Expecting first - any books you'd recommend?

[cowchickenduckdog]

Hello,
I'm expecting my first at 38 and have very little family around me and OH, so we need as much help as we can get. I know books won't tell me everything but did any of you find any books useful? If so which ones? I'm so worried about being handed a baby and being told to 'crack on' and I'll just be looking blankly back thinking 'what the hell am I meant to do!?'
Many thanks, xx

The Positive Birth book by Milli Hill
How to grow a baby and push it out by Clemmie Hooper

The What to expect books are great. What to expect when you're expecting and What to expect the first year. They were my bibles with DS (17years) and DD (4.5 months)

Penelope Leach Your Baby And Child - really helpful, practical and interesting stuff on stages of development etc.

I have the your baby week by week book and I think it’s amazing. Gives a rough idea of what you/your baby might feel like each week and has practical tips. I have read every week since giving birth.

Brilliant thanks ladies :) really appreciate it! xxx

Just remember your baby won’t have read them.

I think some books give first time Mums a panic when their baby doesn’t do anything that the book suggests would happen!

Are you doing any sort of antenatal class? I found some of the content of NCT useful, and particularly having a chance to chat with other mums-to-be who also felt clueless. The ongoing WhatsApp group afterwards helped too. There's some good stuff online as well, I sometimes search for relevant mumsnet threads when I have a particular concern and there's often something (even if it's from a few years ago).

My friend recommended My Baby Week by Week which was good at first but then advocated a particular approach that didn't really suit us so I stopped looking at it as much.

Not a book, but an App.

The Wonder Weeks.

Very interesting and informative

Also, there are you tube videos for everything - including how to put a nappy on, and how to get a newborn dressed. Anything you can think to ask, it's there.

Good luck and enjoy!x

Hurrah for Gin
but seriously,
Natal Hypnotherapy to prepare for the birth and when the baby is born throw the books away and go with your instinct.
Congratulations!

And I agree with getting the wonder weeks app!

Wonder Weeks app is very good.

Even though i didn't buy or follow it i did refer to the Gina Ford book just to compare my expectations of sleep vs awake time week by week.

You will find your own style though and your baby will also have his/her own ideas!

The first time parent book i found useful