Recommended Reads

[Lilwelshyrs]

Does anyone have any suggestions for good books to read?
It's my first pregnancy and sometimes there's too much info online - and I don't want to nag my GP on a daily basis!
Thanks!

It's called something like Your Pregnancy by Dr Lesley Regan.

I'm reading Expecting Better by Emily Oster, also a first timer and it's really helped calm my nerves!

I didn't get any books on pregnancy as mine was straightforward and I didn't have any questions that weren't answered at mw apts or by asking on MN. I did read Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth - helped me realise that this is a natural process, that doesn't need to be medicalised, and to trust my body to know what to do in labour. I found it gave me a great deal of confidence re. labour.

Also, a book on breastfeeding (if you're planning on breastfeeding, that is) might be a good plan. I didn't, but wish I had. I've heard that the terribly named 'Womanly Art of Breastfeeding' is meant to be very good.

If you want something to prepare yourself for impending parenthood, I got this and I found it helpful and lighthearted and sensible - The First Time Parent

Fab! Thanks guys :) I will check them out xx

Was about to start a similar thread but might just piggy back off this one OP? I'm so far having a straightforward pregnancy so not so bothered about that. But feel we need to start doing some reality checks in anticipation of having a baby here in the house. I'm picking up loads just from threads on MN, but could do with a bit more structured training . It's not so much about parenting techniques but about the true basics. "A newborn baby can sleep for around 18 hours a day" type stuff. I'm generally rather practical but feel like I need pointers in the right direction. Any suggestions of good reading? Either books or other online resources?

No problemo! I think having a good read is always helpful and we can't be too clued up for this... I know everyone's experience is very different so sometimes it's hard to feel "normal".
I was shocked when I discovered babies needed little mittens on their baby grows to stop them scratching themselves haha.
Ive downloaded the Ovia pregnancy app and also Emma's Diary. The Ovia app is interesting because you can track symptoms and things. It helps you with food, recipes and how your baby develops :)
The only thing I struggle with with Emma's Diary, is that the diary itself I find quite patronising
You've probably discovered babycentre.com? Ive been using that loads too!

Not all babies need scratch mits. None of my three would tolerate them.

There we go... Another thing I didn't know giggle

It isn't a practical book, but What Mothers Do by Naomi Stadlen is good on the emotional side.

Y'know, when I was about 21 (ish), having not had ANY experience with babies, thought that babies didn't poo... I'm really glad I know now otherwise I'd be in for a shock

I'll check that one out too, thanks penguin

Ha ha. Especially when you got the first black ones!

Don't... I'm dreading that part vom

Play it right and you'll never do one.Three kids and I never saw meconium poo before DC3.

Nappies when you have just given birth are a partner job (both my older ones cleared out fully and promptly before I was cleaned up and stitched )

taking notes marvellous stuff! Handy to know hehe, thanks!

(Im ignoring the getting stitched part ... I mean, I know it happens to most women, right... But dear god...)

It's fine. .Honestly.

Did you find out the sex before you gave birth? I can't decide! Mum said she asked the midwife not to say anything as she wanted to be the one to say "OMG it's a girl" :) she said it was the most magical thing :)
But I'm very impatient...

No. I wanted the excitement of discovering after all the hard work of labour!

Plus, and I'm a bit odd, it felt a bit private. Like you are such public property when you're having a baby that I didn't want to have to tell everyone (or refuse to tell everyone) the sex.

I wanted to find out with no.3 though. But DH didn't, so we stuck with not finding out.

Just ordered all the afore-mentioned books online... perhaps there should be some sort of book swap-shop? Surely we don't need to keep these books once our DC are grow-d up... Books might be obsolete by then too...

I'm erring on the side of not knowing... I need to learn a little self restraint I think Plus there's no way of finding out after the 20 week scan unless I go private, is there?

There is this thing called a library.....

Ner ner... Thanks for that...

Anyway, like I said, books will be obsolete by the time my kids are big... So libraries will essentially be book museums lol