #1

[Emma121]

Hi Dantri,
Congrats on the Pregnancy!
i have 'The Pregnancy Bible' by Anne Deans and 'What to expect when your expecting'. They have been great for me.

[BellyBelly]

Welcome to BellyBelly!

Personally, as a birth attendant, I don't find 'what to expect' to be empowering enough for what women need these days at birth but I do know some people say they like it as it contains lots of content. Anything by Kitzinger, Janet Balaskas. Check out the BellyBelly Online store for the only books that we recommend, for an educated, informed and empowering journey. We don't sell commercial best sellers or whatever has the best profit margin, only the best info. You need to know what you're up against in the system and how to increase your chances of a great pregnancy and birth.

[TeniBear]

Anything by Pinky McKay is brilliant

[Cherished]

I loved my hypnobirthing book and I read "From the hips". That's it. I didn't want to fill my head with most of the 'crap' that is written out there. Don't scare yourself kwim. Birth is beautiful and natural, your body will know what to do. There's nothing wrong with real information of course but some books (and people/advice givers) can get a little carried away. Finally Congratulations of your pregnancy!

[dantri]

Hi all

Just found out I'm pregnant with #1

Oh how rude my post sounds! I posted using Tapatalk on my mobile and didn't realise until I logged onto computer that it only posted my first few words! Very sorry ladies....

The rest of my message went something like this:

I've been reading Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke which I am finding hilarious but now that I actually am UTD (albeit only just ) I'm looking for a more...scientific (for lack of a better word) book as a reference point and also for DH to read when he is ready (still grinning like a Cheshire Cat ATM LOL).

Thanks for the recommendations so far, I'll definitely be looking into them. And thanks for the congrats too, I go from elated and empowered to scared and freaked out a few times a day ATM but I'm sure that will settle down soon .

[Smoke Jaguar]

Dr Sarah Buckley's 'Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering' - it's pretty all encompassing, and doesn't just stop at birth and the first weeks She is most, most excellent. I'd also get my hands on a book called "The Vital Touch" by Sharon Heller - pretty cheap on Fishpond, or your library network might have it (should have both, actually); it's not a pregnancy book as such, but I found it to be critical reading in the early days after the birth.
Otherwise, a really cheap way to get your hands on a whole stack of best-practice literature is to find your local Australian Breastfeeding Association group and use their library; you don't have to be a subscriber, but you sure do get the warm and fuzzies by being one Actually, most of the Breastfeeding Education Classes around include a 12 month sub, and a BEC is an excellent idea - request one as a gift, even, because it's a gift that just keeps on giving.
The group libraries are a reputable source - they're really very careful about which publications they hold, and the books are on the tick list from the Lactation Resource Centre (which is VERY interested in birth, because it determines, in so many cases, how breastfeeding is established and retained after birth), and the Association has a vested interest in best practice for YOUR baby, and not in collecting royalties (cos they don't, ha!).
GL, and congrats

[sarahrach]

Congrats honey!!!

I luv reading up about everything and recon I've spent a small fortune on books recently - that ABA is a great suggestion. I'm a member now, so might even check it out myself :-) So this is my thoughts on the recent reads:

New Pregnancy & Childbirth by Shelia Kitzinger: don't get me started. I hated 99% of this book and many times just wanted to fling it across the room. Found the way she wrote things really patronising if you had a differing opinion. Not to mention its written for the UK market so lots of the timings for things (like scans etc) were off.

Ina Mays Guide to Childbith: this was great. Lots of birth stories at the start and then info on positions and techniques for birth looking at the most natural way of birthing whilst being safe.

What to expect when you are expecting: very medical and factual about what is happening. Its good, but reads more like a dictionary than a help book.

Up the Duff: Very witty, I enjoyed this as it made me laugh.

Breast Feeding Naturally by ABA: really good info on breastfeeding. Def worth the read. Lots of pics of boobies too which really illustrated no matter what your shape or size everyone can do it.

Parenting by Heart, Pinky: another great one - this has lots of stuff from pregnancy through the first year including crying, BFing, bonding etc. A good alrounder without be preachy, but with an obvious gentle approach.

[little_mrs]

I found Up The Duff by Kaz Cooke really helpful and easy to read, it's good coz it doesn't tell you what must happen, as every pregnancy is different, instead it tells what may happen. Its funny but loaded with info and I loved it!

[Ysabell]

I found Up the Duff by Kaz Cooke, really good, and she does have some good scientific stuff in there too. I've read a bit of What to Expect When your Expecting too and thats not to bad

[BellyBelly]

Up the Duff is funny, and gives you a journey of a pregnancy, but it wont tell you things like squatting will give you 30% more pelvic space (New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas) as well as scientific info on effects of all sorts of drugs and procedures on BOTH mother and baby. Kaz Cooke is a mother and writer, the people I have mentioned are very long term birth workers, they all write differently, but they do know what they are talking about, back to front. Experts in their own right. So important to get good information and education.

[Smoke Jaguar]

I loved UTD the first time I read it, when I thought I might be starting a family not too far down the line (in 2003...no baby till 2006!). Then I read it again when I was pg the first time and hated it. It didn't tell me what I wanted to know by then - how to achieve waterbirth, how HypnoBirthing worked, how to just be undisturbed in labour etc. And this is considering I didn't know anyone who'd done these things - I just got it into my head that I wanted to do these things and needed to know how to do it

[Harriet]

I think the books you read really depend on how you feel about pregnancy.
I was lent Up the Duff, and enjoyed it the first few weeks... but then I really wanted to throw it through a window. I'm actually enjoying being pregnant, and the vibe I got from the book was that I should be constantly complaining and blaming everything on my DP.
I found going to the library great - you get to read a range of books and you don't have to pay for them (unless you return them late, like I always do)