Book suggestions for first time mom-to-be

[ozzyemm]

My friend just announced she is pregnant. She is due in December, and I would love to give her encouragement as well as tools to discover the kind of birth she wants. I would also love some breastfeeding book recs.

I am getting her the Mothering book about birthing, and possibly Henci Goer's book. Of course at this late hour I cannot remember either of their names!

I don't know if I should get her the Ina May books. Are they too "out there" or even "textbook-y?"

This is for a 28 year old. She works with children (children's pastor), but may be more familiar with the mainstream view of childbirth and raising children. her brother and SIL recently had a baby with the care of a midwife, so she is at least acquainted with less mainstream ideas.

Help, please!

[miasmommy]

I liked "The Nursing Mother's Companion" by Kathleen Huggins

and "The Baby Book" by William Sears, M.D.

I wish I had gotten the Sears book earlier as all the other mainstream books made me feel like a freak!

Miasmommy

[TurboClaudia]

there's a list of great books for pregnancy and birth on a sticky in the birth & beyond forum.

my recommendations would be:
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by Henci Goer
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
The Baby Book by Sears & Sears
Pregnancy, Childbirth & the Newborn by Penny Simkin
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding by La Leche League International
Bestfeeding by Mary Renfrew and Suzanne Arms

(If you can only get 2, get Henci Goer and The Baby Book. Only 3, get Goer, Baby Book and Womanly Art.)

and if you feel comfortable, tuck one of these in the books: http://www.ezzo.info/trifoldbrochure.pdf If she works as a children's pastor, she will undoubtedly or perhaps already has been introduced to the Ezzos, and this brochure can give her some more info about the main criticisms of their "work".

~claudia

[artgoddess]

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth was one of those that changed my life. it's great for a mom around 7 months along, when you suddenly have the realization, "this is real, I'm going to have to do this." and a little fear hits you. It's the most empowering book I think a pregnant woman can read.


A friend gave me Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott when I was at about 9 months. I started it just before he was born and read it while nursing. It was also another great life changing book. I honestly think it helped me stay away from PPD, I felt like I had a woman who understood me, and how I felt. I didn't feel alone.

[Momtwice]

So That's What They're For, Breastfeeding Basics by Janet Tamaro. Very funny as well as accurate.

[gentlebirthmothr]

Emily,

Heres link to the thread that Claudia was talking about in her post.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=209141

Heres mine suggestions for it

Sheila Kitzinger: Politics of Birth

Sarah J Buckley, MD: Gentle Birth, Gentle Parenting

Boston Women Health Book Collective: Our Bodies, Ourselves

Daphe DeMarneffe, PhD: Maternal Desire

Martha Brockenbrough: It Could Happen to You: A Diary of a Pregnancy and Beyond

Thank you.

[Jilian]

The first book I bought when DS was a baby was "The baby book" by Dr. Sears. It covers everything pretty much. I really enjoyed it. I still refer to it now and then and my DS is 3. Attachment parenting by Katie Allison Granju is one of my favorites too.

[ozzyemm]

Thanks so much for all the great replies! I have decided to get the Mothering book, because it has bits of information on several things: circ, doulas, natural childbirth, etc. I don't want to accost her (and my bank account) with tons of books. I know when I was pregnant I tried to read all I could, but really, nine months isn't enough time!

I think I will also get "That's What they're For." I have been wanting to read that one myself, so I may just loan it to her !

[ckberkey]

Another great one is Birthing from Within . I found it very empowering. I remeber picking it up during labor and feeling like I was "cramming" .... LOL

[caned & able]

An old copy of Immaculate Deception by Suzanne Arms.

[Jillmarie]

The Mother Trip by Ariel Gore is a total must-have for any new mom....one of my favorites!!!

And I second Operating Instructions by Anne Lamott....I love her work.

It was really helpful to me to read ANY books with strong female characters after I had my kids...I re-read all of Marian Zimmer Bradley's stuff between my 2nd and 3rd sons.

Happy reading ladies!!!

[QuestionGal]

Not so much about birth, but I would suggest the DVD of Dr Sear's Happiest Baby. I gave the books to my sister and sister in law when they were pregnant. My sister later bought the video and said the DVD was much more educational than the book.

Another book that all the pregnant women in my family have loved is "the Pregnancy Journal".... just about documenting the thoughts/feelings/ ect that are occuring.

~QuestionGal