Friday, March 4, 2011

Books for Expecting Moms

So, I was asked the other day what books should a best friend buy her newly expecting best bud from Amazon?
Here are my best choices, after quite a bit of research and review.  I personally have read over 100 books on pregnancy, birth, and babies, and these I consider the most summative and comprehensive books on the market.

For the regular mainstreamer working mom:
1) The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
2) The Baby Book by Dr. Sears
3) Making More Milk by Diana West
4) No Cry Sleep Solutions by Elizabeth Pantley
5) The Baby Bond by Linda Palmer
Extra:
6) The Business of Being Born by Ricki Lake book and dvd
4) LLL's The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
8) Gentle Birth Choices by Pam England

For the Holistic Mom:
1) The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth by Sheila Kitzinger
2) The Baby Book by Dr. Sears
3) Home Birth by Sheila Kitzinger
4) Breastfeeding Made Simple: Seven Natural Laws for Nursing Mothers by Nancy Mohrbacher
5) The Baby Bond by Linda Palmer
Extra:
6) Take Charge of Your Child's Health - Dr. George Wootan
7) The Continuum Concept by Jean Liedloff


Books that should be burned:
1) What to Expect when you are Expecting - the most scaremonger book out there - I'm surprised it doesn't terrify women into never wanting to give birth....oh wait.....
2) Babywise - um, let see - lawsuits because babies died by parents following this crazy book, plus the author's children no longer speak to them - why do people want to take advice from these parents that do not have a relationship with their adult children - unless that is your ultimate goal as well?  I know its not mine.....
3) The Ferber Sleep book - um, even Robert Ferber now says that parents take this book too far.  Read Elizabeth Pantley's No Cry Sleep Solutions book instead - unless you enjoy hearing your baby issue blood-curdling screams.....