Pregnancy/Baby/Parenting Books

[KimberSly]

I was just wondering what books you all have read on these subjects. I know that there are a ton of books out there to read up on, but I also know there are ones that are just not even worth picking up.

I read "The Mother of all Pregnancy Books" It was great! I think it's the first book I've taken out from the library that I've read and taken back in the alotted time! I suggest it if you are thinking about having children, or already pregnant and need advice. Of course I'm neither, so what would I know? lol Still I think it was a great book. I learned a lot of scary stuff, but also a lot of happy things. Needless to say, I walked away still wanting to have kids, so that's a thumbs up in my opinion! :D

Anyone else have books that they've read? Or maybe advice on books not to read?

[phoenix1010]

I read the standard "What to Expect When You are Expecting", I think I got like three copies of that book from friends!!! Now I have "What to Expect the First Year" and a Dr. Spock's book on babies and children. At first I really clinged to these books, but now I pretty much trust my instincts. Someone told me the "Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" (I think that is what it is called) was pretty good.

[soilsigh aingeal]

I had all of the "Girlfriends Guide to...." by Vickie Iovone (I think that's her name) They're funny and so true! I had
"What to Expect When you're Expecting/During the first year/During the Toddler Years"
"Your pregnancy week by week"
"Easing Labor Pain"
and numerous books with compliations of birth stories

[Kalika]

I was just wondering what books you all have read on these subjects. I know that there are a ton of books out there to read up on, but I also know there are ones that are just not even worth picking up.

I read "The Mother of all Pregnancy Books" It was great! I think it's the first book I've taken out from the library that I've read and taken back in the alotted time! I suggest it if you are thinking about having children, or already pregnant and need advice. Of course I'm neither, so what would I know? lol Still I think it was a great book. I learned a lot of scary stuff, but also a lot of happy things. Needless to say, I walked away still wanting to have kids, so that's a thumbs up in my opinion! :D

Anyone else have books that they've read? Or maybe advice on books not to read?

I went to Borders and looked at a ton, and this was the one I picked. :) I thought it was great too! Lots more information than a lot of the other ones I saw, and it gave you something on just about EVERYTHING - it keeps your expectations realistic.

[Tzhebee]

The one I liked the best was the Good Housekeeping Guide to Pregnancy. (or something like that). The first "chapter" has details on what to expect during every 4th week. Including what changes are happening with your body, with the baby etc. It even has a model come in and pose (fully nude) so you can see the changes in her body.

It was great for me since I have 3 older kids. They would pull out the book and tell me what was happening with the baby "Mommy, the baby has eyelids now" and they'd compare my tummy growth to the models! :lol:

[Autumn]

I despise the "what to expect books..." More like "what to worry about, obsess and feel guilty and inadequit about"

instead I recomend, Sears and Sears Pregnancy book or Motherings guilde to pregancy. Also good is Ina May Gaskins Guilde to Childbirth. try this link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0553381156/qid=1090873286/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-6194656-5014305

[Autumn]

more amazon links...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316779148/qid=1090873631/sr=1-15/ref=sr_1_15/104-6194656-5014305?v=glance&s=books

[Autumn]

I apologize for so many posts...
Here is the link for the Mothering book. last post for now I promise!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0743439635/ref=pd_sxp_elt_l1/104-6194656-5014305

[Llewyth]

I like the Dr. Sears books. One of them even has a "when to panic" page!

[PAGANFILES]

Kimbersly,

No book, Just some advice.

Begin talking and singing to your child before birth.
When your child moves, touch were they push.

I wrote a ritual long ago. Please use it every night from this day and on into the future for the child.

A Bedtime Ritual

A candle is lit.

The words are said:

Rest, and quiet dark of night
'til tomorrow's, day of light
Candle out, to sleep I go,
love and life, again I'll know.

The candle is extinguished.



Terry

[FaerieGothMommy]

I have a few of these types of books, but my favourite is The Pregnancy Question and Answer Book (http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0751303984/qid=1090915698/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl/026-3409239-3840422)
I always referred to it during both of my pregnancies, and just love it! I Love the way it's set out and the information it gives

[KimberSly]

Awesome :)

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

PaganFiles: When should one use this ritual? It sounds very calming :) I'm not pregnant... should I wait til then (whenever that is!) to use it? :)

[Lady Jade]

Throw all the books out, you'll just know what to do. Enjoy the books, but trust yourself and your judgement. I agree with Terry, definitely sing and talk to the baby, I had a special relaxing tape and after she was born the tape really put her to sleep and made her calm when she was upset.

