Pregnancy and Birth Books

Being an atheist, I don't really like when people talk about "God" and "God's miracles." I tried to put aside these type of comments when reading the book. But I also noticed some differences from what I've read online versus what is in this book. Suggesting soft drinks to stay hyrdated when soft drinks are actually diuretic (q 57). Suggesting lying on your back is really no big deal (q 97). But I knew there was a problem when there is a drawing of an ovary attached to a fallopian tube (q 495). I do not recommend this book at all.

Forget "What to Expect When You're Expecting", 1000 Questions is a much better book, with a common sense approach! It is a reference-style book with answers to all sorts of concerns an expectant mother might have. I called it my "Don't Worry Book", because unlike most articles and books geared towards the pregnant mother, this book actually eased my mind. It gives very straight-forward advice to help you through those 9 months of change, helping you take care of yourself and your unborn baby. And it is conservative, which I appreciated. The author refers to "your husband" and also mentions God in the text. I find this very refreshing in our PC society.

When I was pregnant with my first baby I read this book almost everyday. I was able to look up my concerns and read clear and concise information about my pregnancy. The over the counter drug section is really awesome and helpful! I kept the pull-out chart from the back of the book in my planner to reference as needed. Now I am PG with baby #2 and I find myself reading back over information to refresh myself on what will happen throughout my pregnancy. I have yet to think of a question that I have not found in this book!

If you are pregnant this book is a MUST HAVE!

I am an R.N. who wholeheartedly recommends this book. During my last pregnancy, I purchased a used copy of an older volume of this book. I referred to it so often, I decided to upgrade to the more recent version during my 2nd pregnancy and bought one for my sister as well. Indispensable and easy to use reference!

This book is fantastic! It explains everything in a helpful, easy format. It makes it simple to find answers to questions in certain topics and cross refernces make follow-up questions easy to answer as well. Dr. Thurston writes with a happy, charismatic tone and unless you'd be offended by a reference to God creating the body to do x,y,z, I think this is one of the better pregnancy books out there. Also, it is very updated with recent scientific knowledge and advances. (I've read other books cover to cover and would truly not recommend What to Expect While You're Expecting. Most women I know couldn't stand it. I wish I hadn't wasted the money.)

I think this is a great reference guide for people who are new to parenting. I had never really been around a baby before I had my own, so I was clueless on how to play with her outside of peekaboo and rocking her. The pictures are nice and it's an incredibly easy guide to follow. Also, as a new parent looking to pick this up, don't get your hopes up. Yes, there are alot of activities to do with your little one, but don't expect your baby to be interested enough to participate in some of them. My daughter wouldn't have been interested in at least HALF of what is offered (especially if it has to do with any tummy time), but that's because at the end of the day, she's gonna do what she wants to do. It's just a great tool to keep playing with your baby fresh and interesting. As the parent of two now (that are less than two years apart), I have to find activities that will entertain both of them, so while I liked giving the book a look through, I wouldn't buy it. If you have the ability to give your baby some good one on one time, this book is for you.

My daughter is only 14 mos, so I have to admit, this review is based on the first part of the book. The best thing about this book is that I learned some new songs and accompanying singing activities that my daughter seems to really enjoy. The regular activities are pretty basic and you are probably already doing a lot of them. For instance, stacking, looking in the mirror and pointing out body parts, and playing with bubbles! I'm glad I bought it used :)

If you are someone who has not worked with children or been around children for an extended period of time this book would be very helpful. It has creative and fun ideas for playtime with the ones under 6 months that my husband found very useful. I recommend it for husbands, grandparents and new moms.

I love this book! It is filled with great ideas, and organized by age range. The pictures are large and very helpful along with the descriptions of the activities. Even if you think you may have thought of some of these ideas on your own, it's hard to know when to introduce each activity and what specific skills it is building. This book is a great resource.

i found the activities in this book uninspiring. i was already implementing 99% of them just in my everyday interactions with my infant. i was hoping for something that would further enhance the development of my child, but it turns out the things that naturally occur to a parent are just fine. my baby is only 3 months, so perhaps the activites for older babies will be more interesting. the play for newborns was a disappointment.

Good! Although, it was a pain to maintain an extra calander--probably I would not have bought this except it was a first baby.

There is something for everyone in this organizer. Great way to keep up expecially when its getting harder to remember all the little details. A must for every pregnant mom who likes to be organized.

I kept track of everything in this organizer, from OB appointments (including all information on what was covered in the appointment) to important dates on the calendar to contractions to diaper checks to gift lists to items to purchase. It had handy spots to put my ultrasound printouts and a pocket in back for keepsake documents. I am a first time mother and I'm still using it often with the baby over a month old now.

