Don't be fooled by the zen soccer-mom-in-waiting in the fuzzy yellow sweater looking up from her rocking chair on the cover of this book - this is NOT "The pregnancy guide that reassuringly answers the concerns of mothers- and fathers-to-be..." Yes, it is probably the best-selling pregnancy guide ever, and yes, millions and millions of copies have been sold, and yes, you're probably going to go out and buy it despite this review, but that's just the madness isn't it?
The problem with this guide is that it's not reassuring at all. It's information overload. At first, I read and re-read this book every night with great care, careful to read the chapter that related to my week of pregnancy, to review the week before, and preview the week to come. By the middle of pregnancy, I was using it as a reference guide, which was a much saner approach. (I suggest having a friend RIP OUT the labor and delivery chapters - they are frightening and completely exaggerated-- especially if you're planning to have an epidural.)
That brings us to the enduring criticism of this book - and it's become a popular book to slam: it is too clinical and too focused on symptoms, unlikely diseases, and things that you should not do/eat (which can be scary if you read about it after the doing/eating that is restricted). This criticism is true. I would just caution you not to dwell too long on the different restrictions and diseases described in the book. Read enough to satisfy yourself that you know what's normal and what's not, and then let your instincts be your guide. They said in my labor class that knowledge overcomes fear, and while that's B.S. when it comes to delivery, I think in the case of pregnancy, it's a good principle.
(All of the important you really need to know can be found at babycenter.com. I highly encourage you to sign up for their weekly updates, which continue after the baby is born. I'll write a review of babycenter.com in another post.)
As a new parent -and you start acting and thinking like a new parents from the moment you learn you are pregnant- you err on the side of caution. No blue cheese, no fast driving, no caffeine, no concerts (secondhand smoke), no unnecessary risks.
Oh - um - most of those "don'ts" in the last paragraph are things that I learned in from this book. To its credit, it does offer comprehensive guide of what's permitted during pregnancy and what's not, and it also has a fantastic week by week description of your fetus' development. It has a diet plan, an exercise plan, and a whole lot more useless information, which you can skip over as long as you get the general idea: eat well and exercise.
If you really need hand-holding to understand your emotions during pregnancy or cope with frequent urination, then I guess this will guide will be a great companion for you. If, on the other hand, you kind of already knew that pregnancy would make you tearful, and that the key to handling frequent urges is to go to the bathroom more often, you'll probably do just fine without this book.
The problem with this guide is that it's not reassuring at all. It's information overload. At first, I read and re-read this book every night with great care, careful to read the chapter that related to my week of pregnancy, to review the week before, and preview the week to come. By the middle of pregnancy, I was using it as a reference guide, which was a much saner approach. (I suggest having a friend RIP OUT the labor and delivery chapters - they are frightening and completely exaggerated-- especially if you're planning to have an epidural.)
That brings us to the enduring criticism of this book - and it's become a popular book to slam: it is too clinical and too focused on symptoms, unlikely diseases, and things that you should not do/eat (which can be scary if you read about it after the doing/eating that is restricted). This criticism is true. I would just caution you not to dwell too long on the different restrictions and diseases described in the book. Read enough to satisfy yourself that you know what's normal and what's not, and then let your instincts be your guide. They said in my labor class that knowledge overcomes fear, and while that's B.S. when it comes to delivery, I think in the case of pregnancy, it's a good principle.
(All of the important you really need to know can be found at babycenter.com. I highly encourage you to sign up for their weekly updates, which continue after the baby is born. I'll write a review of babycenter.com in another post.)
As a new parent -and you start acting and thinking like a new parents from the moment you learn you are pregnant- you err on the side of caution. No blue cheese, no fast driving, no caffeine, no concerts (secondhand smoke), no unnecessary risks.
Oh - um - most of those "don'ts" in the last paragraph are things that I learned in from this book. To its credit, it does offer comprehensive guide of what's permitted during pregnancy and what's not, and it also has a fantastic week by week description of your fetus' development. It has a diet plan, an exercise plan, and a whole lot more useless information, which you can skip over as long as you get the general idea: eat well and exercise.
If you really need hand-holding to understand your emotions during pregnancy or cope with frequent urination, then I guess this will guide will be a great companion for you. If, on the other hand, you kind of already knew that pregnancy would make you tearful, and that the key to handling frequent urges is to go to the bathroom more often, you'll probably do just fine without this book.
3 comments:
I agree about "information overload".
I told my wife EVERYTHING seems bad for pregnant women according to these books.
Now we just experiment with her.. with food for example, if she can hold something down, and sleep easy afterwards, etc. it becomes approved - on the good list
If she acts crazy and vomits a dozen times and cries and screams and says things to me I can't post on here.. then we make that a prohibited item - on the black list.
I then go out and get her a bucket of fried chicken and chocolate cake to solve the problem.
May Allah make this difficult time easy for her, Ameen.
Thanks for sharing the blog - this is great.
I completely agree! And don't even get me started on "What to Expect--the Toddler Years." I received it as a gift, read it here and there, and now gladly have no idea where it is.
--Farwa
Wow! I had been avoiding buying this book for some unknown reason. I think I'll check out the Baby 411. Thanks!
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