A groundbreaking guide to pregnancy: empowers women with the facts and allows them to make their own decisions. FREAKANOMICS meets WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING. Award-winning Emily Oster debunks myths about pregnancy to empower women while they're expecting. Pregnant women are often treated as if they were children, given long lists of items to avoid - alcohol, caffeine, sushi - without any real explanation from their doctors about why. They hear frightening and contradictory myths about everything from weight gain to sleeping on your back to bed rest from friends and pregnancy books. In EXPECTING BETTER, Oster shows that the information given to pregnant women is sometimes wrong and almost always oversimplified. EXPECTING BETTER overturns standard recommendations for alcohol, caffeine, sushi, bed rest and induction, while putting in context the blanket guidelines for fetal testing, weight gain, risks of pregnancy over the age of 35, and nausea, among others. Oster offers the real-world advice one would never get at the doctor's office. Knowing that the health of your baby is paramount, readers can know more and worry less. Having the numbers is a tremendous relief - and so is the occasional glass of wine.

There comes a time in every new mother's life when she finds herself staring at her screaming, smelly "bundle of joy" and wishing someone had told her that her house would reek of vomit, or that she shouldn't buy the cute onesies with a thousand impossible buttons, or that she might cry more than the baby. Best-selling author Dawn Dais, mother of two tiny terrors, is convinced that there is a reason for this lack of preparedness. She believes that a vast conspiracy exists to hide the horrific truth about parenting from doe-eyed expectant mothers who might otherwise abandon their babies in hospitals and run for it. Eschewing the adorableness that oozes out of other parenting books, Dais offers real advice from real moms-along with hilarious anecdotes, clever tips, and the genuine encouragement every mom needs in order to survive the first year of parenthood. Revised and updated with several new chapters, including new advice for single moms, tips on what to do when you inevitable mess up, and a reassuring update on Dais' own family (it really does get easier, it turns out). The Sh!t No One Tells You is a must-have companion for every new mother's sleepless nights and poop-filled days. In this new and revised edition, Dais brings her trademark brand of no-nonsense parenting advice up to the present.

Welcome to the fully-updated and revised 6th edition of The Wonder Weeks-with 30% new material. Fussy at five weeks. Cranky at 19-weeks. Clingy at a year. The baby must be approaching a leap; a time during which new skills are mastered, discoveries are made and perceptions evolve. For new parents, being able to anticipate predictable fussy phases-and the magic that follows-is a game-changer, courtesy of The Wonder Weeks. With more than two million copies sold worldwide, this award-winning guide is based on ground-breaking behavioural research that explains how babies experience ten magical "leaps" during the first 20 months of life. It reassures parents that fussiness, regression and wakeful nights are necessary for growth and won't last forever.

In the newest edition of my Baby & Child Care Handbook, Marina Petropulos has added Everything You Need To Know About Pregnancy.

Pregnancy was always a part of the book, but recently there has been a great increase worldwide of various infections during pregnancy. Not only is a woman's system more than twenty per cent more vulnerable during pregnancy, but bacteria, viruses, parasites and toxins found in food are a problem. For example, even some cheeses that you enjoy will have to be avoided, and your loved cat may need to be ostracised because of the danger of transmitting toxoplasmosis infection. You will find a vast updated amount of important information that will hopefully protect the amazing system of life developing within you. You will also be updated on the latest medical information regarding the prevention of food allergies; by starting to feed your baby a variety of solids from four months. Even the belief that eggs, peanut and other problematic foods should not be given to the young, has been debunked.

These, and many other important medical breakthroughs, mean that updated information is essential today.

As the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, pregnancy and maternity services underwent a rapid transformation in an attempt to deal with transmission of the virus and the growing pressure on healthcare services. In a climate of fear, and with many unknowns about the virus and the risks to pregnant women and their babies, restrictions and hastily implemented policies often overrode years of work to improve maternity care, with devastating consequences for new families. Covid Babies: how pandemic health measures undermined pregnancy, birth and early parenting considers how policies put in place to protect us from the immediate threat of the virus ultimately had the unintended consequence of harming many who needed maternity and postnatal care. It highlights how hard-won gains, even when supported by overwhelming evidence, can be lost at the drop of a hat in a crisis. By learning the lessons of the pandemic - through close examination of the evidence base that is now emerging - Amy Brown shows how we can begin to move forward and unravel what has gone wrong. This is no easy task when our health services continue to face significant challenges, but one that is necessary to ensure the health and wellbeing of our new families and those who care for them.

