Can anyone recommend a good book?

[ScarlettInSpace]

I think back in the day, the pregnancy & baby 'bible' was by Miriam Stoppard - is this still the case or will that be woefully outdated now?

Can anyone recommend a good book to guide me through it all? I'm wary of relying on Dr Google!

Oh dear, I guess no one reads books any more

I hadn't intending on reading any but a friend gave me this one and I actually found it made a lot of sense. It tells you what to expect in terns of sleeping and feeding patterns, and suggests ways to avoid overstimulation broken down by age. I doubt it's very widely available though

www.amazon.co.uk/Babysense-Secret-Megan-Faure/dp/1405348232?tag=mumsnetforum-21

I liked the Rough Guide to pregnancy and birth which was light hearted but informative. At least I had that for dc1 and 2. By the time I had dc3 I had got rid of everything so I just got a free app and relied on memory/mumsnet! I am also 'old' and quite liked the Miriam Stoppard book too - bet you can get a copy in Oxfam

Ah thanks both I thought I was on my own in the virtual library

unihorn thanks for the link I'll take a look, just some idea of what to expect is exactly what I'm after!

fruitpastille a rough guide? That sounds good too! Maybe I will look for the MS book too then

The 'What to expect' series by Heidi Murkoff is really good. I had the 1st year given to me by a friend. I had spent my pregnancy focused on the birth with very little research on what to do once the precious bundle arrived. Somehow I had managed to get to aged 38 with no experience of babies! I can still see my poor self on day one with the baby at my breast one side with the book propped on a pillow on the other side trying to swot up!

Pregnancy for dummies is brilliant. Very informative with a bit of humour and great for dad's too.

I've found the bump class really useful.

Thank you all much appreciated!

The blissful baby expert, really good with sleep advice and the lady that wrote it is a maternity nurse and works with celebs. Found the advice great!

Supermoon, is the 'what to expect' series very Americanised? I'd love to get some good books to read. I've been recommended using a library to find something that 'fits' you. Need to get beyond 12 weeks before I can do more than read things on my phone!!

Watching with interest for suggestions!

Hello DancingUnicorn, I did not find it too Americanised and I found the different sections were very good to go to and from when I had yet another question!! Libraries are a good suggestion.
There are some really full on 'training' books like 'the baby whisperer' which I also read but although there were some helpful tricks it did seem a bit too regimental and it is not relying so much on your natural instincts which really are your best friend when it comes down to it. Your baby will forgive you if you make a few mistakes while you learn!
I remember the first time putting on a little baby suit- I had a home birth so once babe had latched on the midwives left till the next morning, eek- I was so worried I would break DD. The next day around comes my Mum and changed her while the baby was laying on her lap!

I think there's a UK specific edition of 'what to expect', the one I've got take about NHS quite specifically so not an American view. The app is very American though.

I also liked 'Expecting Better' which analyses all the advice pregnant women are given. And I'm reading The Positive Birth Book at the moment which is amazing.

If you're into more holistic/alternative views, then anything by Ina May Gaskin is very good too.

I've read How to Grow A Baby and Push it Out, written by a midwife from the U.K. It was ok, but didn't really say much beyond the information on the NHS website I thought.

Also liked Expecting Better. Felt quite empowering, even if I won't come to some of the same conclusions.