Favorite pregnancy books? - Page 2

[P.J.]

I had the Sears' The Pregnancy Book and found it very useful for a month-by-month update with what's going on in the body and with the baby. And they put any info about pathologies in the back so most of us who have normal, healthy pregnancies do not have to freak ourselves out reading about that stuff, but it's there if you're curious or need it (I did read the part about water in the hands and feet as I had it!!).
However, they are pretty anti-homebirth and neutral about medical interventions. But there is only one section dealing with birth (I do not recommend their Birth Book for this reason) so I just skipped it.
All the pregnancy info was really good though!

I loved Ina May's book too! I found the pain-relief techniques in Birthing From Within very useful (she recommends practicing with ice held in your hand for a full minute), but I skipped the first half of the book which is all about making birth-art. If you're into making art as therapy then that could be really good for you, though.

[samstress]

[MamaChef]

Everyone is gonna say Ina, Henci and Penny.. so Ill give you my favorite lesser known books

I loved working through this book last time.. it covers alot of different topics.
The Spirit of Pregnancy


Active Birth


Heart and Hands

Optimal Fetal Positioning

Back Labor No More

[babygrey]

Originally Posted by MaerynPearl;15742391
It should be renamed [I

The Alarmists Guide to Pregnancy[/I].

Someone gave me an older copy of What to Expect when I was pg w/ DS, I believe it was from 1990... they've actually toned it down incredibly (and gotten rid of that horribly paternalistic cover pic ), but, regardless, def on the Do Not Read list.

IMO, not only is it fear inducing, they completely go over the top about common sense... My fav. example? There is a section devoted to how one should not water ski when pregnant. Because you might forcefully get water into your vagina. um.

Another vote for both of Ina May's books and Birthing From Within.

Not necessarily in the how-to-guide books, but I adore reading Peggy Vincent's Baby Catcher while pregnant- helps me get in the right frame of mind and looking forward to birth.

happy reading!

[Erin77]

I checked out What to Expect from the library and haaaated it, so I ended up with the Mayo Clinic Guide to Pregnancy. It is neutral on birth centers, midwives, etc. but most of all, it doesn't dumb down explanations and isn't condescending the way WtE seems to me. I also read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth but thought the beginning with all the birth stories could have been edited to be a little shorter- they got repetitive after a while.

[EmedAK]

I don't think I saw it yet on anyone's list... I really like "Pushed" by Jennifer Block. I will warn you that it does cover some pretty negative realities of medicalized birth, but I loved the fact that she backed things up with lots of research and it was pretty much laid out without beating around the bush -- but like I said can be a bit 'graphic' and 'scary.' After reading her book, as well as a few others, I feel confident refusing non evidence based interventions without guilt - def empowering.

I also like "The Whole Pregnancy Handbook: An Obstetrician's Guide to Integrating Conventional and Alternative Medicine Before, During, and After Pregnancy" by Joel Evans and "The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition, and Other Holistic Choices" by Romm. Both are nice guides to natural remedies and alternative approaches to treating preganncy related issues.

Happy reading!