This isn’t what you think.
I just finished reading What to Expect When You’re Expecting
I read the older (3rd) edition (got it on freecycle a while back) and let me tell you…. This is not a book for newly pregnant women. No. Freaking. Way.
I just got scared. And scareder. And more scared. And totally didn’t want a baby by the end of it.
This is the most intimidating book ever and I don’t know why it’s the first recommended book for preggo mamas.
This book is like a bitchy old teacher.
It’s super disorganized by the way. Birthing info is in the 7th month section….WHY?! And skips around a lot.
But more importantly it’s freaking scary and biased.
It’s all…”here are the fiftyleven things that can go wrong with your baby, but don’t be scared because doctors are gods and if anything bad happens it’s your fault you, oh and here’s the 4 things you’re allowed to eat, if you go off this 4 item plan you’re a shitty mom and your baby will hate you…if it lives, and if you’re not married in a hetero relationship and not planning on breastfeeding and not planning on being a stay at home mom….you know…because your hetero husband brings home the bacon…. then…well, you’re worthless and shouldn’t be blessed with a child.”
Maybe that was a lil dramatic…but you get what I’m saying.
The good thing about this book is that it’s Q&A style so you can skip the Qs that don’t relate to you. It is super informative despite it’s thinly veiled judgements…or totally unveiled judgments lol like “Breast is Best!”
I wouldn’t recommend this to anyone though unless they’ve read a bunch of other (read: better) books to balance this one out with, OR if they were not yet pregnant. I wouldn’t recommend this book to any worry warts (ie: me) or big planners (ie: me) or …. OK fine..I just wouldn’t recommend this book.
Did you read What to Expect when You’re Expecting? What did you think of it? What pregnancy books did you read that you liked a lot? I need suggestions!!
? What did you think of it? What pregnancy books did you read that you liked a lot? I need suggestions!!Sidebar: it’s 4/20! This used to be a holiday for me. ::looking down::
so many people i know who have read that book say they were scared $hitless after reading it! i know i won't be reading it because i think pregnancy is a lil scary anyway …. i don't need any help there!
I'm not sure if you follow my blog, but I was SUPER paranoid when I was pregnant (due to a previous miscarriage). Also, I wanted to be informed, so I read a lot of books (and used Dr. Google), and the one I hated the most was What To Expect (WTE). It was the worst book ever! I liked "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" better.
I read that book when I was pregnant the first time….I don't remember it being scary though. Hmmmm….shows ya my brain….lol!
lol this is a hilarious book review. Sounds like I will not be reading this one!
Haha, I read it and didn't hate it as much as you. I found it informative, but I can see what you mean!
Haha! You're mad funny!
Faith – Don't read it! Do yourself a favor.
MRS VVVV!!!!! – oh my god i have an entire pregnancy to read about now. I don't know HOW i wasn't reading your blog…I just went and checked it out. Yorlee is the cutest lil thing ever!!!! Expect a lot of pregnancy question emails to come your way
JC – glad you liked it, please don't read it.
A lot of people have mentioned the week by week book Mrs V mentioned. Let's try that one!
Nini – maybe it's the nurse in you…or the doctor hubby…you're used to medical scare stuff? ::shrug:: Or you're kookoo. 🙂
Chardonnay – it was informative…but in the bitchiest of ways. lol
Dancy – I'm just tryin to be like you boo 🙂
Honestly, I wasnt a fan of any of the pregnancy books while pregnant. Wasn't a fan of What to Expect, wasn't a fan of the Mocha Manual…. pregnancy books seemed outdated (the idea of them, I mean). I started reading both, and couldn't get thru either. They were boring, too much info at one time, and overall didnt keep my attention.
Instead, I swore by BabyCenter.com. I got ALL my information pretty much from there. I subscribed to their weekly email updates and got an awesome update about my pregnancy each week. There was no need to have tmi ahead of time, you know what i mean? And thats one of the problems with the books – you read it too fast, ahead of time, and its not really relevant for you at that time, and instead either scares you, or you forget important stuff.
Yeah, so BabyCenter was my "pregnancy bible," not a book. 🙂 HTH!
Kini I love babycenter too!! It's SO HANDY!!! I figure I'm going to re-read the books I like when I'm actually pregnant. I love being overinformed about this stuff!
Hey Dani! I never read the book, but I did have the app and I used it! I also enjoyed receiving weekly emails from sites such as babycenter giving me information on my baby's progress. They still send em now and I love it!
That is the WORSE book to read. Ina May Gaskin, Birthing from within, get a REAL educational book or better yet take an independent childbirth class. The current c-section rate is 33%, that is 1 out of every 3 women will have a c-section when the rate should not be over 10% (and that is being generous.) That book sets you up to be scared into unnecessary interventions leading you into major surgery. Become EMPOWERED, do your own research or take a good childbirth class. Sit down with a midwife, they can guide to pre-conception information as well!