Book Recommendations « Back to Group Discussions

[sallyrae17]

Hey! I figured that we could have a thread where we recommend books throughout our pregnancies. They don't have to be pregnancy related either, but I'm sure there will be a bunch on here. So, as for pregnancy and parenting related books, what have you read that you think is helpful? What would you never recommend to anyone? 

In the other category, what authors/books do you like to read in your spare time (if you have any)? Any favorites from the past year?

I'll start:

The Natural Pregnancy Book: Herbs, Nutrition and Other Holistic Choices by Aviva Jill Romm

Birthing from Within by Pam England

The Baby Book by Dr. Sears (really any of the Sears books)

Origins by Annie Murphy Paul (all about life in the womb)

Brain Rules for Baby by John Medina (all about brain development)

NurtureShock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman (kind of a do's and don'ts with research)

Unconditional Parenting by Alfie Kohn (every human should read this)

I'd never recommend any of the "What to Expect" books. 

As for other books I've loved, I recently read The Hunger Games and loved them! I never would have said that I'm into sci-fi/fantasy, but I've been reading a lot of it lately. I also really love Tom Robbins, Carlos Ruiz Zafron, Margaret Atwood, Isabel Allende, Toni Morrison, J K Rowling and way too many more to name. I am definitely a self professed bibliophile!

[Knitting Mama]

I am a huge book nerd, and I find that the books I choose change with my hormonal fluctuation. Normally I love sci-fi/fantasy, urban fantasy, futuristic dystopian stories (like HG, which was amazing), and women's literature. I recently read the five books in Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" series-- I had read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants back when it came out, but never knew that she continued it into a full-blown series, and I really enjoyed it.

But when my hormones are kicking into high-gear, I find myself turning to, uh, hotter books a lot.  I think a big reason is because I feel like utter crap physically and incapable of having fun with my husband, but I need to do something, LOL. I lean towards paranormal/supernatural romances, as well. Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh and Christine Warren are top favorites.

[Montessortof]

With my first pregnancy, I was certain I was going to have a girl. I'd always imagined myself as a girl mom, and it was a HUGE shock to find out at the 20-week ultrasound that I was having a boy instead. The book that really helped me come to terms with what it would mean to raise a boy is "It's a Boy! Your Son's Development from Birth to Age 18," by Michael Thompson and Teresa Barker. I read it cover to cover while I was pregnant, and now I refer back to each section as my son reaches that age. It's a fantastic resource.

[dovemama]

Oh my gosh, one of my pregnancy faves is called "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful" by Gurmuhk. Also, I will read more encouraging nursing books. Last time around I thought nursing would come natural and it didn't. I didn't know the first thing about it. Any suggestions there??

In other notes, I really enjoyed reading the Help during my last pregnancy. And Twilight series eeep

[Willovia]

Originally Posted by Montessortof 

With my first pregnancy, I was certain I was going to have a girl. I'd always imagined myself as a girl mom, and it was a HUGE shock to find out at the 20-week ultrasound that I was having a boy instead. The book that really helped me come to terms with what it would mean to raise a boy is "It's a Boy! Your Son's Development from Birth to Age 18," by Michael Thompson and Teresa Barker. I read it cover to cover while I was pregnant, and now I refer back to each section as my son reaches that age. It's a fantastic resource.

Thank you for this. I'm going to keep the title handy, just in case.

[IntuitiveJamie]

Not a book, but an interesting article on birth positioning and instant Mother reaction after birth: http://cord-clamping.com/2011/12/19/mother-baby-after-birth/

[lakeruby]

I love love love that book too!!!! 

 

Originally Posted by dovemama 

Oh my gosh, one of my pregnancy faves is called "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful" by Gurmuhk. Also, I will read more encouraging nursing books. Last time around I thought nursing would come natural and it didn't. I didn't know the first thing about it. Any suggestions there??

In other notes, I really enjoyed reading the Help during my last pregnancy. And Twilight series eeep

[lakeruby]

I have been enjoying Prenatal Parenting, and also plan to re-read NurtureShock soon.  I have a huuuuge stack of to-be-read books that I've been collecting, including The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth, The Natural Pregnancy Book, Nursing Mother's Companion (still need to get a copy of this one), Magical Beginings Enchanted Lives, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child, Simplicity Parenting...probably lots more I can't remember right now!  And with how tired I've been, I fall asleep after about 1 page each night!  Looks like I need to carve out some time for daytime reading...

[Thebyr]

I've been reading:

You: Having a Baby - Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen (my fav so far)

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin

The CNM's office just gave me Our bodies, Our Selves: Pregnancy and Childbirth

[Willovia]

I wonder if anyone can relate to this. I went to a psychic right before we conceived. He's fantastic and has been spot on about so many things in my life. He actually told me while I'm pregnant I needed to read a book on Indigo children. I believe he said it would help me understand my child and how to parent her. I told this to my husband and he understood right away. So, now, I'm off searching for a book on Indigo children and no clue where to start. Anyone have experience with this?

IntuitiveJamie - any thoughts on this topic??

[sallyrae17]

I've never heard of that phrase before, but this is the first book I found:

http://www.amazon.com/Indigo-Children-Kids-Have-Arrived/dp/1561706086

[LittleBirdy]

Originally Posted by dovemama 

Oh my gosh, one of my pregnancy faves is called "Bountiful, Beautiful, Blissful" by Gurmuhk. Also, I will read more encouraging nursing books. Last time around I thought nursing would come natural and it didn't. I didn't know the first thing about it. Any suggestions there??

