Pregnancy books, etc.
I was looking at books to recommend to my cousin, and figured it wouldn't hurt to make up a list for future reference. Everyone, please comment! What have I left out?
First, the ones I've read myself -
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin was my midwife at Seth's birth. She's great. This book has a whole lot of birth stories (very useful to get an idea of the many different ways birth can be), and some great statistics.
Spiritual Midwifery (Ina May Baskin) - Also has lots of birth stories, which are always great, but it goes Deep Hippy. :) Read it if you really like birth stories, want to be a midwife, or can handle the groovy vibes.
What to Expect When You're Expecting - Useful nutrition ideas, a decent rundown of baby development, but there's some misinformation in there, and probably what some would consider to be fear mongering. I had fun with it in my first pregnancy (can hardly read it now), and someone will probably give it to every new mom, but I wouldn't consider it especially important.
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation (by England and Horowitz) - This is a very different book - there are also Birthing From Within classes. Instead of focusing on birth choices and education, this book is all about your emotions and outlook towards birth. It could be extremely helpful if you think you have any emotional issues that might interfere with your birth, or fear about the process, etc. I found it worthwhile to read through.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (by McCuthcheon) - Good for birth facts and thoughts on some interventions, but these days I think they emphasize lying still and relaxing too much over other pain-coping techniques. I do think it's a great idea to read about the different childbirth classes before choosing one. This isn't the original book by Dr. Bradley, but it's more up-to-date and representative of the class.
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (by Henci Goer) - This one is extremely worthwhile. It gives evidence-based analyses of the various birth interventions you may run into. This is great if you want to be able to make educated decisions. I did find it a bit outdated, unfortunately - the author was very upset with the c-section rate, for example, and back then it was "only" 25%. Also, her section on breech birth was based mostly on a now-discredited study. The author is working on a new edition, but she said she isn't getting it done as fast as she'd like, so people who are pregnant now may have to settle for the original. It's worth it.
The Birth Partner (by Penny Simkin) - Very useful for your support person, and for you to get an idea of things to try during labor.
And ones I have just heard about:
The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence - I read my mom's old Lamaze guide (Birth Without Pain), and it was interesting, but I don't think it was at all accurate with regards to how things actually work. :) They've surely updated by now. The book might be worth reading, but from people I've talked to, I don't think women get as good results with Lamaze as with other birthing classes like Bradley.
Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy - Haven't read it, but from what I've heard it's what your friends might tell you, if they've never done any real pregnancy research. Funny, but stupid, I hear. :)
Misconceptions: Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood (by Naomi Wolf) - Haven't heard much about this one, except that it's not your usual happy birth book.
Your Best Birth (by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein) - This one is about all your birth options, from hospital to homebirth, and how to get a good birth in the setting you choose. I know Ricki Lake also made the film The Business of Being Born, which is highly recommended watching for both parents. (It's especially good for husbands who aren't interested in reading lots of books.) I still need to see it.
After the birth:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (from La Leche League) - A must-read! I have an older edition, and it's a bit old-fashioned about nursing in public, but otherwise good.
The New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding (from the AAP) - I don't think much of the AAP, but this book does have some very interesting stats on how much formula feeding increases the risks of various diseases - worth flipping through to find that section.
So That's What They're For - Haven't read this one, it sounds amusing, at least.
The Sears Baby Book - Haven't read it, but I hear it recommended all the time.
The Sears Vaccine Book - Also haven't read, also often recommended.
What Your Doctor Won't Tell You about Vaccines (by Stephanie Cave) - Another common one I haven't read.
Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems (by Ferber) - I DON'T recommend this one, cry-it-out has been shown to be dangerous for babies' brains, I hear. There's some interesting info about sleep cycles, but I think it's much more useful for use on adults.
The Baby Whisperer (by Hogg) - Her basic idea of listening to your baby is good, but I didn't think much of the book. Very critical sometimes.
What to Expect the First Year - Another book that I enjoyed as fluff the first time around. I have a friend who detests it, however - don't put too much weight on the development timetables if you read this one.
Also, movies - I mentioned The Business of Being Born, and I've also heard that Pushed is worth seeing. Never seen them though.