In Breastfeeding made Easy renowned paediatrician and father-of-three Carlos Gonzalez, author of Kiss Me! How to raise your children with love and My Child Won't Eat!, brings his warmth and positivity to a subject close to his heart: breastfeeding. In his characteristic friendly style he explains how breastfeeding is a woman's right, as an integral part of her normal sexual and reproductive life. With this clear perspective he carefully explains how breastfeeding works, and gently debunks many of the myths that still surround breastfeeding, while also offering sound practical suggestions that will empower mothers to find the answers to questions they have and seek out appropriate help. The author's own experience of supporting breastfeeding mothers and their babies, coupled with his scientific understanding of human lactation, are combined in a book that is an accessible, confidence-inspiring companion for every breastfeeding mother.

Expert advice for caring for babies and toddlers! From learning how to change a dirty diaper to pleasing a picky eater, it can sometimes be difficult to navigate parenthood--especially if you're new to it all. Featuring advice from top childcare experts, The Only Baby Book You'll Ever Need provides you with answers to every parenting question that crosses your mind! Each chapter teaches you all about the different stages of development and how you can raise a healthy and happy child. This indispensible guide also offers easy-to-understand instructions and parent-tested strategies on: Choosing a pediatrician Babyproofing your home Figuring out your baby's sleep patterns Potty-training your toddler Pleasing a picky eater With parenting advice for both babies and toddlers, this one-stop resource includes only the most important tips and advice so that you are truly prepared for the years ahead.

Making a baby through love and science? Get the guidance you need to navigate the conception process with confidence and ease. "[A] a well-researched, deeply comprehensive (and readable!) guide to building a queer family in a way that works for you." -Emily Oster, author of Expecting Better The only evidence-based, up-to-date fertility guide for queer people from an experienced health care provider, this is also the first to be transgender inclusive and body-positive. Here, queer prospective parents will find sound advice for navigating complex medical, social and financial decisions. Trusted fertility midwife Kristin Kali walks you through the baby-making process: creating a timeline; fertile health for every body; preconception tests; identifying ovulation; donors, gamete banks, and surrogacy; methods of insemination including IUI, IVF and reciprocal IVF; navigating early pregnancy; and preparing for infant feeding, including lactation induction for trans women and nongestational parents. This book is for all LGBTQ+ readers interested in creating family through pregnancy: anyone who identifies as queer, lesbians, gay men, bisexual people, trans and nonbinary people, couples, single parents by choice, poly families, and coparents. It's an antidote to a culture and medical system that all too often centers heterosexual couples experiencing infertility while overlooking our unique needs. It also contains sidebars with guidance for reproductive healthcare professionals. "This life-changing book is equal parts practical handbook and sensitively written resource. Highly recommended!" -Toni Weschler, MPH, author of Taking Charge of Your Fertility

From the depression, nausea and constant burping of the first trimester, to the sciatica, sleeplessness and anxiety of the last; the elation and terror of early motherhood right through to the end of breastfeeding and her child's first day at nursery - these poems describe one woman's journey to becoming a mother. This initiation is one of the most common human experiences, but also shockingly unique and insular. Poems Burping on the Tube, Candy Crush Guy and Super-mum and Me, tell humorous stories about Grace's alien new reality, shining light on aspects of pregnancy and motherhood far from the glossy, shimmering images on social media. Mostly written in lockdown, I Have No Idea What I'm Doing also highlights what life at home was like for new mothers. Grace has always struggled with anxiety and depression and this collection addresses mental health and how it is affected by hormonal fluctuations. Much like life and motherhood, most of the poetic structures are unpredictable and their rhythm bumpy and non-conformist. These poems dive deep into raw human experience and the sheer ferocity of motherhood. With beautiful monoprint illustrations from animator and artist Allegra Pilkington, this book is both a gift and collector's item.

