Xiaoniu 小妞

It’s been quite a while since I mentioned a book that I actually finished. I can only wonder why. Hmmm. One book I did manage to read the past few months was What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway. It is pretty much the only book I’ve ever read on pregnancy so I don’t have any why of validating my thoughts, but I think that this is a must read for a couple expecting their first baby. For people that already made it through pregnancy it is a good reference, but not a must read.

The book is designed around each month during the pregnancy. So, instead of Chapter 2 you have Month 2. It starts off with some information about the baby, how the mother might be feeling or physicals changes that might be occurring and then delves into the real meat of the book. Everything is written in question/answer format. A quick question written from the perspective of the mother or father and then a short to very lengthy response.

Things are grouped into the months based on when that particular question might arise. I happened to read the book through to almost the end way before Emelia was born. It gives you a good idea of what to expect. The authors are over inclusive so that they cover most possibilities so there are sections that can be skipped, but just about everything in the book is worth a read.

And as with anything don’t believe everything that you read. This is a reference and it shouldn’t replace discussions with your doctor. We had a few discrepancies, but ended up following what the doctor said. However, more often than not the book was right on the money.

So, for anybody expecting to have kids soon this one book you should get. For me, I’m on to What to Expect The First Year and I’m still trying to wade my way through Three Kingdoms. That is between helping out with the baby and around the house (not this week though) and learning to speak and read/write Chinese.