My OB saw it and loved it - she said it's the best she's seen! I'd recommend this for any first-timer.

This is a great organizer. It contains a lot of information. This helps me stay organized with things I have to do like appointments, calling my insurance company, etc. Also, a great check list month by month, its really reminded me to do somethings I intended to do and gave me ideas aboutt hings I hadn't thought of at all. An earlier reviewer complained that there was too much information, just don't use the pages you don't want to use. It really is that simple.

This isn't a journal, its an organizer so don't expect lots of pages to write about your feelings and dreams for baby.

I consider myself to be a fairly organized and detail-oriented individual; however, I found this guide to be more overwhelming than helpful. It contains extremely detailed and lengthy interviews to conduct with everyone from your OB to a potential nanny or babysitter. There are lists upon lists of items to register for and/or purchase. It is just more information than I personally need. If you want to control every last detail of your entire pregnancy and birth, I'm sure this organizer will help you feel like you are doing that, but be careful that you don't set yourself up for disappointment. Everything rarely goes exactly as planned and being a little more flexible and a little less organized might be a good thing.

I hesitated to buy this book because I heard some of the negative reviews, such as "the Nielson book is better" and "the images are fake, clay". However, I found it is more MUCH more informative and interesting than "A Child Is Born". It is modern, cleverly written, and really worthwhile as a coffe table book or baby shower gift. The format of the book is mostly photograph/art, with small paragraphs of information. My husband has been reading this book about what is happening to the baby every morning at breakfast, because it is written day by day, which is different than most pregnacy guides. It is free from advice, it is only factual.

I was very happy with the book. The photographs were amazing!

This book has got all the info you need when you are expecting. The pictures are so cool, my son loved to look at them to see what his sibling looked like at each stage. Very informative and eye opening!

As a first time 'mom-to-be', this book was pretty interesting to look at, to see what's going on inside my body so early in my pregnancy. Ususally books on this subject focus on a more developed fetus, so book is good for me, for the time being. I do feel, however, that a different book will need to be purchased for the later months in the pregnancy, as the last trimester is barely discussed.

Great for the first 2 trimesters, though!

The photography is definitely the highlight of this book. It also gives you a great biology review. Perhaps more than the average person would want to know. My only criticism is that it focused more on the embryonic development than on fetal development. I realize that most of the fascinating transformations occur in the first trimester but I still was hoping to see great photos of the second and third. I preferred Beginning Life by Geraldine Flanagan to this book.

I read this when I was first expecting. This is an easy book to read and understand. It gave detailed information as to what to expect during labor and how to prepare myself emotionally and physically. Throughout my pregancy I constantly referred back to this book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is expecting. This book helped to allievate my fears and was encouraging in the sense that my body was designed to give birth naturally without any interventions. Fantastic book!

In searching for a good guide to natural childbirth, I read several titles from our library. The Bradley method felt a little too prescriptive (counting breaths, etc.), hypnobirthing a bit far-fetched. Henci Goer's important text is enough to scare anyone, but an essential read. Sheila Kitzinger's complete guide was very thorough and smart, but of everything, I chose to buy this instead. The yoga-based exercises are adaptable to multi-levels and presented in a great flow, and the birthing information emphasizes knowing and trusting your own body, with plenty of background on the natural processes of labor. For a woman who wants to be free to move around and labor comfortably, who believes in her own strength, flexibility, and resilience, I'd highly recommend Active Birth.

This is a great book for preparing for labor. The descriptions of labor experiences, the evaluation of the state of the medical field surrounding birth, and the recommendations for positions and excercises are excellent. This author is very good with words. The excercises and positions go way beyond and more in-depth than what I learned in Bradley classes in my pregnancy. The message of being an active birthing woman rather than passive recipient of birth is simple and ancient but revolutionary. It really does have the potential to change one's experience completely, making for a safer birth and more fulfilled mother.

Excellent explanation of the birth process, how to cope with labor, and pre- and post- natal yoga-type exercises. Lots of pictures help illustrate what to do. Most of all I love the way this book is written. It really helped to relieve a lot of anxieties I had with my first child.

This book was so-so. I gave it 4 stars b/c of the exercise illustrations. I believe are extremely important. Some of illustrations are of actual people giving birth or laboring. I found the examples of different laboring and birthing positions to be the books plus side. The information though was nothing different from other birthing books.

