The Pregnancy Journal by A. Christine Harris, Ph. D.
We found this book to probably be the best gift item for the newly expectant mom. It basically covers what happens with your baby on a daily basis with accompanying interesting tidbits of information and health info for mom. It allows you to put the dates, if you know your due date, and has sections for comments along the way. We found this an interesting read.
Free Stuff for Baby! By Sue M. Hannah
It is pretty costly to raise a child, so why not start with the definitive guide to all things free. The book is updated pretty much on an annual basis and covers freebies one can get on the net, in the mail and in stores. It also lists a variety of web resources for parents and parent support groups.
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Pregnancy and Childbirth by Michele Isaacs Gliksman, M.D. with Theresa Foy DiGeronimo
This book couldn't put baby info any simpler. It is an easy and pleasant read. One of my favorite sections- the end of each chapter includes "The Least You Need to Know". It's a great book for someone who really is not an avid reader and needs the basic facts.
The BabyCenter Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Birth by Linda Murray, Leah Hennen, Jim Scott and the BabyCenter Editorial Team
Here is one of my favorite all-encompassing guides, but this one is a week-by-week guide. It has 610 pages, but if you take it in week-by-week it doesn't seem so bad. It also covers labor and birth and recovering from childbirth.
Pregnancy Do's and Don'ts by Elisabeth Aron, M.D.
One simple book that will answer a pregnant woman's questions about everything imaginable related to dos and don'ts. It is well written and to the point, especially if you are looking for quick answers when you are panicked because you just ate a piece of tuna.
The Pregnancy Book by William Sears, M.D. and Martha Sears, R.N.
This book covers everything you need to know on a month-by-month basis related to your pregnancy. It is well written and organized. We warn you, it is a 430-page whopper, but it has it all and is written by two of the leading baby experts.
Healthy Eating During Pregnancy by W. Allan Walker, M.D. with Courtney Humphries
There are many books out there on nutrition but this one is written mostly by a man who is a Professor of Pediatrics and Director of the Division of Nutrition for Harvard Medical School. He's got to know his stuff! This book covers it all from how to prepare your body for pregnancy, dietary supplements and some really yummy healthy recipes.
The Birth That's Right for You by Amen Ness, M.D., Lisa Gould Rubin, CD, CCE and Jackie Frederick-Berner
This book is completely devoted to giving birth. We would imagine that is a scary thought for first-time expectant moms. It covers it all including birthing options, information on medication and an extensive section on Cesarean delivery.
Thepurplebook baby by Hillary Mendelsohn
Thepurplebook baby is the guide for everything related to baby and maternity online shopping. Web sites do not make it into this book unless they can provide secure transactions and have a customer service number. Each Web site comes with a brief review, plus useful information including relative price range of items and whether they offer free shipping.
Crib Notes by Amy Maniatis and Elizabeth Weil
We found this book fascinating. We think it is interesting for non-expecting people as well as those expecting. Each page is full of useful, as well as trivial information including classic lullaby lyrics and major newborn reflexes. We had a hard time putting this one down.