This beautiful journal begins with a section on Preparing for Pregnancy, full of advice on healthy eating and fitness. In Care and Classes, there is space to record important contact details, hospital visits and antenatal classes, while Preparing for Baby encourages parents to be to jot down baby names and compile lists of essential equipment and baby clothes. Next, a week-by-week diary, divided into trimesters, allows expectant mothers to record every precious moment of the magical experience of pregnancy, from the first sight of baby on a scan and the thrill of the first kick to any unusual food cravings. Useful tips on everything from food cravings to swollen ankles accompany each weekly entry. Labour and Birth includes pointers on creating a birth plan and packing a hospital bag as well as plenty of space for an in-depth record of labour and details of the new arrival. This beautiful and comprehensive journal is a joy to complete and will become a lovely keepsake full of precious memories for parents and baby alike.

Recent studies into how our genes are turned on and off have raised many questions about our lifestyle choices, but no market has more questions than women contemplating pregnancy. Very few doctors have the answers because the study of preconception is so new. Often doctors have as many questions as their patients. This book from a leading expert in the field is the first and only book that will answer them. It gives women a step-by-step plan that lays the groundwork not just for an easy pregnancy and a healthy baby, but for the child's health throughout the his/her entire life. As Dr. Lu shows us, the impact of being healthy and free of toxins at the time of conception can be huge both for the mother and for her baby. His plan shows us how we can help prevent life-threatening conditions like pregnancy-related high blood pressure (preeclampsia) and gestational diabetes, as well as how to minimize the likelihood of many childhood conditions from allergies to ADHD. It may even help prevent the child from developing illnesses like cancer later in life.

The Politics of Breastfeeding, first published in 1988, remains a hugely important book. It exposes infant feeding as one of the most important global public health issues of our time, and describes how big business and vested interests influence the intimate relationship between mothers and their babies to the detriment of all, rich or poor, in the West or in the developing world. In Why the Politics of Breastfeeding Matter, the central ideas of The Politics of Breastfeeding are distilled into a concise form, making it the perfect introduction to understanding the complex forces that govern what many think of as a simple choice to breastfeed or not.

A landmark book on the womb - its history, its present and the possibilities for its future - by the bestselling author of Hard Pushed: A Midwife's Story 'It will change the way you think about bodies forever' Rachel Clarke, author of Dear Life 'A phenomenal book' Elinor Cleghorn, author of Unwell Women 'Sharp and political, learned and wise' Katherine May, author of Wintering The womb is the most miraculous organ in the body - with the power to bring life or cause death; to yield joy or pain - yet most of us know almost nothing about it. In this book, midwife and bestselling author Leah Hazard sets out on a journey to explore the rich past, complex present and dynamic future of the uterus. She speaks to the Californian doctor who believes women deserve a period-free life; walks in the footsteps of the Scottish woman whose Caesarean section changed childbirth forever; uncovers America's long history of forced and coercive sterilisation; observes uterine transplant surgery in Sweden and takes a very personal dive into the world of 'womb wellness'. Written with wisdom, warmth and nuance, and combining the author's years of experience as a midwife with medical history, scientific discovery and journalistic inquiry, Womb is an extraordinary exploration of a woefully under-researched and misunderstood organ. Above all, the book reveals that the uterus is more than the sum of its biological parts: it influences all our lives in the twenty-first century, and how we celebrate, medicate and legislate the womb might yet control where we go from here.

From conception to age two, a child's body develops at superspeed, with 60 percent of caloric intake going straight to brain development-so good nutrition is essential. First Bites connects nutrition and development with flavourful, healthy food. Part One examines the significance of the first 1,000 days, surveying key nutrients and milestones. Discover what to keep on hand, learn how to start solids, avoid creating a picky eater and spot changes in your baby's digestion. Part Two offers more than 60 easy recipes-free of added sugars, dairy and gluten-that strategically introduce your child to 100 ingredients by age two. From an Apricot Turmeric Bowl and Beet Chips to Quinoa Cornbread and Zucchini Fritters, these aren't your grandma's recipes. They taste great and will help you make good nutrition decisions and optimise time and quality while feeding your little one.

