K.T.
I agree... What to Expect When You're Expecting? is the best & covers everything. Also, the other What to Expect books are great. The first year, toddler years, etc
Interested to find out what everyone's favorite pregnancy book is?
Just found my What to Expect book and I'm getting the Girlfriend's guide from the library. I read that one last pregnancy and loved it!
I agree... What to Expect When You're Expecting? is the best & covers everything. Also, the other What to Expect books are great. The first year, toddler years, etc
My favorite was "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy," which was funny and honest.
I liked "What to expect..." for the multitude of answers and "the girlfriend's guide to..." for a reality check - fun to read, as well, not a dry how to! : )
What to Expect When You're Expecting?
I loved the "girlfriends guide to pregnancy". But then, I read them all. I will say, though, don't waste your money on the "what to EAT when you are expecting" book. It has advice like "eat half a bagel for breakfast" and other things that are not only unreasonable, but make you feel bad about being normal.
I LOVED pregnancy books while pregnant. Nothing like wallowing, right?
Although I enjoyed the What to Expect book, I also really liked a book called "Your Pregnancy Week by Week". It had some GREAT information, and it was so neat to really know exactly what your baby looked like that week and what it was doing inside of you. I actually just bought this book for my sister who is pregnant with her first.
CONGRATS!
I have some friends that are doulas and midwives - they swear by this DVD about birth: http://www.thebusinessofbeingborn.com/
I love The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - Beautiful book http://www.amazon.com/Womanly-Art-Breastfeeding-Seventh-I...
Another must read is The Attachment Parenting Book http://www.amazon.com/Attachment-Parenting-Book-Commonsen...
What to expect when you're expecting was ok, but very silly in that it's advice is ridiculous and condescending. (I mean, telling the father to be to postpone telling the nurse you want an epidural in case you change your mind? seriously? And saying things like "there's no proven reason to not dye your hair during pregnancy, but if it's not best for baby, why do it?" sheesh). It did have some good facts about what was going on with the body and baby, though, so it's not a total wash.
The girlfriend's guide to pregnancy was good, but her followup was not as much. I especially hated the part about how if your baby wont stop crying, it's fine to put it down and go take a bath. But it was nice in the pregnancy guide to see that some of the uncomfortable, embarrassing things going on were not just you.
I'd get the American Academy of Pediatrics book on caring for children from birth to age 5 and read the beginning section. Plus you will have it for later, it's very helpful to read the newborn section before you have one in your lap. I personally thought the "What to expect" book was a complete bore.
I loved the book called "I'm pregnant! A week by week guide from conception to birth." I really didn't like What To Expect, I wanted something with pictures and this one was great!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/075660950X/ref=s9_simh_g...
I loved What to Expect, and The Girlfriend's Guide. Enjoy!
Natural Hospital Birth by Cynthia Gabriel!