Can we start a book thread?

[Bubblette]

I love reading, and tend to devour books So, no surprise I'm looking for good books to read about pregnancy, childbirth, and early parenting. I don't even have a short list to read because this was such a surprise!

Can we start a list of books with reviews? good and bad so those of us looking for books/more books can choose some good reading material? Personal reviews, even better yet critical reviews, always help me pick what to read, and help me prioritize my list.

[peridot83]

I'm almost through Nina Palanks Real Food for Mothers and Babies. Very good. It covers foods that promote fertility, pregnancy, and babies first foods. For people into Traditional Foods the first couple chapters are preaching to the choir. But I found the information about about how different foods effect each stage of childbearing particularly useful. It also makes a great motivator to eat plenty of seafood.

[merrywearer]

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth
The Natural Pregnancy Book
Heart and Hands, A Midwife's Guide to Childbirth and pregnancy

[nummies]

Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin- Great book! I really loved reading all the birth stories. Her Guide to Childbirth was also really great!

[seaheroine]

I'd really recommend Birthing From Within. It was the best in helping me work through my fears about birth...I remember crying while reading it because it really hit the nail on the head about a lot of things I was thinking about.

It can be negatively slanted in regards to medicalized birth; there is a lot of anecdotes from real people and their fears in regards to the medical procedures of birthing. If you can take that with a grain of salt, though, the advice offered for "facing your tigers" is priceless.

"Pushed" is another really good one - very in depth regarding some birth interventions. Again, it is good for knowledge in a medical birth situation but can be scary in regards to both home and hospital birth.

Overall I really enjoyed it and was glad I read it (about a week before I was due, lol) but you've got to have strong resolve to read it objectively, ykwim? Those were my two favorites!

[RoseRed]

I really liked Pushed by jennifer Block. I read when I was pregnant last time and it gave me some REALLY good insentive as to why I needed to continue with my Home Birth plans.

But seaheroine is right it can be a little scary if your not prepared or open minded as to what you are going to read.

[nummies]

Elizabeth- I agree, Birthing from within was amazing! I really helped me work through my past birth trauma.

[petit_bleuet]

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Ever felt like you stick out like a sore thumb?
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears.

At least I'm not reading What to Expect.

[Bubblette]

Thank you everyone Keep it comming!

Now I'll see what's in the library and what type of book budget I have...

[marinak1977]

I second Real food for mothers and babies - I really love how sensible and rational the author is. And it's finally getting my DH over his fear of fat.
I am thinking about Dr Sears book because a lot of his nutritional recommendations make a lot of sense to me.
I have to admit that I have a copy of What to expect, but I'm not relying on it much.

Merrywearer - thanks for the recommendations, these books sounds very much up my alley.

[acordio]

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth was a very enjoyable read. It was so eye opening!!

The Power of a Pleasurable Birth. I read it when I was preg with my second She if very much into unassisted birth.

[seaheroine]

Originally Posted by petit_bleuet

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Ever felt like you stick out like a sore thumb?
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears.

At least I'm not reading What to Expect.

I never read The Pregnancy Book but I love(d) The Baby Book! It has been really helpful many, many times!

[nummies]

Originally Posted by petit_bleuet

Ahhhhhhhhhh. Ever felt like you stick out like a sore thumb?
The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears.

At least I'm not reading What to Expect.

No need to feel like you stick out! I am reading that book too!

[wildlavender]

I agree with Ina May's Guide To Child Birth. I also appreciate Peggy O'Mara's Having A Baby, Naturally. I can't imagine not having had Super Baby Food, by Ruth Yaron, when my dd was younger. Loved it!!!

Excited to read Nina Planck's book as well. I'm currently reading her book Real Food and think it's fabulous.

[MrsAngelic]

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn:The Complete Guide by Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley, & Ann Keppler very well balanced book!

[fromMontreal]

Gentle birth, gentle mothering by Sarah J. Buckley

I'm just at the begining but will be my favorite I'm sure.

[nudhistbudhist]

nak
The Contiuum Concept- i have read it 20 x... its my parenting style, and its why i dont use baby gates!

Bonding- loved it! good fo hubby's to read as well!

Spiritual midwifery.... because its like THE book to read while your pg!

Natural Infant Hygiene: my diaper free bible wonderful info and pictures of newborns on the lap potty... so sweet!

The complete organic pregnancy: A MUST HAVE!!!! protect yourself and your baby from the chemicals in your daily life. A very important section on baby matresses/FIRE RETARDENT and SIDS. If your DP is like mine, you may want to hide this book from him tho, or he will be lecturing you on EVERYTHING. My dh took away my black eyeliner, the ONLY makeup I wear. And he took away the shower curtain.

[Kidzaplenty]

[intime0]

Natural childbirth the Bradley Way (I couldnt figure out how to link directly to the book on Amazon, sorry) This is the ins and outs of childbirth, the signposts of labor and a simple approach to a nonmedical birth. I have used Bradley Method through 2 births and the last one was even better than the first. The technique gets easier...it's just learning to relax. that comes with experience...LOL.

Emergency Childbirth by Dr. Gregory White--This is the ONLY book my DH recommends and he does TO EVERYONE. If you are considering a homebirth or UC you cannot do it without letting your DH read this book. If your labors go fast or you are afraid you wont make it to the hospital, or your midwife wont make it in time, you must read. Our favorite line is that any 7 year old can help deliver a baby.

Have you heard of http://www.paperbackswap.com/index.php?n=7 (I cannot use the link right, sorry.) Paperbackswap lets you request your favorite books. If you sign up, use my name because after you put 10 books in the system I get 1 credit. It's one for one over there. I've gotten too many books to name.

Just thought I'd let you know.

[zejh]

Originally Posted by intime0

...

Emergency Childbirth by Dr. Gregory White--This is the ONLY book my DH recommends and he does TO EVERYONE. If you are considering a homebirth or UC you cannot do it without letting your DH read this book. If your labors go fast or you are afraid you wont make it to the hospital, or your midwife wont make it in time, you must read. Our favorite line is that any 7 year old can help deliver a baby.
...

I definitely want to get that book--dh has had emt training, but his driving always makes me nervous, so he's already agreed that if labor ends up going quickly, it'll be better just to do it ourselves... (I'm actually thinking we have a pretty safe house for giving birth--if anything goes wrong, the ambulances come from less than a half mile away at the end of our street, and there's a hospital a mile from here... Of course, it's not the hospital I'd want to plan to go to except in an emergency.)

We'll see. Anyhow, so far, I've already read Pushed, and got dh to read it, and I've got a couple other books people have mentioned here. Most of them I haven't gotten back out yet since my miscarriage last fall, but in another week or so I'll be feeling up to brushing them off...