Practical, hands-on information for fathers-to-be Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies is packed with practical, straightforward information for fathers-to-be, covering all of the logistical, physical, and emotional aspects of pregnancy from a dad's unique point of view. When it comes to pregnancy, dads' roles have changed so much in the past few decades that expectant fathers don't always know where to turn to for guidance and advice on this milestone event. Now they do! Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies covers: What to expect at doctor's visits Tips for being a supportive partner during pregnancy and preparing for fatherhood Advice on birth plans, labour and delivery, and the first days and weeks of a baby's life Packed with helpful information on the typical struggles and feelings expectant fathers face, Dad's Guide to Pregnancy For Dummies gives first-time fathers and veteran dads alike a wealth of useful information.

Even if you don't know a Sun sign from a stop sign, this guide to parenting by the stars will show you how to better understand and nurture your baby from newborn to toddler. Using the basic tools in "Baby Star Signs", you'll discover how your baby's sign accounts for his or her behavior. Instead of worrying about your baby's quirks - and your parenting skills! - you'll respond better to his needs, know his strengths and weaknesses, and help him grow into the unique, loving child he is.Let the zodiac show you why: at bedtime - Pisces loves to be tucked in tightly, while Leo demands bedtime kisses from the whole family; at mealtime - Virgo prefers small morsels to big meals, while Sagittarius loves new tastes and flavors; during playtime - Taurus thrives in small groups of children, while Scorpio is slow to make new friends; to learn effectively - Gemini constantly asks questions, while Capricorn goes by the book; when setting limits - Libra prefers negotiation, while Aries requires discipline doused with humor; and, for comfort - Cancer likes lots of soothing hugs, while Aquarius would rather have a story.

Let training commence Attention! In your hand is an indispensable pocket-sized training manual for new dads. Written by ex-Commando and father of three Neil Sinclair, this no-nonsense guide will teach you everything you need to know to prepare for your biggest mission yet: parenthood. With step-by-step advice and Commando Dad Top Tips, this book will ensure you're ready to parent with military precision. Learn how to: Prepare base camp for your baby trooper's arrival Survive the first 24 hours Establish feeding and sleeping routines Pack a survival kit for everything from light missions to long-term deployments Transport the troops successfully on manoeuvres Treat ailments and injuries with basic first-aid training Keep base camp tidy and square away tasks along the way Maintain morale in the ranks And much, much more. Designed to be used in the field from birth to 12 months, this resource provides the foundation to all the practical skills needed to become the ultimate protector to your newest trooper. As used by Prince William himself, this is the go-to training manual for fatherhood recruits!

Birth without Violence revolutionised the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant's point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body? Frederick Leboyer's Birth Without Violence is one of the milestones in the history of humanizing childbirth. It was the first book to express what mothers have always known: babies are born complete human beings with the ability to experience a full range of emotions. This Pinter & Martin edition is the definitive edition, published exactly how the author intended it.

From the author of Expecting Better and The Family Firm, an economist's guide to the early years of parenting. "Both refreshing and useful. With so many parenting theories driving us all a bit batty, this is the type of book that we need to help calm things down." -LA Times "The book is jampacked with information, but it's also a delightful read because Oster is such a good writer." -NPR With Expecting Better, award-winning economist Emily Oster spotted a need in the pregnancy market for advice that gave women the information they needed to make the best decision for their own pregnancies. By digging into the data, Oster found that much of the conventional pregnancy wisdom was wrong. In Cribsheet, she now tackles an even greater challenge: decision-making in the early years of parenting. As any new parent knows, there is an abundance of often-conflicting advice hurled at you from doctors, family, friends, and strangers on the internet. From the earliest days, parents get the message that they must make certain choices around feeding, sleep, and schedule or all will be lost. There's a rule-or three-for everything. But the benefits of these choices can be overstated, and the trade-offs can be profound. How do you make your own best decision? Armed with the data, Oster finds that the conventional wisdom doesn't always hold up. She debunks myths around breastfeeding (not a panacea), sleep training (not so bad!), potty training (wait until they're ready or possibly bribe with M&Ms), language acquisition (early talkers aren't necessarily geniuses), and many other topics. She also shows parents how to think through freighted questions like if and how to go back to work, how to think about toddler discipline, and how to have a relationship and parent at the same time. Economics is the science of decision-making, and Cribsheet is a thinking parent's guide to the chaos and frequent misinformation of the early years. Emily Oster is a trained expert-and mom of two-who can empower us to make better, less fraught decisions-and stay sane in the years before preschool.