I read this book a few weeks after I lost my newborn son, due to severe pre-eclampsia. Before this happened to me, I didn't even know what pre-e was. It struck fast and I had to have an emergency c-section at 23 weeks into my pregnancy. My son, Tyler Michael, weighed only 11 oz., but he lived for 5 days.
This book helped me to deal with my grief in some ways, but for the most part I shoved it all deep down inside, and I just focused on getting pregnant again ASAP. My son died in March of 04 and I was pregnant again by September of the same year. This book got me through the some of the most difficult months in my life. I couldn't bond with my unborn child because I wouldn't allow myself to think about the future. It was truly a day by day ordeal for us. I let me family do the nursey 3 weeks before my scheduled c-section, but no clothes or anything like that. The heartbreak I endured watching Tyler's things being carried out of my home scarred my too deep for that. I read this book constantly. The personal stories from women who had been where I was and got through it was sometimes the only way I could keep under control.
My only complaint about this book is that I wish she would have included more info on parenting after a loss. The few things that were included struck a deep cord with me. I held my daughter practically the entire 6 days I was at the hospital, and she slept in a swing in our room until she outgrew it at 9 months. I also am over protective, probably more than I'll admit to. I shoved my grief for Tyler down futher, and it came to a head this past September. "They" say that if you don't grieve, not to worry, it'll wait for you. Indeed it did. The loss of Tyler made it hard to give myself completely to my daughter, so i felt guilt on that on top of everything else. I had major clinical depression and had to be hospitalized for a few days, and was in an intensive outpatient program for 5 weeks after I got released. It changed my life, and I'm feeling more like myself than I have since I got pregant with Tyler. Great doctors, the right medication, and ways to deal with my loss have all improved my life. I'd love it if she worte a book on parenting after a loss, it's harder than people think.
I donanated a copy of this to my obgyn, my family doctor, my maternal fetal med doc, and my psychiatrist. I hope that it can help some more of the women who desperatly need it.

I feel badly for women who have had miscarriages -- they missed out on so much bonding that happens later in pregnancy, the joy of feeling their babies move, etc. But I can personally attest to the terrible, unfathomable trauma that comes with delivering a perfect, but dead baby, after a completely uneventful pregnancy. What to do with the shower presents all over the house, the pile of thank-you notes that were about to be stamped; the breasts, so close to our broken hearts, filling to feed a baby who is not there. It is horrific, and yet, transformative, if we're able to focus on the love we have for our lost babies. Stillbirth is far more common than I ever would have thought, but far less common than miscarriage. I suppose the author/publisher could have reworded the subtitle of the book to make it clear it was directed at parents who experienced late-term/full-term losses. There are fewer options available to women who experienced stillbirth or infant death; and the support groups are populated primarily by women who had miscarriages simply because it's far more common. Please don't give something a bad review just because it didn't apply to your circumstances. Best wishes to all of you on your journey.

Our first child, our son Wyatt, was stillborn and it has been the most devastating event of our entire lives. I bought this book after a fellow angel parent recommended it and absolutely loved it. It is so "nice" to see all the thoughts and feelings you have after losing a child and trying to decide to try for another baby right there in print. It makes you realize you're not going crazy, that those thoughts and feelings are legitimate, and that you are not alone. I carried this book everywhere with me and would highlight phrases that were personal to me. It really helped me understand the loss of our son and give me strength and courage to go on with our lives by giving him a little brother/sister while still keeping his memory alive. We have since given birth to his baby sister who was born happy, healthy, kicking, and screaming a couple weeks ago! Being pregnant after losing a child is very difficult. Constant fear, guilt, and a lot of times you're still grieving very hard for the baby you lost. We got pregnant just 2 months after losing Wyatt and while we planned it that way and I wouldn't change it for the world, it was hard to still be grieving so hard for Wyatt and be able to enjoy the pregnancy with our new daughter. I'm so sorry to those of you having to look at this book, but I hope it can help you as much as it has helped me.

I am so sorry if you are reading this review. You are either walking in my same shoes or know someone who is.
After the loss of our first son at 36 weeks (because of a blood clot in his umbilical cord). I started reading this book about a month after his death. We wanted to try to have another baby, but needed to deal with grief, fear and everything else that comes with the loss of a child. I was able to get pregnant 8 weeks after his death. This book helped my husband and I cope with the next pregnancy and actually have hope that our next child would make it here alive. The book is detailed, comforting, hopeful and reminds you that your feelings are totally normal. It addresses fear, jealousy, dealing with others who don't know how to handle you and your subsequent pregnancy. It also addresses what it's like to actually have another child. Once you are home with a live baby you go through a whole new set of emotions. I bought this book for family and friends so they could try to understand what we were going through.
I am so pleased to say that 8 months of reading this book...we had a beautiful baby girl. The book really helped me through a very high risk and scary pregnancy. I still refer to it when I am having a bad day missing my little boy so much, but loving my little girl so much.
Good luck to you in starting the journey of a subsequent pregnancy after a devastating loss.

