The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby
by Ann Douglas, John R. Sussman
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Book Summary Information
Author: Ann Douglas, John R. SussmanEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-02-20
ISBN: 076454148X
Number of pages: 864
Publisher: Wiley
Book Reviews of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby
Book Review: Our single favorite guide
Summary: 5 Stars
While not quite living up to its promise of "For when you want more than the official line", it did come close. Of the six pregnancy books I read when my wife was pregnant, I think this is the best single book. However, I think the _Girlfriends Guide_ / _The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy_ pair is better than this one alone. We ended up, however, buying all three, and didn't regret it.
Why is this book better? For example, this book had the only really good discussion of the issues involved in genetic screening. Other books did discuss the pros and cons and risks of each procedure, but this was the only book that really laid out the personal / emotional issues involved, and when you should and should not consider it. Other books should learn from this.
I also really appreciated the list of medicine. I know all books say to consult with your doctor first, but it's good to have everything in one summary without having to find a good site on the web.
It also includes advice on trying to conceive. While we got this book after we conceived I didn't not really read that part, but from what I did look at it seems quite good.
Alas, like all things in life, it's not perfect. I find that they try to be too "cutsey"; while good for about 5 pages, it gets annoying very quickly. It is slightly out of date in places, for example in their list of which artificial sweeteners are safe they miss all the new ones introduced in the last 10 years. It's also very difficult to hold (near 900 pages but only 8.2" x 5.3"). If they went to a larger but thinner book it would be much easier to hold. [Or drop the TTC information.]
Summary of The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby
The inside scoop for when you want more than the official lineHaving a baby is one of life's most joyous-and overwhelming-events. The choices you make now will affect your baby's health long after it is born. How should you change your lifestyle now that you are pregnant? How can you be sure that your baby is developing properly? What should you expect at each doctor's visit? And how on earth will you survive labor?
Now thoroughly updated with more than 200 pages of new and completely revised material, including week-by-week pregnancy tips, The Unofficial Guide?TM to Having a Baby gives savvy parents-to-be like you a foolproof appraisal of what works and what doesn't-revealing things even your doctor won't (or can't) tell you, with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization.
* Vital Information that other sources can't or won't reveal-including the very latest research on prenatal and genetic testing.
* Insider Secrets on how to weather the physical and emotional highs and lows of pregnancy, with tips on health, exercise, sex, and career management.
* Money-Saving Tips that help you save on baby gear and maternity wear.
* The Latest Trends in new childbirth methods, including Doula care, pain management, and alternative birthing options.
* Handy Checklists and Charts to track your baby's development, identify potentially dangerous medications and drugs, and record the milestones in your pregnancy.
Like a good obstetrician, The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby respects the intelligence of the mother-to-be. This mammoth tome is probably the best reference book on the market, giving nonjudgmental and fairly exhaustive information on such hot-button topics as whether to drink coffee during pregnancy and the relative safety of birth centers. The book lays out as much information as possible and leaves the decision-making to the parents--a surprisingly rare gambit in the bossy world of pregnancy books, which all too often insult the mom-to-be with sweeping dicta unsupported by hard science. Also like a good doctor, the book knows its limits, referring to other sources well and often.
The book's tone can be impersonal, which seems natural considering that it was put together by two authors, a team of editors, and a panel of birth experts including a doctor, a nurse, and a nutritionist. For color commentary, 150 new parents were consulted, but their voices are not the book's strong point, offering such pallid advice as, "A good-quality stroller will see you through all your children, whereas a cheapie will cost you again and again." The book's "Unofficial" moniker seems to refer more to the guide's commitment to laying out all the alternatives than to an irreverent stance. (Those looking for in-the-trenches attitude and tried-and-true advice might turn instead to Vicki Iovine's superb The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy or Ariel Gore's The Hip Mama Survival Guide.) While the book's hesitance to pronounce on emotional topics is largely laudable, in some cases it backfires. In 818 pages, the authors devote just a few paragraphs to single-mother and lesbian pregnancies--though, to be fair, a resource directory is offered. Overall, though, this guide fills a much-needed information gap in the pregnancy book market.
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