Pregnancy Book recommendations
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20486
Printed Date: 22 August 2025 at 2:38am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Pregnancy Book recommendations
Posted By: Mrs_B
Subject: Pregnancy Book recommendations
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 9:00am
| Been looking at some books to buy eg What to expect when your expecting, Up the Duff etc Any recommendations ladies? TIA |
Replies:
Posted By: VannesaD
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 9:04am
|
I really enjoyed Up The Duff - a nice light hearted but informative view of the 40+ weeks.
Sheila Kitzinger also writes some really good factual books. Good luck in your hunt - there's so much to choose from.  -------------  
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 9:13am
|
I really like Up the Duff as its simple and easy to read. I use to just read the chapter that was relevant to the week that i was in and then there was no overload! -------------  
|
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 9:26am
|
Third Up The Duff. It was hilarious, and had factual stuff as well as a little on-going fiction diary throughout it. DH and I had many laughs - I'd read to him from the diary entry, and it was exactly what I was going through that week!! ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
|
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 9:44am
|
I'm against the grain here, I really didn't like Up The Duff I found the fictional diary annoying and just ended up reading the factual stuff but didn't really learn anything from there (although I did read it later in my pregnancy so that may have made a difference).
I loved Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy it really was hilarious.
I also read "rediscovering birth" by Sheila Kitzinger which was good but it is a birth and labour book rather than a pregnancy book. She does have heaps of pregnancy and birth books. She is a social anthropologist specialising in pregnancy, childbirth and the parenting of babies and young children. http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/Books.htm - http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/Books.htm
Don't laugh at me but I got a couple of pregnancy magazines (a cosmo and something else, can't remember which) and I found those really good - easy to read and flick through. I especially loved the first section of the mag which was a week by week guide with pics. I also subscribed to OB's weekly emails and those were great, telling me what my baby was doing and what my body was doing too. -------------  
|
Posted By: pikelets
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 10:24am
|
I used the NZ Pregnancy Guide which was ok.
I loved Up the Duff and read it week by week so it was exciting every Saturday morning to see what was happening next. For the end of pregnancy/after the birth I found Oh Baby a really good book. It has info in there re sleeping/feeding etc so it was great to have this after the birth when you are home and going "now what??". I also liked the Little Treasures Preganancy Guide that costs about $12. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
 3 Angels - Dec10 / Mar11 / Dec11
|
Posted By: Nefertiti
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 11:01am
|
I'm ready Belly Laughs now! Its a funny book. Even though I have no idea who Jenny McCarthy is. It's written from her experience with laughs along the way. Not a factual week by week book if thats what your wanting. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 11:27am
|
Don't whatever you do read 11 hours by Paulina Simons, it is a good book but not one to read when pregnant. TBH I didn't read any books I got a weekly email from Treasures (didn't know about OB then) and that was it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: RunningT
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 12:32pm
|
I also didn't really enjoy up the Duff as a pregnany book... more of a novel read but not that informative and her labour sounded scary and I only listen to nice stores about labour ...keeping my head firmly in the sand because who says my labour won't be nice as well...
DO not burst my bubble. Stressed, over worked, hormonal, grumpy tearful, short tempered, worried pregnant woman here that is gagging for her holiday to start tomorrow :-) ------------- 
|
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 12:50pm
|
I've got What to Expect When You're Expecting mainly because I couldn't find Up The Duff here but also because I like to read as much info as I can about anything and the first thing I did when I got my BFP was go out and buy books! I also got the What to Eat book from the same series and that has actually been far more useful - particularly when I had bad MS and needed ideas for easy to cook meals .. even DH could follow the recipes
What to Expect takes itself a bit seriously IMO, but it's an OK reference book and is easy to follow. Has tips about exercise and eating and mentions lots of the things that have come up in our due in Feb thread
For a bit of light reading, and for DHs benefit, I got "The Pregnant Guy" as well which is really really funny and a guy's take on his wife's pregnancy. DH has just finished it and really enjoyed it. If you really want to buy a book, I'd go down to the bookstore and have a look through some of their pregnancy books and see which ones you like the style of and which ones have the kind of info you're looking for. There's loads of great info on the net and between OhBaby and the Baby Centre sites (and weekly updates) I think there's plenty to read without buying books at all if you don't want to! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: katie1
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 1:09pm
|
If you do decide to buy up the duff I have one that I can sell to you for cheaper. It was brand new a year and a half ago and is still in excellent condition.
