Pregnancy books

[harrisey]

My SIL is pg and would like a recommendation for a pregnancy book. It has been so long since I was pg that I cant remember what is good and what is not. I've just recommended MN!

I have Dr Miriam Stoppards Health Pregnancy for sale for £1.50. It is small enough to manage with lots of good pics and tips.

What to expect when you're expecting is very good too.

Had fab book which was called Birth to Five I think - it was produced by GOSH - had everything in it -lent it to a friend 2 yrs ago and have never got it back!

I loved Deepak Chopra - Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives. It's a more spiritual approach with lots of good tips on yoga and healthy eating.

I used the Pregnancy Bible (literally read from it everyday)here

I second "what to expect when you're expecting". SiL gave it to us the moment we found out and it is excellent, clear and unpatronising. Whenever I've got a worry or question I can always find a sensible answer in there

I also recommend "What to expect when you're expecting". It goes through what to expect every month and covers the birth and post birth too. there are loads of copies being sold on ebay quite cheaply.

When we were going through the early trauma of an unexpected pregnancy I found "You're pregnant too, mate." Unfortunately I can't remember who the author was but he was English. It is absolutely hilarious and was the only thing that could make us both laugh during a time of lots of tears. It is directed, of course, at the bloke and covers all the need to know information in a very easy style alongside lots of humour - such as what he should pack in his hospital bag, reasons for, and how he can dramatically demonstrate his post-natal depression (i.e. wearing black pjs - but be careful of stains...), and a consideration of what to do with the afterbirth - including a recipe for curry!!. Can't recommend it enough. (Incidentally, unexpected baby is now a very ds of 4 and about to be joined by planned sibling.)

I loved the "Best Friend's Guide to Pregnancy" by Vicki Iovine - it is funny and entertaining, no horrible giving birth pictures to frighten you and I have read it loads of times. She has also written ones for the first year of motherhood, and toddlers. Highly recommended!

I used 'best friend's guide to pregnancy' - It was really good, but the fact it was american got to me as obv the medical stuff can be different over here.

ANother one I used was 'Birth and Beyond' by Dr. Yehudi Gordon. Very medical, but gave me good idea of what was actually happening and what to expect - it also covers first 9 months of baby's life and has a really good first aid section at back and medical dictionary.

What to expect when your expecting - never read it but used 'what to expect in the first year' and it was brilliant.

there's a fantastic book by Prof Lesley Regan, your pregnancy week by week, a dorling kindersley so with lovely pictures of the growing beanies. lots of medical info (she is a consultant obst. + gynae) but not bossy or judgemental. lots of reassurance on symptoms, top tips on coping with difficulties, lots on caesareans etc and other situations which lots of us face but not many of the pregnancy classes etc prepare us for... plus lots on the immediate post-birth time, babycare etc.

love Vicki Iovine, great for a laugh and practical tips

I've been really impressed with 'Expecting' by two UK midwives, Anna McGrail and Daphne Metland. Really good, practical advice and info and of course better than a US book on our health systems, scans etc (don't know if things have changed since Naomi Wolf wrote 'Misconceptions' but no nuchal translucency scanning in US for example). By the way, don't anyone else read the Wolf book while pregnant! Big mistake on my part...

I really liked 'Becoming a mother' by Kate Mosse (not Kate Moss) because it had lots of real quotes from people - but if I'd had Mumsnet then, I wouldn't have needed it.