I read so much during this pregnancy (and before) to try to prepare myself for parenthood.
Yes, I'm aware that no amount of reading or research can substitute for ACTUAL parenting. However, I do feel that raising children is one of, if not THE, most important things we do in our lives. If I'm going to prepare myself for an exam, you better believe I'm going to at least make an effort to prepare myself for motherhood.
I wanted to share what I read & my thoughts on them.
Pushed
Author: Jennifer Block
If there is ONE book on this list I think is the most important to read, it's this one.
There is so much important information in this book but I think this excerpt really breaks it down to the most basic idea:
"The goal is to have a healthy baby. 'This phrase is used over and over and over to shut down women's requests,' she says. 'The context needs to be to be that the goal is to have a healthy mom. Because mother's never make decisions without thinking about that healthy baby. And to suggest otherwise is insulting and degrading and disrespectful. What's best for women is best for babies. And what's best for women and babies is minimally invasive births that are physically, emotionally, and socially supported" (p. 271).
Synopsis: A groundbreaking narrative investigation of childbirth in the age of machines, malpractice, and managed care, Pushed presents the complete picture of maternity care in America. From inside the operating room of a hospital with a 44% Cesarean rate to the living room floor of a woman who gives birth with an illegal midwife, Block exposes a system in which few women have an optimal experience. Pushed surveys the public health impact of routine labor inductions, C-sections, and epidurals, but also examines childbirth as a women’s rights issue: Do women even have the right to choose a normal birth? Is that right being upheld? A wake-up call for our times, Block’s gripping research reveals that while emergency obstetric care is essential, we are overusing medical technology at the expense of maternal and infant health.
You can read an interview with the author here.
Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Author: Ina May Gaskin
Ina May is the reason I want to be a midwife (if I was down to go back to school and start all over).
This book has a lot of information that I found to be so intriguing (and at times frustrating).
Synopsis: What you need to know to have the best birth experience for you. Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.
You can also see her featured in the documentary The Business of Being Born.
The Happiest Baby on the Block
Author: Harvey Karp
I like this book because I feel like it's really rooted in attachment parenting. That's what I imagine working best for me and my family but I'm sure we will personalize our style until we figure out what works. I really resonated with the reasoning behind WHY what he suggests works. Babe isn't here yet, so I can't confirm or deny these practices. But if there's one thing I DO know about babies, it's that they love that bounce & rock move.
Synopsis: In perhaps the most important parenting book of the decade, Dr. Harvey Karp reveals an extraordinary treasure sought by parents for centuries—an automatic “off-switch” for their baby’s crying.
No wonder pediatricians across the country are praising him and thousands of Los Angeles parents, from working moms to superstars like Madonna and Pierce Brosnan, have turned to him to learn the secrets for making babies happy.
On Becoming Babywise (1 & 2)
Author: Gary Ezzo
OH, Babywise..... I find it really sad that this is one of THE MOST popular baby books out there. I'll be honest, I read this book with the intention of backing up my hatred for the concepts taught in it. Although it wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, I still wouldn't follow a lot of the advice in it. My recommendation: If you're going to read this, PLEASE read something else too. And trust your mommy instincts, because if it feels wrong, it probably is.
Synopsis: On Becoming Babywise is more than an infant-management concept. It is a mindset for successful parenthood. It can help any parent develop a plan that meets both the needs of a new baby and of the entire family. These principles have worked for millions of parents and, when applied with common sense to your unique situation, can work wonderfully for you too! Recommended by doctors across the country.
These thoughts on Babywise are a good representation of the issues I have with the suggestions the author makes.
What Your Pediatrician Doesn't Know Can Hurt Your Child
Author: Susan Markel
AS many of you know, I'm a huge proponent of the "natural" lifestyle. If that's something you're interested in, I highly recommend you read this book. If that's not something at the top of your priority list, I still highly recommend you read this book!
Synopsis: This new work, What Your Pediatrician Doesn't Know Can Hurt Your Child, combines the latest research with solid advice from a pediatrician who dares to defy her rote education and big-industry-supported dogma and seek out parent- and child-centered choices in all aspects of child care. As a mother and a pediatrician with more than 30 years' experience, Dr. Markel has come to find that less intervention in the natural processes generally brings superior outcomes.
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Children's Vaccinations
Author: Dr. Stephanie Cave
Yep, touching on this hot topic. I think this book is a an AMAZING & unbiased resource on the benefits and risks (because they do exist) of childhood vaccinations. She does a great job of breaking down the vaccines AND the illnesses they work to prevent. She also provides an alternative schedule and backs up her claims as to why this may be a better option than the current CDC recommended schedule.
Review: A MUST READ... An important resource that respects parents' intelligence and encourages them to be equal partners with doctors in deciding which vaccines their children should get and when they should get them. --Barbara Loe Fisher
She also has a clinic working to cure autistic children with natural remedies & I kind of want to be her.
The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding
Authors: Diane Wiessinger, Diana West, & Teresa Pitman
Whoo-hoo breastfeeding! I'm still reading this and I'm sure I'll reference it a number of times throughout our breastfeeding journey. It's a great resource & I'm glad to have it! This is the only one of these books I actually own. If you're considering breastfeeding (which I think you should be!) I'd for sure pick up a copy of this bad boy.
Synopsis: It’s no secret that breastfeeding is the normal, healthy way to nourish and nurture your baby. Dedicated to supporting nursing and expectant mothers, the internationally respected La Leche League has set the standard for educating and empowering mothers in this natural art for generations. Mothers bringing babies into a new world want sustainable, healthy, positive ways to help their children blossom and thrive. There is no better beginning for your baby than the womanly art of breastfeeding.
Beyond the Sling
Author: Mayim Bialik, PhD
I've already said I'm a fan of attachment parenting. For those who aren't familiar with it, this book is a great place to start. I feel like Gary Ezzo of Babywise would wince at some of these concepts. That kind of makes me love them more. Although I found it to be a bit superficial because I'm already invested in the idea of attachment parenting, I still thought it was a great book. What I liked most was learning how to address other people's "concerns" and opinions about the parenting choices I'll make. That's a necessary skill in today's world where everyone thinks they have a say!
Synopsis: Without the pretense and luxuries typical of so many Hollywood actors and parents, Mayim describes the beauty, simplicity, and purposefulness of Attachment Parenting, and how it’s become the guiding principle for her family. Much more than a simple how-to parenting guide, Beyond the Sling shows us that the core principles underlying Attachment Parenting are universal and can be appreciated no matter how you decide to raise your child.
All that being said, I know there will be times when everything I've learned goes out the window. But I also know that, because of the work and time I've invested, I feel empowered to make the best decisions I can for parenting this sweet little babe.
Happy Reading!
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