A friend has been asking and patiently waiting for me to share a list of the books I read when preparing to have a baby. Tonight I say, "Wait no more!" Here's the list.
Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born (Tina Cassidy)
I checked this one out from the library during the early part of the summer of 2009, when I was just starting to think seriously about actually having a baby. It was a quick read. Well-written. Full of things I did not know about the long history of childbirth worldwide and in the United States. I can't recall whether Cassidy gave a summary of the origins of some of the popular childbirth prep models in this book, but I know that after reading it I went to the library to grab:
Husband-Coached Childbirth (Robert Bradley)
I had only really ever heard about Lamaze childbirth classes. And I'm not sure why, but once I read the first little blub about Bradley's method, I liked it. So I laid by the pool and read the book. Aaaaah, to be young and without responsibilities again. :) I think I read the whole thing, but there were some sections that were more skim-worthy as Bradley can be a bit verbose and I wasn't pregnant yet so I wasn't relating to some of it.
Then we found out we were pregnant, and I got free books! Hooray!
The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (that link takes you to the new May 2011 edition, with an annoying cover... but more on my cover-based book-judging later)
I actually checked this out right when we found out we were pregnant, but a few weeks later my very own copy arrived in the mail courtesy of my health insurance provider. Not too shabby. It's a good reference book, and I liked reading it every week to see what new things lil' Evelyn was up to as she grew.
Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth
This one was a freebie from the WBWC, my favorite birth center ever and the place where (fingers crossed) I hope to have my next baby. They "give" the book to all of their patients and then they also have a pretty awesome lending library in-house with tons of other good resources. I found this book to be informative but perhaps a bit redundant with what I'd already read. The WBWC tends to use this book and others in their library instead of the popular What to Expect When You're Expecting, due to some controversy surrounding the latter title. (And maybe also because the cover of Our Bodies is like ten zillion times more appealing than the quilted rocking-chair, knitting weird cover on What to Expect? Or maybe that's just me?)
That reminds me... When I survived to reach the 20-weeks pregnant mark, I treated myself with the purchase of this gem:
What to Expect When You're Expected: A Fetus's Guide to the First Three Trimesters
Hiiiiiilarious. A good reminder not to get too wrapped up and serious about every single teeny tiny thing about pregnancy.
There were a few other titles as well, some of which I just skimmed or didn't like as much as those above:
- Belly Laughs (Jenny McCarthy): not horrible, but I have a hard time listening to Jenny as an authority on... well... lots of things.
- Birthing from Within: this is another birth method, which incorporates a big spiritual and artistic component into pregnancy and childbirth
- The Happiest Baby on the Block: I skimmed it, but I'd recommend just watching the DVD to learn the big 5 secrets and then USE THEM BECAUSE THEY WORK. Oooooh, the shushing. I got so lightheaded from the shushing.
- The Bradley Method Workbook: Read it and used it during our 12-week Bradley childbirth prep class. Have you heard about my obsession with Bradley birth and my love for our Bradley instructor? I'm serious. This class was one of the best things we did for ourselves and Evelyn, and we'll probably take it again with the next pregnancy.
So that is that. Happy reading!
And for anyone on baby watch around these parts, well, I've wanted another since about an hour after Evelyn's birth. However, it would probably be wise to finish school and get a job before adding to the family. So... now you know why I've been working so hard this semester ;)
Birth: The Surprising History of How We Are Born (Tina Cassidy)
I checked this one out from the library during the early part of the summer of 2009, when I was just starting to think seriously about actually having a baby. It was a quick read. Well-written. Full of things I did not know about the long history of childbirth worldwide and in the United States. I can't recall whether Cassidy gave a summary of the origins of some of the popular childbirth prep models in this book, but I know that after reading it I went to the library to grab:
Husband-Coached Childbirth (Robert Bradley)I had only really ever heard about Lamaze childbirth classes. And I'm not sure why, but once I read the first little blub about Bradley's method, I liked it. So I laid by the pool and read the book. Aaaaah, to be young and without responsibilities again. :) I think I read the whole thing, but there were some sections that were more skim-worthy as Bradley can be a bit verbose and I wasn't pregnant yet so I wasn't relating to some of it.
Then we found out we were pregnant, and I got free books! Hooray!
The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy (that link takes you to the new May 2011 edition, with an annoying cover... but more on my cover-based book-judging later)
I actually checked this out right when we found out we were pregnant, but a few weeks later my very own copy arrived in the mail courtesy of my health insurance provider. Not too shabby. It's a good reference book, and I liked reading it every week to see what new things lil' Evelyn was up to as she grew.
Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth
This one was a freebie from the WBWC, my favorite birth center ever and the place where (fingers crossed) I hope to have my next baby. They "give" the book to all of their patients and then they also have a pretty awesome lending library in-house with tons of other good resources. I found this book to be informative but perhaps a bit redundant with what I'd already read. The WBWC tends to use this book and others in their library instead of the popular What to Expect When You're Expecting, due to some controversy surrounding the latter title. (And maybe also because the cover of Our Bodies is like ten zillion times more appealing than the quilted rocking-chair, knitting weird cover on What to Expect? Or maybe that's just me?)
That reminds me... When I survived to reach the 20-weeks pregnant mark, I treated myself with the purchase of this gem:
What to Expect When You're Expected: A Fetus's Guide to the First Three Trimesters
Hiiiiiilarious. A good reminder not to get too wrapped up and serious about every single teeny tiny thing about pregnancy.
There were a few other titles as well, some of which I just skimmed or didn't like as much as those above:
- Belly Laughs (Jenny McCarthy): not horrible, but I have a hard time listening to Jenny as an authority on... well... lots of things.
- Birthing from Within: this is another birth method, which incorporates a big spiritual and artistic component into pregnancy and childbirth
- The Happiest Baby on the Block: I skimmed it, but I'd recommend just watching the DVD to learn the big 5 secrets and then USE THEM BECAUSE THEY WORK. Oooooh, the shushing. I got so lightheaded from the shushing.
- The Bradley Method Workbook: Read it and used it during our 12-week Bradley childbirth prep class. Have you heard about my obsession with Bradley birth and my love for our Bradley instructor? I'm serious. This class was one of the best things we did for ourselves and Evelyn, and we'll probably take it again with the next pregnancy.
So that is that. Happy reading!
And for anyone on baby watch around these parts, well, I've wanted another since about an hour after Evelyn's birth. However, it would probably be wise to finish school and get a job before adding to the family. So... now you know why I've been working so hard this semester ;)
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