Pregnancy Books and Apps

Okay, so I remember the joy of finding out I was pregnant and then the overwhelming feeling of, "Now what?" There are so many books on the market, and, if you have an excited mother like I do, you will probably get at least 8 of them. Let me tell you, there are only 2, maybe 3, books that you really should have early in your pregnancy.

Expecting 411

When I was 12 weeks pregnant, a friend gave me this book. She told me she found it easier to read, and it set her mind at ease more than any other pregnancy book she had read.

Pretty soon I learned why she said that, and I completely agree. For starters, this book is written by two doctors, an OB/GYN and a pediatrician. Both of them are moms, too. They give answers from both a doctor's point of view and a woman's point of view. In fact, when I went to my own OB/GYN, I felt more at ease because I already knew what to expect. When I needed reassurance about a question, my doctor often reiterated something already stated in the book. (Note: I never told him I read about it first, though. Doctors don't really like hearing that.)

Baby Bargains

This book is published by the same printing press as Expecting 411 and is written by the same authors of Bridal Bargains. When I was planning my wedding, that was an invaluable resource. Baby Bargains is a great follow-up! There are tips on saving money on everything for baby and for mom, too. Check out the chapter on maternity & nursing when you're ready to go clothes shopping!

What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting

This book is optional. When I was pregnant, I was obsessed with the food I was ingesting. I wasn't at first, but, after reading about all of the things I couldn't eat, I just wanted to know what I could and should eat. That is when I found What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting to be particularly helpful. There is a page that highlights healthy snack alternatives, which is great while you're on vacation or at work.

There are 2 more books I think you should get around the 8th month of pregnancy, but I'll get to that in another post.

I know you're probably thinking, "Wait! That's it?! What about What to Expect When You're Expecting?" I have it, but I ended up not reading it very much once I got Expecting 411.

Finally...Apps! 

Okay, so instead of reading the book What to Expect When You're Expecting, I used the What to Expect Pregnancy Tracker App. It had weekly descriptions of what's going with you and baby, and it was certainly easier to carry around than the book. I know for sure it is available on Android phones, but I'm not sure about iPhones.

If it isn't, Pregnancy - Sprout - Lite for the iPhone/iPod touch & iPad is great, too! It has weekly descriptions, a weight tracker, a kick counter, and a contraction counter. I loved using this App, especially when I wasn't sure whether or not baby was kicking enough towards the end of my pregnancy.

Oh, I forgot to mention...both Apps are available for FREE! Huzzah!