Pregnancy Books

[m4rdybum]

First question - when is it too soon to buy one? In six weeks on Monday, with my first appointment booked when I'm 8 weeks.

Second question - can anyone recommend a good book? Preferably not something that's like a huge Nedical encyclopedia. Something honest and simple, but comprehensive, would be good.

*medical not Nedical

I'd recommend Clemmie Hooper's 'How to Grow a Baby and Push It Out' (aka Mother of Daughters on Instagram). She's a midwife and the book is really uncomplicated and honest but seems to cover everything useful on a week by week basis throughout your pregnancy.

I've also read Mother Pukka's 'Parenting the S* Out of Life'. I found this one really honest, funny and - in parts - upsetting, as she dealt with miscarriages before she had her first little girl. It has bits by both the mum and the dad and I thought the dad's sections were brilliant for showing you a man's perspective. It has some really useful tips that are given in a no-nonsense kind of way and covers things like do I go back to work after giving birth, breastfeeding and so on.

I took books out of the library when I was about 10 weeks along, thinking it's fine to want to know more about what you're experiencing.

I hate How to Grow a Baby and Push it out! I found it really sparse and it barely covers the first trimester at all. I fell for the nice design and packaging and felt really short-changed when I actually read it.

I like the Pregnancy Bible one. The photos are dated and hilarious, but it's simple, straightforward and reliable. It's nice to follow your pregnancy week by week too.

I'm also enjoying the Mother Pukka one, but it's not so much a guide to pregnancy as a very very funny account of her experience.

Hey,

I'd recommend 'your no guilt pregnancy plan'

Sets out all your options for every stage of pregnancy, rather than telling you the best way

Also, includes after the birth

:)

I think that I got my first pregnancy book after my booking scan at 8 weeks - I bought 'How to grow a baby and push it out' by Clemmie Hooper, but like a pp said, there's barely anything for the first trimester and it's mostly birth orientated (like a lot of pregnancy books). I'm sure it'll be great when I look like I've swallowed a water melon though!

I really liked Bumpology, that's got lots of scientific advice to help you navigate the murky waters of what's OK when you're pregnant. Don't go for 'What to expect when you're expecting' if you want something simple - that's very dense with information and I didn't like the format.

My advice would be to go to the library and get a load out - if you find one that works for you, you can buy it. I think that I've had about 8 out of the library now, some of them I've not got past the first chapter! But I understand wanting to have a book of your own.

This is the one I have, easier to read just a page a day! Im 7 weeks.

Definitely recommend a trip to the library, there are so many preg books but you'll find which writing style and structure you like. Get out loads, then look on amazon or ebay for the ones that you can tolerate past the first few pages.

We bought Expecting by anna mcgrail (a manageable week by week one) and Expecting Better by Emily Oster after borrowing initially from the library.

Agree with PPs about How to grow a baby... Very lightweight in content imo and written for a specific demographic. My good friend loved it though, so it's all very subjective, clearly!