[Mysticism Deity]

I started to read "what to expect when expecting" but my doctor told me to throw it away! All it does is scare some woman cus of the things described in that book. Most of the stuff isnt all that great. She couldnt understand why that book was even number 1. So I didnt read anything after that. I just went with the flow of things.

I felt I didnt need to read those books anyways. I dont want to base my pregnancy on some book. I rather experiance it without them.

I did a lot of talking to my twins. we even had a little game...they would push or kick my tummy and I would push back and we would do that back and forth. played alot of music for them, sang to them, did pregnancy yoga (that was fun!), read to them.

If I ever had any concerns I rather ask my doctor than to depend on a book.

[Kalika]

I checked "What to Expect When You're Expecting" out of the library - and I have to say, I'm really glad that I bought "The Mother of all Pregnancy Books" rather than this one. While it DOES have alot of valuable information on what to expect at the doctors office, etc, alot of the stuff is put in there more for shock value than as to what you should really expect - and I think that's a crummy way to sell a book. While its good to know the risks, symptoms of problems, etc - that's not ALL I want to hear about, and that seems to be what the majority of the book has in it - the things you should be worrying about, and focusing on the negative rather than the positive.

I agree that once you have the baby, you shouldn't rely on a book, but on maternal instinct... its in there somewhere, you just have to find it. :) I'm lucky that I practically raised my brother, and that I have the feeling I'll just "know" what to do when the time comes, when they cry, when they need changed, etc - but I also understand that every case is different, and that having my own child is going to be different and sometimes frustrating. :) But I'm still looking forward to it - and knowing that there are good books out there that can help answer some of my questions when I'm stressed, depressed, frazzled, and at my wit's end... is comforting. To me at least.

[PAGANFILES]

Awesome :)

Thanks to everyone who contributed.

PaganFiles: When should one use this ritual? It sounds very calming :) I'm not pregnant... should I wait til then (whenever that is!) to use it? :)

No, you don't have to wait. It is written specifically for children, but, in begining to use it now you should feel comfortable with it and confident of it when a child quickens within you.

Terry

[MarinaSulis]

I liked "The Pregnancy Book," by Sears & Sears; "Birthing from Within" and the Bradley book, the name of which escapes me.

[Mysticism Deity]

that's not ALL I want to hear about, and that seems to be what the majority of the book has in it - the things you should be worrying about, and focusing on the negative rather than the positive.

Thats another reason why my doctor told me to throw it out. It does nothign but focus on the negative and shes had a lot of stressed out mothers to be coming in. I didnt get far in that book cus it was negative to me. I had this magazine the I looked at each month that showed how big the baby should be, what they are learning inside. Thats what I wanted to know during a pregnancy, whats going on inside.

[Autumn]

Sometimes the approach that pays off is to read the book in question thoroughly, like a textbook, then put it away unless a specific question comes up. That way you have the knowledge base, but you are not panicking over every little deviation.

[Kalika]

Yep, I read the whole thing, 'cause I figured that its a bestseller for a reason. Some of it I looked at and discarded to the far reaches right away, 'cause there are just some things you don't want to think about. Others, I'll keep in mind.

If you're prone to worrying about every little thing though, definitely isn't a book I would recommend. If you're not, then if nothing else, its more research and one more source of valuable information - just take it for what its worth in relation to your situation.

[Autumn Clair]

Third child and I still get books. What to Expect, Baby first year, Infant health, Caring for your new born, Parenting, Breast instead of Bottle.

All these books help you down the road and things change my oldest is 10 now and things that were back then aren't the same now for my up and coming baby. Do I really need the books, I say yes and no, Yes because of yearly changes in medicine and health and no to I can hold a baby, bathtime is fun, I know the cries but refreshing is always a good idea.

Books and doctors can't always tell you what you know is right for your child so be firm in what you believe and stand by it until they have checked after thing. My second child had a really hard time with formuls and I had to be really firm on getting her to the baby I knew she was when nursing. In the end she had to be on the most expensive but she was back to her healthy self. So listen to your mother intuition it is usually right when the doctors swear your wrong............