As requested: Baby book recommendations

A few days ago, I received an email from a new Womb Within visitor. His wife is pregnant and he was looking for book recommendations. I love getting requests like that because it gives me something tangible – something that I know someone wants to read about.

Now, I’m going to do a few book reviews in a few weeks, but until I get a chance to do that, I asked some fellow writers over at Freelance Success and Eliza over at Babylune for suggestions and this is what we came up with:

There is some dissension over how good the book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting is. The book, by Heidi Murkoff is extremely popular. I remember reading it when I was pregnant. You have some women who absolutely loved it, but I’m reading about women who didn’t like it at all. One writer told me that her doctor specifically told her to use the book to pick and choose information, but to ignore the diet advice. A few other writers mentioned that about the diet too. So, if you want a good book to describe what’s happening, this is one for you – but don’t take all the advice as gospel.

Another strong recommendation was the book Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Glade B. Curtis, MD and Judith Schuler, MS. She appreciated the week-by-week approach over the more common monthly approach.

These three books came recommended by someone who found them very helpful:

The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer and Rhonda Wheeler

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin

And Dr. Sears’ book, The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to Know From America’s Baby Experts

Brette Sember, a member of the writer’s group has written a few books, including Your Practical Pregnancy Planner, Your Plus-Size Pregnancy and The Everything Guide to Pregnancy Over 35. I’m going to review those for you when my life slows down a bit.

And Nancy Hall, another writer in the group said that her book, Balancing Pregnancy and Work: How to Make the Most of the Next 9 Months on the Job is one she is very proud of. It discusses many issues about work and pregnancy.

Finally, a reader over at Babylune loved Jennie McCarthy’s book on pregnancy, Belly Laughs.

I hope this helps you with book choices. Does anyone have any favorites to add or comments on the ones chosen?

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Tags: pregnancy blog, pregnancy books, jennie mccarthy, brette sember, nancy hall, dr sears, baby experts, pregnancy planner, pregnancy guide