Whether you’re pregnant for the first time or due with baby number three, it’s helpful to have a few resources on hand to consult when you have a question about something or are simply curious about whatever you may be experiencing (i.e. why am I craving lemons?). While you can and should always go to your doctor if you’re concerned, sometimes when it’s 3 a.m. and you’re making your fifth bathroom trip of the night, you just want to know if that’s normal! Not only that, but so much of pregnancy is about preparing for the baby–from making a birth plan to decorating your nursery. Here’s a book, DVD, and website that I found especially useful during my own pregnancy and which provided me with both reassurance and helpful information. Hopefully they can serve as go-to resources for you too.
The Pregnancy Bible. Written by obstetricians Joanne Stone and Keith Edelman, this may be the only book you need to get you through pregnancy. With glossy pages and full-color photos, it’s loaded with a ton of straightforward information covering everything from fetal development to nutrition to maternity leave. One of the best parts of the book is the week-by-week synopsis of the baby’s development, accompanied by life-size photos. There are also sections on birth plans, postpartum care, intimacy issues, taking care of a newborn, and baby-proofing your home.
Laugh and Learn DVDs with Sheri Bayles. Sheri Bayles is a well-known New York City-based Lamaze instructor, lactation consultant and RN who teaches great childbirth education classes–which you can now experience from the comfort of your sofa! Her “Laugh and Learn” DVD series features live classes with real-life couples in which she shares everything you’d want to know about childbirth, from the stages of labor to how an epidural works. She also shares plenty of real-life anecdotes that are surprisingly entertaining. In addition to a childbirth DVD, she also has DVDs on breastfeeding and newborn care.
Babycenter.com. One of the most helpful websites for parents-to-be and new parents is Babycenter.com. Sign up for their weekly e-newsletter which offers useful information, tips and advice about each week of your pregnancy. Also, join a “Birth Club” (simply choose the month and year you’re due) and browse the message boards to see what other women due at the same time are talking about. It can be so helpful to connect with other women going through the same stages of pregnancy and mommy-hood you are!
