Books and movies about pregnancy and parenting -- which ones do you like? « Back to Group Discussions

[Eilis]

I'd love to collect this group's book and movie recommendations! What do you love? What did you not like so much?
 

To start, here are my recommendations and reviews:

- Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?: The Surprising Science of Pregnancy -- http://www.amazon.com/Chocolate-Lovers-Have-Sweeter-Babies/dp/B0078XOL3E/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358264079&sr=1-1&keywords=chocolate+sweeter+babies. This book is by a new mama who is a science writer. LOVED IT! She summarizes and discusses a number of scientific studies about pregnancy and babies, and relates them to her personal experiences. A really fun and interesting read.

- Ina May's Guide to Childbirth -- http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Childbirth-Gaskin/dp/0553381156/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358264238&sr=1-1&keywords=ina+mae. Someone gave this to me 4 years ago when I was first thinking about getting pregnant. (Yeah, it took a while!) It tells birth stories from women who gave birth at "The Farm" from the 1970s through the 2000s. It is a good counter to scary-birth stories you might hear. It includes a lot of good, actionable advice that you can use, regardless of where/how you have your baby.

I notice there is another book called "Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding" -- http://www.amazon.com/Ina-Mays-Guide-Breastfeeding-Gaskin/dp/0553384295/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358264238&sr=1-2&keywords=ina+mae. Has anyone read this one and is it helpful?

- Shiva Rea Prenatal Yoga DVD -- http://www.amazon.com/Prenatal-Yoga-Shiva-Rea/dp/B0000BYNMH. I bought this -- for the price of one in-person yoga class, I think it's a good investment. It's a nice, gentle but intense, hour-long yoga class. It is customized for all three trimesters. You will need to buy a yoga block and strap if you don't have them yet.

- The Business of Being Born -- this documentary is on Netflix streaming. Most of you probably already know it. I love it! It is about home birth vs. highly medicalized hospital birth. The scene of a typical birthing unit in a hospital is harrowing -- those doctors love their pitocin!

- Labor of Love -- http://www.amazon.com/Labor-Love-Midwifes-Cara-Muhlhahn/dp/1427798214/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358263857&sr=1-2&keywords=midwife+business+of+being+born  -- This is the autobiography of Cara Muhlhan, the midwife featured in the Business of Being Born. She's NYC-based so much of the homebirth stories she tells have to do with the logistics of getting herself to the houses in different NYC boroughs and finding parking! I was pretty fascinated by the book but it's gotten very mixed reviews on Amazon. Many readers find her tone to be arrogant and self-absorbed -- but I just thought it was confident. She definitely would have benefited from a good editor.

- Call the Midwife -- This is a new British TV show set in 1950s postwar London. It is about a group of midwives serving a poor/working-class dockside neighborhood. It is so great! Very raw and moving. The Christmas special is on the PBS website right now streaming, free. I want to watch the other episodes from Season 1 and am waiting for them to arrive at my library.

- Call the Midwife (the book) -- http://www.amazon.com/Call-Midwife-Memoir-Birth-Times/dp/0143123254/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358263767&sr=1-1&keywords=Jennifer+Worth -- This book is the memoir written by the midwife which inspired the show. If you really love the show and like historical memoirs, I recommend this too!

- Spirit-Led Parenting -- http://www.amazon.com/Spirit-Led-Parenting-Freedom-Babys-First/dp/0615619207. I thought I would love this book because it's co-written by one of my favorite bloggers, Megan Tietz of Sorta Crunchy (http://www.sortacrunchy.net/). However, I didn't get much out of it. I'll try reading it again after the baby is born. It is written from the perspective of two Christian moms whose social circles were really into these rigid protocols of making your baby sleep and feed on a schedule (and sleep through the night). Apparently this belief system is related to an overall ethic of raising your kids to have morals and discipline. The authors had to go through the process of mindfully rejecting that belief system in favor of attachment parenting. Since I don't run in those circles of rigid parenting models to begin with, I couldn't really relate to the book.

I am lucky that our county library system is great. They have lots of books and are willing to buy most everything I have requested.