There are no words to describe the loss of a child. But when I read this book shortly after my first son was stillborn, I felt as though 'someone' understood. I was alone, hurting, unable to function...and there was this book...and she understood me! It gave me hope when I thought all hope was gone. Then I became pregnant again, and it guided me through, once again. As I had read and reread the pages. When I lost my second son, I felt even more alone than I had in the begining. Reading the parts of the book on grief and reading the section on Husband's to my own husband, I felt hope again. And I pray that I will be able to read it once again.

I recommend this book to everyone who goes through a loss. I will admit though, as some of the others said, this book is more geared to women who have had later losses. There are some chapters and situations that might not apply to someone with an early loss. Even though emotionally everything is exactly the same.

But for me, after suffering 2 early miscarriages and two late second trimester losses...it was a lifesaver!! And I will continue to recommend it to others.

This book is really good encouragement and does an excellent job of sharing the real facts about the problems of medical system. Whether you actually plan on an unassisted birth or just want information about the truth, this is a good book to have in your library. I was somewhat distraught at her bias against Christianity, but I can understand that she was opposed to the religious practices and not to the spirituality concept behind Christ.

I've been a fan of Mrs Shanley since 2001. This book is wonderful and is a must read for every "free thinking" woman who wants more than the "hosiptal runaround"

I expected an author who was more polished but found one who was human just like the rest of us. This put us on the same level. She gives us information to increase our faith in the bodies God gave us and points out that our bodies were built to give birth. She has radically altered my views. I had had some exposure to UC via assorted websites, but this answered things I didn't know enough about to ask. This book opened my eyes to my own birthing experiences and helped to heal them. This may not be much help in helping you choose whether or not to buy the book, but I believe every woman needs the information in it. We are not guaranteed to give birth with professionals around us and if it happens by chance that we are alone, we need the knowledge and confidence to not freak out. Fear causes pain which causes terror which causes agony. So much better to be prepared even if you are choosing an assisted birth.

I appreciate Unassisted Childbirth immensely, and have read this book several times since purchasing it a few weeks ago. Laura has been able to capture and expose birthing truths that in our hearts we've always known to exist. The author reminds us of the power, beauty and pure genius that is engrained within the human body - including that of the laboring woman, and uses her personal experience with unassisted childbirth to enable women to recognize and utilize the power of their own minds and bodies in childbirth. I highly recommend this book for all expectant mothers!

I loaned this book to my mother who literally yelled at me and threatened me with force when I told her I would be having a doctor-free home birth. After reading this book, she was totally changed and supportive of my choice. This book is crisp, clear, and a quick read. It clearly explains the risks of medical intervention in pregnancy and birth and the amazing benefits and pleasures of birth the way is was meant to be. I went on to read some of the books in the bibliography, but this book truly did an impressive job of giving all of the important information, and I could have done without the other books.

This book is not as great as I had hoped. I am a first time mom and wanted a book that would help when I have questions, like how to help baby feel better when he has a cold, when to take him to the doctor, and how to get through teething. This book did not really offer much on what I've had questions about so far. I would choose something else next time.

I really appreciate this "baby owner's manual." Published by a large professional group effort of the American Academy of Pediatrics, it is down to earth, up-to-date, and clearly written. They cover everything-- physical, social, intellectual, and emotional development, safety issues including products and food safety, and of course, health information.

I just call it 'the book.'

Highly recommended, especially for first-time parents. Great value for the price. (Who can spend more when there are diapers to buy???)

This is it a complete instruction book for the first year. It has everyting you need to know from feeding to changing to when to take you little one to the dr.

Even as an experienced mom this helped me. I got this with my 5th child and it was an indespensible help, since all babies do different things and it is all in this book.

An excellent gift for new parents. Add to a gift basket for baby shower, or buy your self. Great to have avaliable for the babysitter wether it is grand parent or neighborhood girl,

My friend threw her used copy of this book in with a couple of baby presents for me when I was pregnant. I picked it up for the first time when I was learning how to nurse and REALLY needed help. I'd waited I guess because I thought that it would be kind of old fashioned and not "hip" enough for me or something. (Because of its yellowed pages, line drawings, and because it was put out by the American Academy of Pediatrics?) But I LOVE THIS BOOK. It's is so refreshingly practical. So informative. I feel satisfied after reading it, like I've had my questions answered. So I'd definitely recommend making the $7 splurge and picking up this book for you, or anyone you know with a new baby.

this was my second option but i think i liked the "what to expect the first year" book better. this book is filled with a lot of good information. however, don't expect a large book in size. it is small in size, like a pocket book. this does metter if you want to see the picture details etc. i would recommend this book as a supplement if you disregard it size.

