What to Read When You Are Expecting and Reading on to Raise Kids

This week, we got to review the #1 Bestselling Pregnancy Book originally copyrighted in 1984 and now in it's 4th edition. With a record shattering 600+ weeks and longest running book on the New York Times Bestseller list, What to Expect® When You're Expecting is the quintessential pregnancy how-to book. Not only will this book get you through pregnancy, but it is the first in a series of books by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel that help you navigate the early childhood years like a pro.

I found myself pregnant for the first time while I was living in Florida working on a 10 month project with my husband. My family and friends were far away. I had an excellent OB/GYN but not a week goes by where I wasn't hit by some real or imagined crisis from nausea to an attractive eczema mustache.



Luckily for me, What to Expect® When You're Expecting was there to ease the panic. Through each chapter, I watched my round belly grow bigger with a kicking baby boy, while learning applicable information on everything from prenatal care and testing, to the perfect Pregnancy Diet and exercise.

Our second baby has just turned 4 months old and that pregnancy as well as the newborn period was a whole range of different experiences and issues but for the most part, I was reassured by my experiences with my first baby and What to Expect® books.

What I love about these books is that they have callouts and bullet points to make them light and easy to skim for pertinent information. When you are experiencing hiccups in the womb for the first time, these books may just keep you out of the emergency room.

One of my favorite callouts in What to Expect® When You're Expecting is where the authors note that new research has shown that the old wives tale of heartburn during pregnancy making it more likely a baby will be born with a full head of hair is actually true!

On a serious note, there are some things you will learn in these books that could prevent accidents from happening. Knowledge is prevention and prevention during pregnancy is avoiding eating things as simple and innocuous as sushi or sprouts to asking someone else to scoop the kitty litter due to possible toxoplasmosis.

I remembered to ask my doctor for a Tdap vaccine just in time during my second pregnancy even though it was never offered to me. (It's recommended as stated in the book yet my doctor didn't bring it up). Not only is there answers to every possible question a pregnant mom might have but there is so much more information that you need to make sure you are getting the best possible prenatal care.

I strongly advise Moms-to-be to do a quick cover to cover read of What to Expect® When You're Expecting to get through pregnancy without panic.

I feel like every possible scenario, every worst case, best case, or standard stuff is touched on in this book. There are so many seemingly strange things that happen to your body and mind during pregnancy but that do not need to be a surprise or shock to any mom-to-be.



Now I'm reading ahead for my little 4 month old because I'm particularly interested in refreshing my memory on what we should anticipate at 6 months and 7 months in What to Expect® The First Year. A lot of this stuff we figured out on our own with varying amounts of trial and error but I'm reminded that teething is coming up in month 5 and there are more food, skills, safety, sleep patterns, and milestones yet to come.

I'm also reminded that I need to get this little girl on her tummy a little more to make sure she is moving and doesn't become a couch potato. We both may be a little too attached to the swing and my WAHM life balance has been quite the challenge, but this book is a quick reassurance that we are on the right path and a little pat on the back for a job well done might be in order, too.

I wish I had thought to purchase What to Expect® The First Year the first time around but it is even perfect for the second or so time mom. I'm looking forward to reading my copy of What to Expect® The Second Year next because I'm going to be an excellent momma this time around, too!

So if you are pregnant for the first time, or know someone who is, make sure to grab a copy of What to Expect® When You're Expecting because it really is everything you need to know before you have the baby. Then I recommend moving on to What to Expect® The First Year so you can really nail this parenting thing like a champ.

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.