Books to read? Antenatal/Postnatal

[Luckyelephant1]

Hi guys, congrats to everyone expecting! I very recently found out I'm pregnant, currently 4 weeks so very early days. First pregnancy and I'm the type of person that likes to know each and every detail of what's going on during each stage of pregnancy and beyond.

Which books would you recommend? Just to add I'm from a scientific background so I'm not looking for very simple books but equally I don't want to buy a textbook either 😂. I basically want to know about baby's growth and development from now until about 6 months or beyond in lots of detail, what to do and not to do, etc.

I know there's a wealth of info online but it kind of exhausts me and there's so much inaccurate or opinion based stuff. Plus I love a good traditional book that I can refer back to. Thanks in advance xx

Anyone?

What to expect when you're expecting. A classic!

To be honest, I've relied on following Obgyn's in Instagram for my info! My midwife recommended reading 'Practical ways to make your birth better' by Siobhan Miller which I've just started, it's quite good so far, not wishy washy like I feared!

You'll probably like 'Expecting Better' by Emily Oster. It doesn't cover all the topics you want but it focuses on the evidence around conception, things to avoid in pregnancy, and childbirth options.

I can't really recommend anything else because I haven't read much at all that is not mostly opinion! The fact is that there's no one right way to raise a baby, and there are some very strong and very different opinions about how to do it

There is a book and app called 'wonder weeks', about "leaps" in baby's development, I believe it's been debunked as not particularly robust science, but it's mildly interesting.

If your baby ends up having "colic" or reflux, there is a book by a paediatric gastroenterologist that is good, called 'Colic Solved'.

Oh and I've heard good things about The Positive Birth Book (Milli Hill) although I haven't read it.

Definitely recommend Expecting Better and both Milli Hill books (positive birth book and Give Birth like a Feminist)

If you're from a scientific background, as well as Expecting Better recommended above, I'd recommend 'Bump' by Kate Evans. It's illustrated with cartoons which may or may not be your thing, but it's understandable but also properly researched with facts in it I didn't see anywhere else in (backed by references to the original scientific papers). Her book 'Food of Love' about breastfeeding is good too.

I also liked Lucy Atkins 'First time parent' as it had things like step by step picture instructions on how to bath a baby which I needed with DC1. I had to look it up on Amazon to find the author and it does look like it may have dated a bit now, but that does mean you can't get it very cheaply 2nd hand.

Kate Evans' books are good. They are strongly biased towards no/low intervention birth, and breastfeeding, so if that's what you are hoping for, great, but if you are leaning towards ELCS and formula feeding, you might not like them so much. Although the tone is not preachy or judgy, I found. It can just be a sensitive subject for some.

I came on to say expecting better too! The scientist in you will appreciate it!

The day-by-day pregnancy book. It’s the best I’ve found

I have found expecting better useful, but didn't love the style where everything she loves (sushi, booze, caffeine) is proved fine and things she doesn't (e.g yoga) brushed over. As someone without morning sickness the assumptions that everyone felt like her, and how that good as you're more likely to miscarry if not, was pretty annoying.

Also heard good things about the milli hill and ina may gaskin as I get closer to birth

I agree, the author was actually quite irritating
Some very useful information, just a shame she was rather full of herself!

Glad it wasn't just me! Thought it might be after everyone raved about it. But yes still very useful info

Thanks for all your suggestions! Will most probably get Expecting Better to start with. But I do get irritated by people quite easily haha so I'll report back on how I find the author! I like the sound of the First Time Parent one too.