Easy pregnancy/birth books for a non-crunchy mom

[shnitzel]

My little sister is pregnant with her first. She is not at all a critical thinker and is very easy going go with the flow type of person, not at all into research. She's also not into the spiritual crunchy sounding type of thinking and she isn't interested in any heavy reading. I really want to recommend a good book for her to read about birth b/c I think being educated about what is going on is so important, she knows and respects my views but thinks I go a bit overboard. She probably will have an epidural but I think she needs to know about pain management and what is actually going on. She does listen to my advice and looks up to me.
My mom will be there. Mother is quite crunchy thinking but had a csection after being 13 days overdue at the age of 39 with her first child (sister and I are from my father's first marriage). She researched birth when she was pregnant but that was 6 years ago.
My sister is going through a lot of stress now, she hasn't been married long and her DH has a host of medical issues so she needs, something that won't worry her.
I don't think I read a single book that would fit my description when pregnant, I loved Birthing from Within but that is way too crunchy for my sister.

[Evergreen]

There is a book called Your Pregnancy Week By Week which is prettty good and most pregnant women love reading about what is happening in the pregnancy. It also has a birth section.

The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth sounds like it might be too crunchy but it has chapters about hospital births and making informed choices so it might be a good one too.

[MaerynPearl]

I would usually have a long list of books Ive already read to suggest...

but instead this one stumps me as all of my books are either in-depth or crunchy!

Perhaps the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy?

I have never read it but it seems more informative and less terrifying than something like What to Expect...

[gemasita]

I think one of the best "basic" books is Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn. What I like about it is that ALL the options are presented (she talks in detail about pain medications and interventions, as well as the alternatives). I feel like it might get people thinking about alternatives to a medical birth (or at least making INFORMED decisions about a more medically-oriented birth) without being outright crunchy at all. This book is for ANYONE.

[St. Margaret]

Sheila Kitzinger's Guide to Pregnancy and Birth is good-- it has all the fun stuff of guessing about eye color, pictures of fetal development, etc, but sways towards natural birth. I think it's an easy read.

The Dr. Sears books can also be good-- there are a lot but most are kind of all the same. There is a birth book, and maybe another preg one and I love the baby books!

[rhiOrion]

I think The Birth Partner is great, and doesn't just have to be for partners. I gave my copy to my mainstream (but relatively open minded) sister, and her even more mainstream husband, and he read the entire thing. I like it because I think it's fairly even- it talks about OBs and midwives, doulas and no doulas, etc. It doesn't assume as much as some books. It also has a great rating on Amazon, FWIW.

[Blanca78]

I've been impressed by I'm Pregnant! by Lesley Regan, a British OB (DK Publishing). It's very comprehensive, has lots of cool color photographs, and strikes me as well-rounded, non-preachy/guilt-trippy, and attuned to the emotional needs and concerns of the mother-to-be. It is also pretty even handed in terms of discussing hospital vs. other birth options. Doesn't use scare tactics.

[MaerynPearl]

Originally Posted by rhiOrion

I think The Birth Partner is great, and doesn't just have to be for partners. I gave my copy to my mainstream (but relatively open minded) sister, and her even more mainstream husband, and he read the entire thing. I like it because I think it's fairly even- it talks about OBs and midwives, doulas and no doulas, etc. It doesn't assume as much as some books. It also has a great rating on Amazon, FWIW.

Birth Partner would be my first suggestion for almost anyone... but not the way the OP described her sister.. it seems a bit too in-depth for someone who is not quite THAT interested...

though it does have a great approach to birth by not assuming it will be a home birth or a hospital birth, giving scenarios for both... and by not assuming you will get pain meds, or telling you you are horrible if you do... but rather outright saying this is what is used, this is their effects.

[shnitzel]

I think the Birth Partner is the one she has and isn't interested in - maybe I'll have her return it to my mother and have my mother read it instead.
She wasn't impressed with "What to Expect" which is what made me feel at a total loss of what to recommend.
She isn't interested in tracking week to week and doesn't even really keep track of what week she is at.
I just looked at I'm pregnant! and it looks fantastic, I'll try to recommend that one. All the others I have read/owned and don't think they would be her thing.
I was hoping for a crunchyish semi-educational "Girlfriends guide to pregnancy" but if one existed I guess I would have know about it.
She doesn't seem to have much interest in reading but she did bring the topic up so I think some part of her does feel the need to know a bit more. If she won't read anything I'll probably just give her some basic advice and guidance on avoiding interventions.
I know that our mom came to the hospital too late for epidurals with both of us and I also handled labour very well and by the time I was able to get someone to check me I was dilated to 10 and pushing and her pregnancy seems similar to mine. Chances are it will go smoothly but there also seems to be a decent chance that there may not be time for drugs even if she wants them so I do think she needs to be prepared somewhat.

[rhiOrion]

maybe a birth class would be better for her?

[fruitfulmomma]

Sheila Kitzinger's Complete Book of Pregnancy and Ricki Lake and Abby Eipstein's 'Your Best Birth'.

[shnitzel]

'Your Best Birth' definitely looks promising and I have Kitzinger's books and love them.
Sister isn't completely mainstream, she can't decide whether or not she wants an epidural and it wouldn't occur to her to formula feed. I am nervous that she will go to the hospital to early b/c I and her sister in law both showed up at the hospital pushing, and she knows 2 woman who had babies on their alone on their bathroom floor and the thought really scares her.
She isn't interested in taking a class.

[Ola_]

I liked Kitzinger's "The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" also, it was a nice guide for what-to-expect during different stages of pregnancy and definitely has a natural lean.

[annaconda]

I have the mayo clinic book. I really like it - the week by week stuff is super cool, it's pretty non-threatening (there's a complications section in the back).

However, it lands with a thunk and must weigh about 10 lbs. Might be a little intimidating for someone who doesn't want to read much.

That said, I think it's great, lots of cool pics, stretches, that kind of stuff. It really is a great reference book.

[bleumoose]

I would suggest Dr Sear's Pregnancy and Birth books. They're easy to read, friendly, and he provides pretty solid information. They're also a gateway to slightly more crunchy things. I had fully intended on having an epidural with my first (and would have been a pretty mainstream parent) until I read the Birth Book. That changed everything.

[texmati]

what's the book that goes a long with the bradley book-- I really loved that for the pictures. Birth the natural way... maybe?