What to Read When You're Expecting

Practical

Another staple any expectant woman's bookshelf should not be without is a sensible, no-nonsense guide to the journey on which she is about to embark. After all, as helpful as it might be for friends to encourage you to find humor in the amount of "stuff" continually being expelled down south, you will likely want to know what the heck that stuff is (and if it's truly supposed to be coming out of you).

Susan Warhus, M.D., an obstetrician based in Scottsdale, Arizona, has written a fabulous book which will answer just these sorts of questions. Countdown to Baby: Answers to the 100 Most Asked Questions about Pregnancy and Childbirth provides straightforward answers to the questions Dr. Warhus most commonly received while caring for her patients. From coping with morning sickness to managing varicose veins, Dr. Warhus reassures soon-to-be moms that their bodies are doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing (even though you may not be so sure).

While you can't store it on your bookshelf, the Internet is a fantastic, easily accessible resource for expecting couples. At BabyZone, parents-to-be will find answers to a variety of questions and concerns about pregnancy, penned by an expert team of doctors, specialists, and authors.

Name Book

One topic parents are sure to discuss for the entirety of the approximately 270 days a woman is pregnant is possible names for the baby. To this end, it's necessary to purchase a book devoted entirely to selecting the child's name. Note: You really want to get this right on the first try. Not only will the Social Security people think you're crazy for changing the name of a three-month-old, your child will probably not be thrilled about it either.

The Perfect Name, by Jeanine Cox, not only provides 20,000 name possibilities, it also provides naming exercises to inspire expectant parents as well as worksheets to ensure organization (there's nothing like coming up with the perfect name, only to forget it the moment you are ready to reveal it to your spouse).