The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby [Paperback]

Like a good obstetrician, The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby respects the intelligence of the mother-to-be. This mammoth tome is probably the best reference book on the market, giving nonjudgmental and fairly exhaustive information on such hot-button topics as whether to drink coffee during pregnancy and the relative safety of birth centers. The book lays out as much information as possible and leaves the decision-making to the parents--a surprisingly rare gambit in the bossy world of pregnancy books, which all too often insult the mom-to-be with sweeping dicta unsupported by hard science. Also like a good doctor, the book knows its limits, referring to other sources well and often.

The book's tone can be impersonal, which seems natural considering that it was put together by two authors, a team of editors, and a panel of birth experts including a doctor, a nurse, and a nutritionist. For color commentary, 150 new parents were consulted, but their voices are not the book's strong point, offering such pallid advice as, "A good-quality stroller will see you through all your children, whereas a cheapie will cost you again and again." The book's "Unofficial" moniker seems to refer more to the guide's commitment to laying out all the alternatives than to an irreverent stance. (Those looking for in-the-trenches attitude and tried-and-true advice might turn instead to Vicki Iovine's superb The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy or Ariel Gore's The Hip Mama Survival Guide.) While the book's hesitance to pronounce on emotional topics is largely laudable, in some cases it backfires. In 818 pages, the authors devote just a few paragraphs to single-mother and lesbian pregnancies--though, to be fair, a resource directory is offered. Overall, though, this guide fills a much-needed information gap in the pregnancy book market.

Over 11,000 babies are delivered in the United States every day. Pregnancy, especially when going through it for the first time, can be overwhelming without the Unofficial Guide. Conflicting news reports, jargon-speaking doctors, and a lack of candid information on the nitty-gritty facts on what will happen over the next nine months can get the best of any Mom-to-be. Our author is a fourth-time Mom who's been through it all, and she is able to give expectant mothers the lowdown on choosing among the prenatal care options available; the truth about bodily changes from the perspective of someone who has first-hand experience; and the proper guidance through the maze of procedures, treatments, therapies, and medicines needed to help the reader find out what will work best for her without the wasted time, energy, and money. Thoughtful, authoritative, and unbiased, The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby covers:

• How to select an obstetrician: Key questions to ask when determining if a doctor is right
• How to deal with the normal roller-coaster ride of emotion: stress, anxiety, depression
• Sensible advice on eating for two and the lowdown on vitamin & mineral supplements
• How to keep informed on risk factors: Cesarean sections, gestational diabetes, hypertension, and more
• Tips on what to try, what to steer clear of, and how to save time and money without compromising the health of the mother or child

The inside scoop for when you want more than the official line

Having a baby is one of life’s most joyous–and overwhelming–events. The choices you make now will affect your baby’s health long after it is born. How should you change your lifestyle now that you are pregnant? How can you be sure that your baby is developing properly? What should you expect at each doctor’s visit? And how on earth will you survive labor?

Now thoroughly updated with more than 200 pages of new and completely revised material, including week-by-week pregnancy tips, The Unofficial Guide^TM to Having a Baby gives savvy parents-to-be like you a foolproof appraisal of what works and what doesn’t–revealing things even your doctor won’t (or can’t) tell you, with unbiased recommendations that are not influenced by any company, product, or organization.

• Vital Information that other sources can’t or won’t reveal–including the very latest research on prenatal and genetic testing.
• Insider Secrets on how to weather the physical and emotional highs and lows of pregnancy, with tips on health, exercise, sex, and career management.
• Money-Saving Tips that help you save on baby gear and maternity wear.
• The Latest Trends in new childbirth methods, including Doula care, pain management, and alternative birthing options.
• Handy Checklists and Charts to track your baby’s development, identify potentially dangerous medications and drugs, and record the milestones in your pregnancy.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Ann Douglas is the author of six books for parents and children.

Dr. John R. Sussman is the Chief of Medical Staff at New Milford Hospital, New Milford, Connecticut, and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.