Top Books To Read When You're Pregnant

The moment you find out you are pregnant, whether planned or not, is the same exact moment your life changes. Many of my friends had already experienced this beautiful gift by the time it was unexpectedly my turn to pee on the stick. Prior, I would be on the phone with them on numerous occasions only to hear a crying baby in the background, or our conversation rudely interrupted with an "Ugh, what did you eat?" statement while she changed the 100th diaper of the day. As much as they talked and talked about the many events that filled their day, I could never really fathom the true concept of motherhood, much less the concept of being pregnant.

Soon after the initial shock, I scheduled an appointment and before I stepped foot into the facility I was already on Google looking up "signs of pregnancy". This was the first of many soon to be pregnancy searches. I went through about 10 pages of searches and mentally noted the signs I had and the signs I didn't. I'm sure many moms can relate to the overload of information available. I was dizzy from all the facts and once my appointment had arrived I knew more about my "condition" than the doctor. This however, did not stop me from asking 20 questions about the "right" things to do and how to avoid morning sickness. Towards the end of my first trimester, I had exhausted the world wide web and knew everything from nipple tenderness and constipation to mucus plug and milk leakage. Often horrified with every new wave of knowledge I was gaining, I was beginning to panic about the actual childbirth, being a good mom, breast feeding, stretch marks and ever getting my pre pregnancy body back. I confided some fears to my doctor and she would attempt to soothe it away by coolly stating "It will all be worth it in the end." Not exactly the answer I wanted to hear. I knew all this already but that was not the comfort I needed. I felt like she couldn't possibly understand what I was going through. She couldn't possibly understand what it was like to be pregnant, I didn't care if she had 3 children, I was different! My friends had somehow magically forgotten the fact that they were once pregnant and seldom had time to provide me 100% attention I needed. The internet provided less comfort with such information being conveyed with a tone of calmness, serenity and nonchalance. So it was no surprise that after extensive research of all the medical terms and conditions your body goes through during pregnancy, I needed some much appreciated light reading that can alleviate my mind of all the insanity.

This is when I came across a few books that made pregnancy just a little bit funny during a time when swollen feet and waddling hurt my feelings. The following is a small list I put together that masked no truth, added honesty with a little funny sarcasm and made me feel like I was not alone.

Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth

Probably the best book I read during my pregnancy. Jenny McCarthy really surprised me with this one. She definitely gets a thumbs up for her unique writing and upmost honesty. You never found truth the way she tells it. She had me laughing out loud in the waiting area at the doctor's office. Her crude humor often had me in tears as I tried to compose myself in public. She talks about the mood swings, the gassiness and all the things in between. Things that only fellow mom to be's can understand. I felt like I was part of a club, the Belly Club. Although it was short and easy to very, I enjoyed every sentenced and welcomed the giggles. Highly Recommend.

What to Expect When You're Expecting

This book by Heidi Murkoff and Sharon Mazel was given to me at my baby shower. Everyone knows this book and it was something I was looking forward to reading. It was thick (which I liked) and had questions from parents to be. I enjoyed reading the answers and having the chapters laid out by weeks so that moms could read what was happening during their specific week. I frequently skipped many chapters ahead to see the things to look forward too. Yes, I was a chapter skipper and I'm not ashamed! It was very informative and useful and I think every new mom to be should read it. I also read What to Expect the First Year and like the prior one it's also a must have for moms.

The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy

Erika Lenkert tackles some of those questions that pregnant women have like "What to pack in my hospital bag". She gives some of her own stories along the chapters which gives the book a "real" feel. She is definitely truthful in describing how the first few months will be of pregnancy. It was a different layout than What to Expect When You're Expecting where the chapters do not go by weeks but by topics. I enjoyed having a variety of literature available to me and this was one that was unlike the two prior books I had read.

Pregnancy can be a rough time for many. Rarely do some women have the perfect pregnancy which consist of little baby weight after birth, no morning sickness, no swollen duck feet, no flatulence, perfect skin, short labor and normal fingers (compared to the sausage looking things attached to the end of our arms). For the rest of us? In the words of my delicate obstetrician, "It will all be worth it in the end.."