I hope everyone had a wonderful Chanukah and Christmas.
We got to share a very special Christmas present with our family this year. And now, I’d love to share it with you.
It looks like a whole new world of books is now open to me. I’d love to hear all your recommendations for your favorite books in this genre. I’ll be plowing through a lot of them until August 23, 2010.
But as you can see, I’ve already raided the library for several of them!
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Amy Letinsky 
“Hmm!” he said without expecting a fertile reply.
Such exciting news! I hope you’re feeling well so far. As far as the books go, I liked What to Expect When You’re Expecting (and What to Expect the First Year for after the baby’s born). We’ll be praying that everything goes well.
AL: Thanks Mary. Actually, the nausea hit last week. It’s been pretty awful, but Dan has been helping out lots. Cooking is out of the question!
Congratulations! For your husband, there’s tons of books for expecting fathers. They make the pregnancy seem less nerve wracking! If you do get What to Expect When You’re Expecting, don’t let it scare you! It sure made me nervous!
AL: Thanks for thinking of Dan’s book needs! Actually, I got him one from the library too, called the The Dudes’ Guide to Pregnancy: Dealing with Your Expecting Wife, Coming Baby, and the End of Life as You Knew It . The title cracked me up. He’s been reading it and laughing out loud lots, but he refuses to read it to me…for guys only, I guess. Probably a good thing, since you never know how I’ll respond with these hormones!
Oh Amy!!! We are sooooo excited for you guy!!! Hope you are feeling well, all pregnancy things considered. We will be praying for all 3 of you. Sorry I don’t have any books to suggest. I threw mine all out after the first one was born. But make sure Dan watches Lady and the Tramp where Darling sends Jim Dear out for watermelon and chop suey in the middle of December so he is aware of what all he should be doing for you. :o)
Much love, Amanda
AL: Thanks Amanda! Totally appreciate the prayers. I will suggest that movie, haven’t seen it in years, so I’ll get it from the library for us both to watch!
Congratulations! I read two or three books the first time I was pregnant, but the only one I remember is What to Expect When You’re Expecting. So that’s the only one I can recommend. 🙂
Oh, how exciting! I had two home birth, so I liked books like Gentle Birth Choices and less mainstream books. Here’s my unsolicited advice–eat some protein every two hours. And enjoy your pregnancy! Congratulations!
Oh, and this one is essential: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399525173/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_3?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0892814802&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0Z5CS8QD92K70793MHY8
(The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth)
AL: I loved the title to that thinking woman’s guide, and a little peek at its contents told me it was analyzing medical studies, which I love. But I only found one from 1999, which is too out of date for my tastes, since it’s so based on “current” studies. I was reading an older book and mentioned to Dan I wanted an episiotomy, and he told me that since that book was published, studies have counter-indicated them, which did bum me out. It is handy having a guy in the house who was delivering babies for the last few years. But no, he won’t be delivering for me…not that I don’t think he’s a great doc, I just want him focusing on giving me ice chips or something like that. =P If there’s a newer edition of the thinking women’s guide, I’d love to find a copy!
I am THRILLED!!!
Be sure to get a maternity swimsuit for that last summertime trimester. My hubby told me my bikini was fine with my due in late summer pregger body. He lied.
The only book that helped me was the one I read after the kid was born: Having a Ceascerian Baby. I had two, and still can’t spell it right…but sure wished I had boned up on the possibility before I had a surprise C-section.
My recommendation for must reading: Dave Barry’s book:
Babies and Other Hazards of Sex: How to Make a Tiny Person in Only 9 Months, with Tools You Probably Have around the Home
Oh man. Don’t miss it. It is the best!
Good work on adding to good stock to the population Dr. Dan and Professory Amy!
AL: We love Dave Barry’s books, so that one will be a treat! I hear he did another year in review for 2009, so I’m planning on reading that too. Here’s the link: http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/1397654.html
And the swimsuit thing…I admit, I’ve been pondering it as well. Very scary prospects, both of them! Dan and I are considering going somewhere sunny in the second trimester (when the nausea hopefully abates), making the swimsuit issue an impending threat!
Thanks for your encouragement!
We are so excited for you! Josh will be bringing a couple of books with him, but no pressure reading them! Meg and David can’t wait to meet their new “cousin!” Lots of Love to you guys! Wish I could come visit. =(
AL: Oooh, will look forward to the books! Thanks!
My absolute favorite was “Operating Instructions: A Journal of My Son’s First Year” by Annie Lammot (two m’s two t’s? one m two t’s? I can never remember).
“Sleep is for the Weak” a collection of posts by mommy bloggers put together by BlogHer
“Girlfriend’s Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood” by Vicki Iovine.