[NorthernFamily]

I like the the Ina May Gaskin and Business of Being Born.

That Spirit-Led Parenting sounds like something I'd like, having experienced people like that. 

One I, personally, did not like was The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. Far too dry for my tastes. http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Womans-Guide-Better-Birth/dp/0399525173

[harmonious]

I recently read, and highly recommend Simplicity Parenting.  I'm not sure it has many suggestions for newborns, but it was interesting to keep the philosophy in mind, and could definitely be more interesting to those of you with other children  http://www.amazon.com/Simplicity-Parenting-Extraordinary-Calmer-Happier/dp/0345507983/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358366049&sr=8-1&keywords=simplicity+parenting

I've also been reading You Are Your Child's First Teacher, which I'm enjoying as well, and it seems more applicable from birth (or before) onward. Lot's of good info on development in the first year.  http://www.amazon.com/Your-Childs-First-Teacher-Third/dp/1607743027/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358366194&sr=1-1&keywords=you+are+your+child%27s+first+teacher

[lolliegee]

Love "The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding", yes, it's focus is breastfeeding, but it also covers pregnancy, birth and other things to make mothering easier.

Also, can't recommend it enough, "Unconditional Parenting" by Alfie Kohn. This book has truly changed the way I parent. I only wish I had found it 22 years ago.

[talldarkeyes]

I second the recommendation for "Simplicity Parenting" which I think is great to read both before you have children and after. It sets up a whole philosophy of simplicity and rhythm that is great to begin with newborns. Also starting your parenting anti-clutter is great and you can "train" your families about what you would appreciate in terms of gift giving etc. Quite often, grandparents especially, will not respect these boundaries but I have noticed that after 5 years my mom is beginning to realize that if she buys my daughter toys that don't fit with our family dynamic, they disappear very quickly.

[g&a]

wow, some great recommendations here, thank you, everyone.

I remember liking anything by Aviva Jill Romm for preggy books, and Kids are Worth it by Barbara Coloroso is a great parenting book.  I have yet to find the boxes with these book since we moved... must get on that...

[Eilis]

Originally Posted by talldarkeyes 

I second the recommendation for "Simplicity Parenting" which I think is great to read both before you have children and after. It sets up a whole philosophy of simplicity and rhythm that is great to begin with newborns. Also starting your parenting anti-clutter is great and you can "train" your families about what you would appreciate in terms of gift giving etc. Quite often, grandparents especially, will not respect these boundaries but I have noticed that after 5 years my mom is beginning to realize that if she buys my daughter toys that don't fit with our family dynamic, they disappear very quickly.

Thanks - I looked at Simplicity Parenting on amazon and I'm adding it to my to-read list! Sounds wonderful.

[MonkeyPrincess]

A friend recommended this to me, I have it but haven't read it yet.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0517702207

Along the same lines, I think, I remember liking Beautiful, Bountiful, Blissful by Gurmukh. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001PIHU7C

[coalifetime]

I like the natural birthing books and Dr. Sears' books too.

I loved what Priscilla Dunstan says about her baby language theory.... there are youtube videos out there that are excellent

[mizlizzy]

Thanks for the ref on Simplicity Parenting, I'll check that one out.

One book I got from the library and read during my first pregnancy that had a huge impact on how I parent is called:

Dear Parent: Caring for Infants with Respect by Magda Gerber.

http://www.amazon.com/Dear-Parent-Caring-Infants-Respect/dp/1892560062/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358722059&sr=1-2

She has a newer book called Your Self Confident Baby which i am looking forward to reading:

http://www.amazon.com/Your-Self-Confident-Baby-Encourage-Abilities/dp/1118158792/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358722059&sr=1-1

it out lines a philiosophy called RIE or Resources for Infant Educators based on treating infants and children with respect to foster a relationship of mutal respect. It is a very basic practical way of relating to your baby in every little interaction that fosters language development, independence, trust and love.

Some of the most useful parts to me were about how to deal with situations where you need to draw your own boundaries with your little people, like when your toddler is interrupting contstantly when you finally get a chance to see your friends or how to handle it when your little one hits you in the face. Higly reccomend this book.