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Original poster

Am I weird that I feel like a fraud reading pregnancy books before I've actually conceived?

15 replies

LubblyJubbly · 21/01/2011 19:07

I'm hoping you're all going to tell me I am being odd, but I've been reading in 'secret' pregnancy books - the ones for when you are actually pregnant even though I'm not.

We're TTC #1 and I'm excited (and scared) and want to know all I can about what to expect but I'm paranoid someone will think I'm a fraud even though I've gone to lengths to disguise reading them (even created blank covers to slip on the books when I head out of the house!)

It feels a bit like I'm invading someone else's club!

OP posts:
GetDownYouWillFall · 21/01/2011 19:37

I don't think you should feel like a fraud at all! I was exactly the same before I had my DD. It is so exciting, and the whole process of pregnancy is fascinating, I think it's natural to want to read up on it beforehand.

I think it also depends what kind of a person you are, I am quite a "read up beforehand" kind of person, others are more "experiential" - i.e. learn as you go on. It just depends how you learn and what you find interesting.

I think knowledge is very valuable and you certainly can't do any harm by having more knowledge, so go for it I say!

Folicacid · 21/01/2011 20:13

Reading up ain't odd...so don't worry. Making blank slip on covers for the books? that's getting into odd territory ingenius! Wink

PrincessScrumpy · 21/01/2011 20:15

I did it for 3 years before ttc - just remember though, not everything is in a book. DD had colic and reflux... cried lots and I thought I should be able to calm her as I'd read all the books. Just remeber books are handy but your baby will have his/her own little quirks and you will know them the best! Good luck ttc! xx

KatyCustard · 21/01/2011 22:46

I read pregnancy books before I got pregnant, and I read bridal magazines before I even had a boyfriend!

Go for it, forewarned is forearmed! Grin

thegauntlet · 22/01/2011 23:13

I just thought i would jump in here, as i can totally totally relate....
(I even bought a baby grow and hid it) I was that focussed before we even tried! ( it was in the sale Grin)

We have a gorgeous dd 8 months and ttc #2. dd came home from hospital in that babygrow!

fyi I actually felt really calm and confident about the birth particularly (following my reading the magazines and books and watching the tv shows for at least 12 months prior!)

Forearmed is forewarned.

LoveInAColdClimate · 23/01/2011 17:54

I am reading baby books and pregnancy books - and don't even have my Implanon taken out until tomorrow Grin. Have also been eyeing up baby clothes and prams Blush. Am glad others are also doing this as was concerned it was a trifle Miss Haversham-esque...

catmodern · 23/01/2011 19:11

Not odd at all. We're also TTC for the first time and looking for advice/reassurance, a lot of which is in books.

Felt a bit strange joining 'mum's' net, though. Or like tempting fate...?

Anyway, would be good to know what you're reading. There's so much out there. What's been helpful for you?

LoveInAColdClimate · 23/01/2011 19:39

I have read the Mumsnet "Pregnancy" and "Babies" books. Found them v good (although am startled by the range of pregnancy ailments that may befall me!), although am also going to get a more "sciency" pregnancy book with pictures of the baby developing as find all that amazing.

Chocolatemolehill · 24/01/2011 22:11

Good to know that I'm not the only baby freak out there :) I also have been reading pregnancy books (just finishing the Mumsnet one) and even went to BabyGap a couple of times to look at that cute little wests. And have chosen the pram already! I'm just trying to keep this obsession from DF - not that successfully though...

whomovedmychocolate · 24/01/2011 22:13

Just a warning they do talk a lot of bollocks. Grin

Babies for example do not grow in a linear pattern. Looking inside on week 16 will not necessarily show you eyelashes etc.

But hey, good to get it over with now, you'll be puking all through your pregnancy and too knackered to read anything and the following two years will just fly by with very few opportunities to read undisturbed Wink

chelsea16 · 25/01/2011 15:08

whomovedmychocolate its so true what you said about being too busy to read anything for the 2 years after having a baby, my 2year old is climbing all over me as i type, she wants me to play cbeebies games with her lmao shes such a cutie

Chocolocolate · 29/01/2011 00:08

LubbleyJubbley I'm so pleased that you posted this.

I told a friend that I had a pregnancy book (ttc #1) and she thought I was 'really odd' and 'tempting fate'

I can't help it. However it has meant that AF has hit me really hard - it's the start of the 2 week wait now so fingers crossed.

BroodyRhi · 31/01/2011 15:06

I read loads of books and threads on here and I dont even know when we will be starting to TTC! I am fascinated by the whole process, I also worry about lots of things and feel that if i read up I will be better prepared. I dont share this reading with anyone else so its nice to find others who do the same as me :)

thegauntlet I LOVE your story about the baby grow! Whenever I buy a pressie for a new baby I always look at the things that I would like a dream, I brought one particularly nice baby grow from GAP with animals and a globe on it. It was a wrench giving it away I loved it so much and am tempted to ask the recipients what they did with it now their DS has outgrown it in case I can get it back to use for my own little one.

Original poster
LubblyJubbly · 31/01/2011 18:32

getdownyouwillfall - thanks, I'm definitely a read beforehand type of gal....wish DP was..

katycustard that made me LOL - I've never read a bridal mag...and we've decided to skip that part as life is too short!

thegauntlet - I just knitted a baby cardy and then pretended to DP it was in prep for a friend who is preggers!!!!

catmodern - ditto, I didn't "join" MN until we'd started the jiggy, felt a fraud to join before I had even attempted TTC.

chocolocate - I've been in the 2ww for 11 days, have convinced self of all symptoms and all early tests (which I know, I know, aren't super accurate) have been neg. I'm wondering if a. I've always had amazingly smooth periods with no side effects ever before (sorry girls but that's how they've always felt before I've been TTC) or b. have amazing talent for mentally creating conditions (though I have been saying :nope, don't have that symptom" quite a lot) or c. really am preg...

I think I need to try this a few more months and maybe stop reading anything that mentions gettiing preggers first try etc!

OP posts:
Maelstrom · 31/01/2011 18:34

What is weird is that you are reading the book and are still trying to conceive.

I read a few chapters of the Contented Little Baby when I was pregnant, if I had not been that would have put me off of having children for the rest of my life.

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