“Shepherding a Child’s Heart” I read this once before Ruthie was born and enough to memorize it after she was born. 🙂
“Secrets of the Baby Whisperer” by Traci Hogg. I don’t remember much about this book because I was sleeping nary a minute at the time, but I think it had helpful reference information for trying to find your baby’s sleep patterns. I remember charting a lot. 🙂
“On becoming babywise” by Garry Ezzo. My disclaimer for this book is to read with a discerning mind (duh. always.) I don’t understand the hostile controversy surrounding this book, but it is WELL HATED. As far as I can tell (or remember), what the haters don’t like is keeping a schedule.
Congratulations!
I almost forgot Michael Gurian!
I read his book “The Wonder of Girls” and OH MY GOODNESS. What a great mix of hormonal, brain developmental, and emotional information to help us understand our girls and how they grow!
I need to read “The Wonder of Boys” next.
Dr. Dan might like these. 🙂
He also wrote “The Mind of Boys” about boys and education, “Boys and Girls learn differently,” and a whole bunch of other interesting titles that I can’t vouch for but plan to read.
p.s. I have most of these titles if you want to borrow them.
Okay, going to bed now. 🙂
One last thing: I saw a tweet about you throwing up and feeling nauseated. I was that way, too, all day NOT just in the morning.
I carried around an orange (yes, the fruit), or a lavender sachet everywhere I went. EVERYWHERE. Whenever I encountered a SMELL that didn’t agree with me, I shoved the orange under my nose and went about my business.
I looked funny, I’m sure, in the meat department.
AL: You’re so funny. Thanks for all the great recommendations. A couple new ones there to check out. And maybe I’ll try out that orange thing. The grocery store can be torture! They had fried chicken there last night and it was mighty potent smelling!
YES! We’re stoked for you guys. It’s not a published book, but some bible-smugglers sent us a bunch of bible verses to read during labor. I (ross) felt like a weirdo when I read the first verse to Taya, but as we went on, the verses were really quite calming and more like a prayer. So our suggestion would be to start jotting down some of your favorite psalms and other encouraging passages of scripture.
AL: I bet the nurses thought it was a bit strange, but I’m sure not as strange as some of the deliveries Dan has done. One involved really loud Pantera music and a lot of cussing. But I like the idea of having some scripture handy ahead of time, maybe committed to memory too, for use when I need it!
One of the best things someone told me is don’t worry so much about what all the books say. I found pregnancy & birthing books pretty helpful, but right after Ian came I got sucked into what books said I should or shouldn’t do for things like breastfeeding and sleeping. And no one author seems to agree. In fact, they all disagree, some going as far as to say if you don’t do what they say you’ll ruin your kid.
All that reading started to drown out my instinct. So, I put the books back on the shelf with the stipulation that if I had a specific question AND was not in a state of panic, then I could pull them out.
For birth, I really enjoyed Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth (but it’s very hippy, be warned). And Happiest Baby on the Block is a MUST. The techniques they give for soothing babies totally works! There’s a DVD out as well, which is helpful to see the tips in action.
AL: Thanks for the book ideas. And I can see what you mean, these books can get a bit overwhelming!
Enjoy pregnancy! I practically want to clobber pregnant women I see walking around Greenlake with gushy sentiments about how amazing it all is – I get so nostalgic. You never get that first pregnancy back and there are so many firsts involved.
Congratulations! Two books I loved are the American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child’s Sleep and even more so, Ellyn Satter’s Child of Mine: Feeding Your Child with Love and Good Sense. I know you won’t need “eating” advice for quite a while, but that one was SO great and about a subject not written about much. I second the Baby Whisperer and Ann Lamott’s Operating Instructions!
AL: Thanks for the book ideas. That AAP one sounds really helpful, in a particular! Someone mentioned to me recently that I need to get a jump on all the baby reading now because when I’m sleep deprived later, I won’t be able to read as much!
Please do read The Thinking Woman’s Guide to a Better Birth. Seriously, do. It’s an important book during this time.
Another that I recommend (having had four births, all natural, no drugs) is The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy. I did not particularly like “What to Expect” because I felt as though these books instilled a natural panic and dependency on doctors — but that, of course, is my own opinion.
I found being part of a community to be really useful as well. I joined American Pregnancy Association (I’m still a member, but don’t really post). There are some very knowledgeable women there and many who are doing this or the first time. It’s a great place.
AL: Thanks for the resources. I admit, I’m not into the whole natural pregnancy thing and plan on using plenty of medically assisted pain relief, but I know that’s not for everyone.
Not sure if this helps. First time commenter and all that 😉
I have a book I was hoping you would consider recommending on your blog. I can send you a galley if you would like. I included a link to the Amazon listing. Check out the reviews. Thanks.
AL: Thanks Keith for the offer. Right now, I’m taking a break from book reviews, but I’ll keep you in mind for future reviews.