What are the best books to read?

[Hollers81]

Hi, I'm a first time pregnant mum and am currently 7weeks. My husband has bought himself a book to help him through the next 9 months and I was wondering, of all the gazillion books out there, which are the best ones for us expectant mothers?

I liked the one by Lesley Regan - Your pregnancy week by week. We called it the trusty book cos it seemed to cover everything.

I also like a book by juju sundin. Think it was called birthing skills. Little bit hippy but quite grounded too.

The Lesley regan one is good. For something fun and light hearted but still informative and practical, try the rough guide to pregnancy by kaz Cooke. Nice to be able to read up on all the important stuff whilst also having a giggle.

The Lesley Regan one is real value for money, I read it all the way through and week by week the first time round.

What to expect when you're expecting is good, I think.

Thank you all very much, I'll look them up and start buying! Hope all your pregnancies are going well xx

Very happy with Your Pregnancy Bible and just purchased the sequel... Your Babycare Bible.

The Wonder Weeks is great for after the baby is here. It explains all the emotional and developmental leaps your baby is making which really helps explain your baby's behaviour. I found it great.

In our house, we call them thunder weeks though because usually the "leaps" are accompanied by bad sleep and bad moods all round!

Good luck with your pregnancy!

I'm supporting a 16 year old relative and her bf, through her pregnancy and after, would you say that these all appeal to mums who are younger?

OP, is your DH is finding one book better than the other?

I second the Wonder Weeks - there is also an iPhone app :D

My favourite pregnancy/birth book is Ina May's Guide to Childbirth.

I also like Sheila Kitzinger's New Pregnancy and Birth - it's got very good, down to earth and sensible information for first time mums. "Natural" choices are explained in terms of their health benefits for mother and baby - normal rather than "idealistic". Interventions are explained very matter-of-factly, and respectfully. Very reassuring.

I like:

Ina May Gaskin's catalogue - positive childbirth stories!
Kate Evans' The Food of Love - breastfeeding guide, v. entertaining
Happiest Baby on the Block - good baby prep
Juju Sundin's Birth Skills - have just gotten this, but it's very good.

I also LOVE ina may gaskin Badgerina and Peshwari. I haven't read any others but will check out some of the other recs.

Hello birds I've lent pregnant teenagers The Rough Guide To Pregnancy in the past. It's Australian but the information in it is sound. It's a very easy, soap-opera type read.

Ina May Gaskin is great, but might be heavier that a lot of young mums want to tackle.