[katt]

I'm excited to report that I've actually gotten some baby gifts so far.

1. My friend was very excited for me and got a copy of her fav. baby book for me. That was about week 4. "The Pregnancy Journal, a day to day guide to a healthy and happy pregnancy" it is pretty cool. There are nutrition facts and information and fun facts about childbirth in other cultures and times, along with a blurb about what is happening to baby and what is happening to you, you have a section to read everyday. It is not alarmist, it is easy to read, and it is fairly middle fo the road. There is room for you to make notes in it so it is a journal... etc. All in all a great 1st. gift.

2. Close friends of ours, the wife, got us a Cubs onesie from her trip to the east coast and she picked up What to Expect for pregnancy and the 1st. year. I like the onesie. The books, I just smiled and said thank you. What else can you do? To do otherwise would be rude. (i did tell her to keep her eye out for any Dr. Sears books in the future)

3. My mom got us a Food Mill (which I had on my on-line registry) and a gift certificate to Babyworks. I could get a newborn/small stash with this GC. I'm so excited! I'm going to wait to use it until after any showers we have.

Okay... on to my small vent/frustration. What is it about the What to Expect books that people think are so great? My friend, who has a 1 yr old, asked me if I had them yet 'cause they are the pregnancy bible. I told her I did have them, but I didn't tell her that I never plan on reading them. I have plenty of other pregnancy books that I'm much more interested in reading. At least now that I have a copy, that will gather dust I tell you, I won't get anymore.

My theory re: the WTE books is the title. That is what people like and so they buy it. Since the book is thick it must cover everything and you don't need anything else.

 

[momma2girls]

My OB recommended the WTE book to me for my first pregnancy. I got it and I think it was all right but would not recommend it to anyone else. I know what to ignore and what isn't too bad. They have some decent recipes in there. I actually have no idea where that copy is now. I also have the WTE toddler years and some is ok but it just collects dust. I wish some of better books would get out there more.

 

[milk_maker]

I didn't like the WTE books either. It's been seven years since I read it and nothing imprinted so it obviously wasn't THAT great. I also don't like the Your Pregnancy Day by Day books either. They're rabidly anti homebirth (the book I read actually said that homebirth was dangerous) and not very pro natural either. That book is very, the doctor is god and knows what's best for you and your baby, in my opinion.

ETA - oh and awesome that your mom got you the g/c. With DS no one would buy me g/c for the natural sites...if they bought anything they got me clothes and horrible diaper bags with "lots of room for bottles."

:

 

[KrystalC]

I hate the WTE books. I bought one for my first pregnancy and of course, stashed it away when we lost the baby. I got it out when I got pregnant again and thought "This is absolutely USELESS."

I have yet to find a decent pregnancy book, so I'm just researching on the web when I have questions, etc.

 

[Naughty Dingo]

LOL I know, those books are insane

: Get a load of the Best Odds diet...... man, that is pure insanity! so strict. Plus, there is page after page of discussion of terrifying yet incredibly rare stuff and hardly any discussion of normal stuff. More like what to freak out about when expecting. Oy.

No wonder you see so many of them in the resale shops

ND

 

[juliansmom]

I agree. I went to Barnes and Noble when I first learned I was expecting to buy the book, ended up reading quite a bit of it while I was there, then decided not to buy.

I figure there is so much fantastic information on the web anyway that a book is just secondary. No book would be able to provide the details and support I need as much as this forum does.

Thanks, ladies!

 

[Jude Rose]

Hiya! Jumping in from February. I just had to say that I found two stellar pregnancy books, one of them can be found right here on the site! It's Peggy O'Mara's Having A Baby, Naturally book. I guarantee it's homebirth friendly!

http://www.mothering.com/shop/books.html

My other favvie is Susan Weed's The Childbearing Year. That one strongly leans toward using healing herbs for a smooth pregancy and early infancy. Just a wonderful resource. The best part was I found out my midwife has her own copy.

 

[sbm1001]

I sold my copies of the series on Ebay a few years back....they fetched a decent price.

That's about all I got out of them, though. LOL

Shannon

 

[emdeecee_sierra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Naughty Dingo there is page after page of discussion of terrifying yet incredibly rare stuff and hardly any discussion of normal stuff. More like what to freak out about when expecting. Oy.

ND, I completely agree with you on this point!! My idiot (s)OB suggested WTE when I was pg with DC#1; that book scared me to death. "Welcome to week 14; these are the things that can go wrong with you and baby this week." UG!!!

Dr. Sears The Baby Book is so much better.

My theory on why the WTE books are so popular is that mainstream drs are recommending them simply because they are so mainstream and tell women in plain language to listen to their god uh I mean doctor in all matters because they are gods uh I mean doctors and know all.

If I had loads of money, I would buy books that actually have good messages in them and distribute them for free outside OB offices.

 

[riversong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sierratahoe Dr. Sears The Baby Book is so much better.

The Baby Book was absolutely invaluable to me during dd's first two years. I still consult it. It has every possible topic in there and was so reassuring to me. I would recommend it to anyone.

I also have Sears' The Pregnancy Book and found it to be helpful.