I have a lot of breastfeeding books and this is my favorite. It is full of info on the advantages of breastfeeding and how to make it work with working mothers. I nursed my son to a year while pumping at work (as a nurse) and so far so good with my 6 month old.

This book was such a help to me when I was trying to figure out during my maternity leave how I would be able to go back to work full time and continue nursing. My daughter is now nearly two and I am still nursing her. I have returned to this book numerous times for support and information. There are not enough good resources out there for mothers who work full time and want to maintain a close, nurturing relationship with their child. Of course, with any book you read there will be things you don't agree with and I would agree that the schedules provided for how often you will need to pump and nurse are not going to be accurate for every woman, but overall this book provides extremely valuable information and support.

I tried breastfeeding on my own (not knowing anything about it) with my first son and was not very successful. Prior to the birth of my second son, I read this book and was able to breastfeed my second son for an entire year. The book gives solutions that actually work when you need to increase your milk supply. I've bought this book for 3 mothers and they've learned from this book too.

This book is a must read for any working nursing moms, even if you are working part time, or from home. I read it cover to cover in just a short time during the baby's naps and found it very useful, motivating, and supportive. Great book.

FAST AND ON TIME. GREAT SELLER. WILL DO BUISNESS AGAIN. THANK YOU

This book was recommended to me and I enjoyed it reading it. The book is helpful in understanding some of the differences between siblings and more importantly, helping parents accept the differences. Whenever I read a book about children and parenting I always wonder why it isn't a required course in High School. One word of caution, after reading this book I have been constantly guessing the birth order of everyone I meet!

While I liked the book, I thought the author spent too much time defending his theories and trying to sell his other books.

Absolutely amazing that someone took the time to figure this out .I never realized that we fiut into these little pockets. I was the last born out of five and it placed us in the position that we fit like a glove . after we read it we just looked at each other and laughed.

People are fascinated with any system that explains personality and behavioral differences. Birth order is an enduring system for understanding those differences, especially so when the explanation is as clear and as well illustrated with compelling examples as this. Dr. Kevin Leman does an admirable job of covering the bases, including a chapter devoted to parenting, and one devoted to compatibility in marriage. The insights he shares from his personal life history as a last born bring a special poignancy to the work. Extremely helpful, especially if you remember that birth order provides a prediliction, not a fate carved in stone! I provided additional information on this topic in Letters to My Granddaughters.

I took this book to work with me and shared it with a group of managers. We found that the book was surprisingly accurate in the the way that we each demonstrated our management styles. The first born's were very organized and process driven, while the middle-born manager avoided confrontation and tended to be suspicious. We did have one manager who didn't fit the birth order characteristics. He was a middle-born who was very outgoing and was always the center of attention. Proof that the profiles are just guidelines that can give you some insight into personalities, but not absolutes.

I originally found this book while researching how two siblings could be so possibly different when coming from the same mother and father. That is my situation. My sister and I are like night and day. Well, this book broke down birth order in a very interesting, way. In fact, I believe in birth order theory more now than when I started. Being the first born, it is very characteristic of me (apparently) to be doing this research to find out more about me and my perfectionist self (which I found out that being a perfectionist isn't a good thing)...something of which I'm still fighting to believe. I revel in my obsessive detail orientation. Anyway, my sister being the middle child, always whined about how she had "Middle child syndrome" and how she's constantly ignored, not given enough attention..etc. So, I found it quite entertaining in the book that Leman doesn't even go into the Middle Child too much, therefore-catering (in a sense) to the Middle Child (at least my sister) feeling ignored and not as important. Leman says that the lack of information on the Middle Child is due the the fact that there just isn't enough known about the Middle Child and that that are deemed a "Mystery". Anyway, it's incredibly interesting, and I love how understandable it is. Dr. Leman makes is known early on in the book that he is Christian, but doesn't bring too much of his religious beliefs into the book. Although, I feel none of it needs to be there (as birth order and religion are two different topics), I suppose when relating to HIS life and his stories of being the youngest, it can't be avoided. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to find out why they are the way they are. It has helped me figure myself out more!