Since getting pregnant and having Baby Ernie, my Kindle and nightstand have been overflowing with books on pregnancy, the early weeks of parenting, and more general child-rearing. I really loved reading about the changing stages of pregnancy while experiencing it, and have continued enjoying learning about Ernie’s development, strategies and tactics for different ages, and so much more alongside his (many!) changes. Reading has always had a special place in my life that I am sure to make time for, and now it feels even better to use some of my book time to learn about and keep up with our new family routines. Here are my favorites!
‘Expecting Better‘
This book put so many of my pregnancy concerns at ease. Written by economist Emily Oster, the book tackles many of the myths and old-wives tails you’ve heard about pregnancy such as things to avoid eating, drinking alcohol, what side to sleep on, what exercises you can and cannot do, rules for prenatal testing, and so much more. Oster is careful not to include her own opinions throughout the book, instead presenting the reader with as much data and as many viewpoints as possible to make their own decision. I so appreciated having a source to point to when someone inevitably “called me out” for having half a glass of wine, continuing to do hot yoga, or many other things that may have previously been frowned upon while pregnant.
‘Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn‘
This felt like the bible of pregnancy and childbirth. I definitely had a feeling of information overload at different points of pregnancy, and this was a great resource to turn to, to get the cut and dry of it all. Peppered with charts, illustrations, and helpful anecdotes, author Penny Simkin has been a childbirth educator for more than 50 years and uses her in-depth knowledge and experience alongside the latest medical research and recommendations to share what a normal pregnancy and birth looks like. Describing the processes and variations that go along with pregnancy, especially including care practices, really helped inform me what I should be expecting and experiencing at the numerous doctor’s appointments, and gave me a helpful rubric for questions to bring in.
‘Like a Mother‘
Taking a more narrative perspective, author Angela Garbes’ journey through pregnancy and early motherhood was filled with many questions that Emily Oster
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/154-angela-garbes-on-doing-things-like-a-mother/id993666762?i=1000422317740
This book was a real game changer for me and my husband at around 3 weeks post-baby. We were starting to feel the rhythm and routine of having a baby, but were VERY unsure as to how to ease our little guy towards the schedule we wanted as far as sleep went. With a little help from the French, we discovered the magic of “the pause” which jived well with little Ernie and, so far, has produced an easy-going, good sleeper of a baby! We’ve recommended this book to all of our pregnant friends.
‘Cribsheet‘
Also from the economist Emily Oster, ‘Cribsheet‘ picks up where ‘Expecting Better‘ left off, leading you through the first few years of child rearing. In a very similar vein, the book tackles myths and misconceptions about decisions to be made in those early years from breastfeeding and sleep training to childcare and developmental milestones. This is a great read to put your mind at ease about when certain things are “supposed” to happen with your little one vs the bell curve of actual normal.
‘Work. Pump. Repeat.‘
As a new mother going back to work, I have to admit that the thought of pumping was daunting. I truly didn’t feel like I knew where to begin, and this book has become my number one resource for any and every question I had (and continue to have) about making that work. The book addresses everything from how to set up a pumping schedule that works for you and your baby, what to wear to keep your nakedness at work to an absolute minimum, and pumping location alternatives if your office doesn’t supply a mother’s room, to the very real struggle that is traveling while pumping. Reading this the week before going back to work really helped calm me down about something that felt so monumental. And now, six weeks into having returned to work I can gratefully say I am still employing the tips and tricks it provided.
‘The Fifth Trimester‘
Similarly to ‘Work. Pump. Repeat.‘, this book is all about those early days of returning to work. Beyond pumping, though, ‘The Fifth Trimester‘ puts words to the many anxieties that can bring up including how to be productive through sleep deprivation, what to say to a boss when you need to leave early or take an extra day or two off, and finding the best childcare option for you and your family. I felt so very heard in the pages of this book and found myself nodding along to the many included anecdotes from mothers in the early stages of returning to work. At the very least, this book comforted me with the knowledge that there have been many women who have gone through this experience before me and come out the other side.
Still To Read
It feels like my “to read” list has just been getting longer and longer. There’s so much information out there, and so many great books around parenting in the early years. Next up, I have these four on my bookshelf. We’re moving into the solid food phase of life for Baby Ernie, and my husband and I are both strongly committed to raising an adventurous eater! We also want to instill kindness, patience, and a calm predictibility as core values in our family. I’m betting there will be a lot of earmarking and conversation around these upcoming reads.
Does anyone have favorite pregnancy, newborn, or child-rearing books? What is my bookshelf missing?? Let me know in the comments!