Pregnancy – Books, DVDs + the Web
There’s overwhelming mountains + heaps of baby info out there. A lot of it is a bunch of blech. Here are some of the resources that I’ve found educationally worth while!
I’ve been really slacking on the posting because as of late in the third trimester I’ve been feeling 94% of the time like this:
Sleepy, slothy lazy ass sloth.
BOOKS – I borrowed a lot of books from my doula + the library before I decided if any of them deserved to be purchased. Here are some of the winners:
1) One Year to an Organized Life with Baby
It speaks to the OCD in me. It gives you week by week to dos on what you need to prioritize on. For example, when to look into day care options + tips on how to start organizing your life so that when the baby comes you don’t feel completely unprepared + want to tear your hair out. Very practical.
2) Creating Your Birth Plan: The Definitive Guide to a Safe and Empowering Birth
A great wealth of information on pain medication, interventions, labor positions, etc. It reminds the mother to always ask questions of your caregiver in the birth room + educates on whether or not a suggested procedure is medically necessary. Very empowering + enlightening. And the author is a former director of Women’s and Children’s Health for the World Health Organization. Booyah!!!!
One of my best friends who is a Super Mom + extremely frugal + practical to boot told me about this wonder book. There are so many products + stuff + things + gear for babies! It’s mind numbing! This book takes the guess work out of it. It basically tells you how to save money, but also what products are best in every category possible. Strollers, cribs, monitors, baby slings, sheets, etc. etc. Make sure you get the newest version out there.
4) The Nursing Mother’s Companion
I went to buy some used baby stuff from a mommy that was advertising on Craigslist. She had a lot of great things + after I made my purchases + was almost out the door she exclaimed, “Wait! I’m going to give you this breastfeeding book for free! Take it!!! Let me just tell you that breastfeeding is a bitch! You’re going to want this!”. She practically threw the book at me! I obvi haven’t started breastfeeding yet because that requires a baby, but I’ve been reading this book + learning a ton about proper latching, problems that can come up + what to do in each scenario.
5) Our Babies, Ourselves: How Biology and Culture Shape the Way We Parent
Okay, I haven’t finished this book yet. Coming from a cultural anthropological standpoint, this book highlights how children are raised in different societies. It gives perspective on how there isn’t a “right” way to raise one’s child + how different child rearing practices influence personality and culture. Fascinating! Maybe it will broaden my horizon so I won’t feel as pressured to conform to the regimented North American way of raising my child.
DON’T BOTHER WITH “What to Expect When You’re Expecting”. I got mine at the thrift store + it is so not worth the $1 or whatever I paid for it. Whatever is in the book you can find on the internet. Plus, a gal at a prenatal class called it “What to Worry About When You’re Worrying” + we all laughed smugly. It’s true – it’s like the WebMD of pregnancy books. Makes you freak out about any little symptom you may have.
DVDs – borrowed from my awesome doula’s extensive collection + from the library.
1) The Happiest Baby on the Block 
Dr. Harvey Karp is a magical wizard + his 5 S’s to calming a fussy baby are unbelievable to watch. Swaddling, Side/Stomach Position, Swinging, Shushing + Sucking. I’ll let you know if these work! I bought the book version at the thrift store, but it’s really repetitive + it’s better to watch Dr. Karp’s sorcery played out on the DVD.
2) Guide to Breastfeeding by Dr. Jack Newman
Great to visually see the baby latch on correctly, how to know when the baby is drinking enough, etc. I should actually watch this video again.
When you think of birth, don’t you automatically visualize what you’ve seen in television + movies of a woman lying on her back in a hospital room with her knees up, red faced + screaming her head off? I did! This documentary show various birth stories mostly of natural birth, home births + a couple hospital births. The women are supported, loved + in environments where birth is less a medical experience + more one of happiness – which is what birth should be about! There is an overuse in technology in most North American births that can sometimes do more harm then good – this documentary addresses this issue very well. Lots of great insight + interviews from highly regarded obstetricians, midwives + of course good ol’ Marsden Wagner, MD, former Director of Women’s and Children’s Health for the World Health Organization who wrote “Creating Your Birth Plan”. He’s a superstar.
A documentary about the neurological aspects of the itty bitty baby (my words – not theirs). The importance of bonding, protection + giving confidence to your baby as it adjusts to the outside world. Babies feel pain + have memories unlike previously believed. Jeff really liked this DVD + how it showed that giving birth shouldn’t be considered a medical procedure + how important it is that when a baby is born, immediate skin on skin contact is so vital to a baby’s first moments to develop trust within your child. Plus, Noah Wyle narrating is easy on the eyes as well. Cha cha!
INTERNET – Sites I check often.
The holy grail of baby websites. You can register, plug in your estimated due date + Babycenter will send you weekly updates of your pregnancy symptoms + how your fetus/wiggly worm is developing. Has great articles, community forums, tips + checklists.
Pretty much like Babycenter.com expect a little more granola.
I found this Australian website which I lurve. Focuses more on holistic approaches, natural remedies, etc. Great articles + advice!
A weird name, I know. This website is about optimal fetal positioning, exercises, stretching + childbirth preparation.
Whew! Okay that’s it for now! Keep checking in as I may update + add more to these lists! Hope some of these are helpful to you as well!!! Happy researching!
how's it going, eh? 
hi, Nan, good on U for all your researching!!!!!
can’t wait to see Baby Fayle, Take Care, Dads
I’ve been learning so much from lots of amazing, intelligent, wonderful people!!! Baby Fayle is excited to meet you too, but he/she needs to stay in there!!!!
Wow, thank you! And the cat is cute too! 🙂
Haha! I knew you’d appreciate the smart cat!
🙂
I enjoyed reading “Bringing up Bebè”, it filled my desire to know about how another culture views child-rearing. Looks like you’ve got a pretty full bookshelf!
Ooh, I will look into that one! Sounds good! Thanks, A!