The Photographer's Wife Parenting, Disney, Travel, Reviews & Other Randomness
When I found out I was pregnant (almost 2 years ago - wowza!), I couldn’t wait to get my hands on some new books to read. I wanted to know what was going to happen and each little milestone that was coming up. I wanted to learn as much as I could about this new stage in our lives, both for fun and to be prepared. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I switched over to a few books that were for after Trent was born and I still look forward to reading the next month of What to Expect: The Second Year. Now my time is a bit more limited, so I tend to keep it to just one book that takes me a long time to read. Plus, I like reading blogs on Feedly now - so convenient!
There are so many books available out there, it can kind of get overwhelming. I’ve been known to just hit up the free Kindle books section on Amazon to pick my next read just because it’s easier (and cheaper!).
Here are some of the books I have read (and perhaps some that I know that have great reviews, but I haven’t read yet - since I can’t read them all!).
What to Expect Before You’re Expecting
When I didn’t get pregnant the very first month we tried (shame on me for having extreme positivity…), I bought this book and another fertility book just to learn how I can best prepare my body. It was extremely helpful to learn about various foods that either help or hinder your fertility efforts. There was definitely more to it than I thought, so this is a must read if you want to learn more about preparing yourself for pregnancy.
What to Expect When You’re Expecting
-Perhaps the best known pregnancy book on the market (they even made a movie out of it - which I’m sure is very loosely based on it), this book gives plenty of monthly updates, as well as tips and knowledge about different decisions and things to know along the way. It’s been revised numerous times to keep up with emerging data. It’s a pretty thick book and I often found myself reading ahead and then having to reread portions of it when it came time to experience it (what can I say? I’m impatient!). This is a must have pregnancy book for all-around general pregnancy information.
What to Expect: The First Year and What to Expect: The Second Year
-Banking on the popularity of the original, there are additional What to Expect books as the years go on. The First Year book is actually bigger than the original…how scary is that?! I look forward to reading it each month, just as I did with the original book. I don’t have time to read ahead any longer, but it has almost become a monthly birthday ritual to read the next chapter. They are pretty much on the mark with the developmental milestones, but every baby is different, so I don’t use it as a comparison, but more like a “Hey, Trent’s doing that, how awesome!”
Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy
-Similar to What to Expect, this book gives monthly updates and other facts and opinions.
Dr. Spock’s Baby & Child Care
-No, not Star Trek, but one of the most well-known pediatricians. This book is more of an opinionated version of What to Expect and the Mayo Clinic. It gives the facts and milestone markers, but then also gives suggestions on how to help your baby learn, grown and have fun.
Buddhism For Mothers of Young Children: Becoming a Mindful Parent
-I’m in the middle of this one now and have been for the past few months…I really do need to be better at reading. I tend to stress out about things very randomly, but to the point that when I do stress about something, it consumes my every thought. I don’t want stress to eat away at the little time I get with Trent and any future babies. I’m not a religious person, but this book claims to simply help mothers live in the present. I’m looking forward to seeing what this book has in store.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
-I haven’t personally read this one, but I’ve heard plenty of good reviews on it and even see moms giving each other advice on forums and quoting this as their resource.
Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep
-This Happiest Baby Book focuses mostly on sleep. It gives a very VERY specific to do list and claims all the items combined will lead to your baby sleeping better. I knew a few things listed would be absolute no-gos for Trent, like a pacifier and being swaddled, so we never dove into the plan, but I’m sure it could work for others. I’ve heard people swear by it, so definitely worth a read if you are having trouble in the sleeping baby department.
Bump It Up
-This is a fun little book for the pregnant gals that don’t want to look like tents just because they have a human growing inside them and their body is doing some crazy things. Here’s an overview: The 1st trimester, no one knows you’re pregnant and you might not even be showing: Hide belly. 2nd Trimester: People that know you know you’re pregnant, but the rest of the world thinks you’re a lardo that ate a big lunch = accentuate the heck out of it so EVERYONE knows (or hide it - whatever floats your boat). 3rd trimester: try not to die while walking up steps = forget about heels <- ok that last one was me since I’m a fan of flats. I do wish the book had more real-life photo examples, as opposed to drawings, but still a fun read and helpful for anyone that needs tips on how to dress while pregnant.
So there is my short but sweet list of pregnancy and baby books. I have come no where near touching the surface on the vast amount of books out there, but I look forward to adding more to my (and this) list!
This post contains affiliate links. If you want to purchase these books–or any other items–please consider using the Amazon links here (like this one). Amazon is my favorite site to get just about everything online much cheaper than in any store. Using these links help support this blog (at no cost to you!) and help us continue to provide you with great content.
If you’re looking for other pregnancy or baby-related posts, check out some of my other posts: Tips for Going to Disney World While Pregnant Our Hospital Bag Trent’s Birth Story and Arrival Video Baby Shower Registry & Money-Saving Tips Favorite Pregnancy Items
Your Thoughts…
What pregnancy or baby (or both!) book did you like the best? Any recommendations? Tell me in the comments!
xoxo Lynn
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