PM me if you are keen. Good luck with your book hunt! |
Posted By: kmarie
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 1:40pm
|
My cousin lent me 'Active Birth' by Sheila Kitzinger. A great book but one I'd only recommend reading as you get closer to D-day
I sussed out my local library, picked a few favourites, then bought my own copies of them through trademe. The two I've been looking at all the way through are:
Your Pregnancy Week by Week by Lesley Regan (also DK) More recently I've enjoyed a few other books from the library. Two were by Debra Choate & Kim Choate: 'Nest' & 'Nurture.' Johnson's put out a few little Everyday Babycare books that I found good too : 'Sleeping,' 'Crying & Comforting,' & (for DH!) 'Being a Dad.' And one that has some great ideas for things to make & do for baby was: 'Your Baby on a Budget' by Mimi Clegg As well as the weekly updates from Ohbaby, I get a weekly email from Treasures that I find quite good. ivillage also does a pregnancyweekly email and has some great pics for different gestations. Also, try going online and plugging your due date into 'fitpregnancy.com' - they have some great info & ideas for each week of gestation. Hehe... can you guess that I love reading?!!
Have fun!!! ------------- 
twins in heaven Oct07 Is 40:11 "He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart." |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 2:15pm
|
I have Up the Duff, The NZ pregnancy Book and What to expect when you are expecting as well as some magazines - all now surplus to requirements, if you are interested in anything PM me. -------------  
 
|
Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 2:19pm
|
Thanks for the fitpregnancy.com tip kmarie! Just found their prenatal workouts section - brilliant! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: maysie
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 4:17pm
|
I read 'Up the Duff' nd liked that. Also 'From the Hips' which was great cause it was more real and voiced alot of opinions. Also the Treasures pregnancy guide magazine (very good) and 'Belly Laughs' which was great to read that someone like Jenny McCarthy went through all the stuff (and worse) too. I also read 'Misconception' by Naomi Wolf (I think) about her pregnancy journey in USA. Was very interesting to hear about their system and made me very happy to be going through it in NZ and not anywhere else!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: kimandtony
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 5:30pm
|
I am currently reading Up The Duff witch I am enjoying week by week but would also like to find a more informative one. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
|
Posted By: Natalie_G
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 6:20pm
|
Wow I think I will have to find this book Up The Duff lol, it sounds very popular.
I have What to Expect when you are expecting. And my cousin lent me the New Zealand Pregnancy book. Plus OHBABY website. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
|
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 29 August 2008 at 6:44pm
I loved this book too!! I read it a few years ago when I was a student, I had a day off and pretty much didn't get off the bed till I'd finished!! I like Up the Duff too. I got a wee bit ahead of myself earlier this year and bought it and read the whole thing  I'll have to read it again when I finally get a BFP------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
|
mummy_becks wrote:Posted By: Ella1
Date Posted: 30 August 2008 at 11:38am
|
I find Up the Duff slightly disappointing. Guess I just had expected more after all the raving reviews.
Why don't you check out your local library first? I got heaps of different books that way. You be surprised how many books they have available. Also if you come across one that you really like you can always buy it for yourself. I accidentally stumbled upon a book by Lucy J. Puryear, "Understanding your moods when your expecting". I doesn't deal with how the baby develops during pregnancy, it's purely about how women can feel during certain stages of their pregnancy. And it was actually very interesting, whether or not particular feelings were/are applicable to me. It's very matter of fact, and very supportive towards the pregnant woman. If your library has it, I say definately check it out! |
Posted By: Katie_R
Date Posted: 08 September 2008 at 12:36pm
|
I know Sheila Kitzinger has been mentioned. But my favorite book is her one on "Homebirth and other alternatives to hospital"
It is EVEN good if you are going to be in hospital, it gives you a good understanding of labour in general and techniques you and your partner can do to help yourself. I was planning a home water birth but now I cant have one  But still I picked it up again the other day and it still had helpful info for being in hospital too  ------------- 
|