First, the ones I've read myself -
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth - Ina May Gaskin was my midwife at Seth's birth. She's great. This book has a whole lot of birth stories (very useful to get an idea of the many different ways birth can be), and some great statistics.
Spiritual Midwifery (Ina May Baskin) - Also has lots of birth stories, which are always great, but it goes Deep Hippy. :) Read it if you really like birth stories, want to be a midwife, or can handle the groovy vibes.
What to Expect When You're Expecting - Useful nutrition ideas, a decent rundown of baby development, but there's some misinformation in there, and probably what some would consider to be fear mongering. I had fun with it in my first pregnancy (can hardly read it now), and someone will probably give it to every new mom, but I wouldn't consider it especially important.
Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation (by England and Horowitz) - This is a very different book - there are also Birthing From Within classes. Instead of focusing on birth choices and education, this book is all about your emotions and outlook towards birth. It could be extremely helpful if you think you have any emotional issues that might interfere with your birth, or fear about the process, etc. I found it worthwhile to read through.
Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way (by McCuthcheon) - Good for birth facts and thoughts on some interventions, but these days I think they emphasize lying still and relaxing too much over other pain-coping techniques. I do think it's a great idea to read about the different childbirth classes before choosing one. This isn't the original book by Dr. Bradley, but it's more up-to-date and representative of the class.
The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth (by Henci Goer) - This one is extremely worthwhile. It gives evidence-based analyses of the various birth interventions you may run into. This is great if you want to be able to make educated decisions. I did find it a bit outdated, unfortunately - the author was very upset with the c-section rate, for example, and back then it was "only" 25%. Also, her section on breech birth was based mostly on a now-discredited study. The author is working on a new edition, but she said she isn't getting it done as fast as she'd like, so people who are pregnant now may have to settle for the original. It's worth it.
The Birth Partner (by Penny Simkin) - Very useful for your support person, and for you to get an idea of things to try during labor.
And ones I have just heard about:
The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence - I read my mom's old Lamaze guide (Birth Without Pain), and it was interesting, but I don't think it was at all accurate with regards to how things actually work. :) They've surely updated by now. The book might be worth reading, but from people I've talked to, I don't think women get as good results with Lamaze as with other birthing classes like Bradley.
Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy - Haven't read it, but from what I've heard it's what your friends might tell you, if they've never done any real pregnancy research. Funny, but stupid, I hear. :)
Misconceptions: Truth, Lies, and the Unexpected on the Journey to Motherhood (by Naomi Wolf) - Haven't heard much about this one, except that it's not your usual happy birth book.
Your Best Birth (by Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein) - This one is about all your birth options, from hospital to homebirth, and how to get a good birth in the setting you choose. I know Ricki Lake also made the film The Business of Being Born, which is highly recommended watching for both parents. (It's especially good for husbands who aren't interested in reading lots of books.) I still need to see it.
After the birth:
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding (from La Leche League) - A must-read! I have an older edition, and it's a bit old-fashioned about nursing in public, but otherwise good.
The New Mother's Guide to Breastfeeding (from the AAP) - I don't think much of the AAP, but this book does have some very interesting stats on how much formula feeding increases the risks of various diseases - worth flipping through to find that section.
So That's What They're For - Haven't read this one, it sounds amusing, at least.
The Sears Baby Book - Haven't read it, but I hear it recommended all the time.
The Sears Vaccine Book - Also haven't read, also often recommended.
What Your Doctor Won't Tell You about Vaccines (by Stephanie Cave) - Another common one I haven't read.
Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems (by Ferber) - I DON'T recommend this one, cry-it-out has been shown to be dangerous for babies' brains, I hear. There's some interesting info about sleep cycles, but I think it's much more useful for use on adults.
The Baby Whisperer (by Hogg) - Her basic idea of listening to your baby is good, but I didn't think much of the book. Very critical sometimes.
What to Expect the First Year - Another book that I enjoyed as fluff the first time around. I have a friend who detests it, however - don't put too much weight on the development timetables if you read this one.
Also, movies - I mentioned The Business of Being Born, and I've also heard that Pushed is worth seeing. Never seen them though.