Baby book recommendations

[jessm2109]

Hi all,

I have just found out i'm pregnant! This will be my first baby and was wondering if any one has any baby books they would recommend for first time mum?

TIA x

[Dixiechick17]

The rough guide to pregnancy and birth by Kaz Cooke, brilliant book

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

"How not to be a Perfect Mother" by Libby Purves.

It's not a book by a baby expert, it's a book by a mum - she has collected advice and experience from having her own children, and from her friends with children.

It is, as the title suggests, about not being perfect, but doing your best at the time. As she says, mothers are expected to be perfect madonnas, but even a madonna needs half an hour off to put her feet up with a drink and a good book. And that, in the grand scheme of things, it doesn't matter if, in an emergency, your baby is dressed in just a disposable nappy and one of his older brother's jumpers with the sleeves rolled up - as long as he is warm, safe and fed.

It is a warm and friendly book - and very funny too. It's direct from the coal face of motherhood, and it helped me to see that I wasn't a total failure as a mother because I wasn't living up to the perfect picture I had in my mind.

[GoldPlatedBacon]

I found 'your baby week by week' very helpful. It's a bit out of date (in particular the weaning advice is different to nhs current stance) but the rest is good. I found it helpful reading it towards the end of my pregnancy so I knew what to expect.

Otherwise the nhs has some really good YouTube videos re childbirth, breastfeeding (if you're inclined) and the first few weeks of baby life.

[GoldPlatedBacon]

Sorry, it's by Caroline Fertelman. You should be able to get a copy on eBay

[jessm2109]

Thank you everyone - I will be doing some research on all those books this afternoon - might even order them all!

SDT, that books sounds really great being written by a mum, it's always good to get a real perspective. I have family with small children, but I'm yet to tell my family about the pregnancy - going to wait a while as i'm only 5 weeks. So i'm reluctant at the moment to ask them for advice!

Thank you all for your recommendations!

[Kaktus15]

Congratulations on your pregnancy!
Pregnancy book by Baby Centre is great, although there might be a newer version. There is one currently listed on ebay (www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pregnancy-Book-By-Baby-Centre-/302020362918?hash=item4651d102a6:g:W5kAAOSwaB5XkRVf)
I also found 'Your Baby Week by Week' very helpful.

[Jojo13]

Congrats!
"French children don't throw food"
It's a novel but a great read when pregnant once you've read all the week by week books