In other notes, I really enjoyed reading the Help during my last pregnancy. And Twilight series eeep

I really liked The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding - it's the LLL book.

[FeralFox]

For pregnancy books, I really love Sheila Kitzingers week by week guide, and From The Hips (which is full of great info and so completely balanced, I recommend it to every pregnant mom I know).  I just finished Birthing From Within, and surprisingly I loved it.  I really thought it would be too woowoo for me, but it's got some great concrete plans and coping strategies, and interesting exercises that I think Husband and I might try out.

I also get in the mood for slightly steamier stuff while pregnant, so lay the recommendations on me!  I love historical and scifi/paranormal romance.  No embarassment over loving the Twilight series, either.  Anything that teen/tween girls like is thoroughly maligned (think of "Titanic" and Justin Bieber) because our culture treats teen girls as if they have no value.  Young girls are valueless, so anything they like must be valueless and stupid too, right?  /rant

[IntuitiveJamie]

Originally Posted by Willovia 

I wonder if anyone can relate to this. I went to a psychic right before we conceived. He's fantastic and has been spot on about so many things in my life. He actually told me while I'm pregnant I needed to read a book on Indigo children. I believe he said it would help me understand my child and how to parent her. I told this to my husband and he understood right away. So, now, I'm off searching for a book on Indigo children and no clue where to start. Anyone have experience with this?

IntuitiveJamie - any thoughts on this topic??

I have lots of thoughts on this. I myself, am first generation Indigo. I know lots about them and the crystal children. I could talk to you for a long time about the subject. And I hope we do. However, right now, I am not feeling so great and have no energy, so it will have to wait. Perhaps when I'm feeling better I'll start a thread about it.

In the meantime here are the books i reccomend: http://www.amazon.com/Care-Feeding-Indigo-Children/dp/1561708461/ref=pd_sim_b_1

http://www.amazon.com/Anger-Indigo-Child-Dianne-Lancaster/dp/0972890432/ref=pd_sim_b_5

http://www.amazon.com/Empowering-Your-Indigo-Child-Handbook/dp/157863444X/ref=pd_sim_b_2

[mcampa]

Originally Posted by Cecilia's Mama 

I am a huge book nerd, and I find that the books I choose change with my hormonal fluctuation. Normally I love sci-fi/fantasy, urban fantasy, futuristic dystopian stories (like HG, which was amazing), and women's literature. I recently read the five books in Ann Brashares' "Sisterhood" series-- I had read The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants back when it came out, but never knew that she continued it into a full-blown series, and I really enjoyed it.

But when my hormones are kicking into high-gear, I find myself turning to, uh, hotter books a lot.  I think a big reason is because I feel like utter crap physically and incapable of having fun with my husband, but I need to do something, LOL. I lean towards paranormal/supernatural romances, as well. Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter, Nalini Singh and Christine Warren are top favorites.

The paranormal / supernatural romances are also some of my favs. I will have to look into these authors. I have read all the Laurell K Hamilton, Charlene Harris, Jeanine Frost, etc. I am actually sitting in B& N now suppose to be working on my own book that is late already and instead reading baby stuff and now thinking I should explore some new authors! I am having such trouble concentrating on work these days - anyone else have this problem? (Perhaps I should add to the symptoms thread).

[Babymakesfour]

I highly recommend The Birth House, a work of fiction by Ami McKay. It's about early 20th century life in Nova Scotia, with a young girl who apprentices to become a midwife, while a "modern" hospital is pushing a clinic birth. Amazing read.

[LittleBirdy]

I borrowed Baby Catcher by Peggy Vincent from my midwives and I really enjoyed it.

I also just finished Ina May Gaskin's new book, Birth Matters.  It was good, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would.  There was a lot of talk about the fear/pain relationship during birth, which I totally get, but it was almost to the point of blaming mothers which really rubs me the wrong way.

[Arcanefamily]

I see this thread hasn't been visited for quite some time but wanted to share a book I always enjoy reading in my first trimester.  It is called, "Mother Mysteries", by Maren Tonder Hansen.  I noticed that some ladies on here use Goddess names for their accounts and I think they, specifically, would enjoy this book.  It covers the metaphysical, psychological, and emotionally changes a woman goes through demonstrated through mythological stories.  The author covers all three of her pregnancies and births so most any mom, whether a first timer or on her 4th can relate.  I have to say there are some things, specifically the authors decision to circumcise, that I don't agree with but there is alot of other things that resonate with me each time I become "mother" again that I've learned to take what I want out of the book and leave the rest.

Also, for anyone interested in a good read for their husband or partner, we really like "Fatherbirth, A Close Encounter of the Fourth Kind", by John B. Franklin and Cher Martin Franklin.  My husband gives this book regularly as a gift to his friends expecting.

[CCoello]

In addition to the great titles mentioned above, I really like the exercises in "Maternal Fitness" by Julie Tupler. Her main contributions are transverse abdominal exercises that will prevent a diastasis and strengthen the muscles used in labor. She also teaches kegels, squatting and pelvic tilts, which you can also get from a Bradley class.

[Knitting Mama]

I really need to check out the Tupler method. I have diastasis from my last pregnancy.