BOOKS,MAGAZINES, AND GREAT CATALOGS

 

Books

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING By Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N.:

Those who call this book "The Pregnant Woman's Bible" are right on the money. From the day you find out you are pregnant to month's after you deliver, this book is chock full of use full information. When I was three months pregnant with my first child, my sister and I bought my first copy. Being a first time mom, single, but engaged at the time, and being young, I had not a clue what to expect. I didn't even know that you were suppose to see a specialist at 8 weeks after conception or at all. My finance and I had no clue what we were getting into and what we were suppose to do. I quickly learned that OB's are great to talk to when you have a concern but being a first time mom you run into more than a handful of concerns and worries and OB's aren't in their office 24hrs a day. With What To Expect I found that if I had a concern that I needed to know the answer to, all I had to do was look in the index and I'd find the answer or look in the information for the month I was in. Most times I found what I was looking for and found it was nothing to be concerned about at all, infact it was quiet normal. Although I wouldn't give up good old fashion question asking for your OB, I did find this book a great resource of information for those times when I had no idea the pain in my side was just ligaments stretching and not labor, what to do when I had a cold or what symptoms to expect with each month of pregnancy. I realized that OB's have limited time and can't explain everything to expect each month to a patient and I found what my OB didn't explain, the book did. It also has common questions and concerns from real people with easy to understand answers. This book is basically presented in a month by month section with each month giving a picture of what you may look like, symptoms you may go through, what to expect at this months doctor's appointment and answers to questions and concerns for pregnancy. The back of the book gives examples of what to do if you happen to come down sick with something or you are diagnosed with something. It also has a great index in the back for a specific topic you are looking for. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant. You can find the book at most books stores and they are usually in paperback and run around $11 to $12. I'm still using mine for my second pregnancy since each pregnancy is different and comes with different concerns and questions. Not to mention its hard to remember month by month what went on with the first pregnancy. The book is well worth the money.

THE WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING PREGNANCY ORGANIZER:

HAVING YOUR BABY By Gill Thorn:

MOSBY'S PERFECT PREGNANCY: By June Thompson:

BABY TIPS FOR NEW MOM'S BY:Jeanne Murphy:

I found this book in the parenting isle in a bookstore while waiting for my husband to choose a book. Its kind of a small set of books ranging from the first four months, nine to twelve months and Baby Tips For New Dads Baby's First Year. It's a great set of books written by a real mom. Its full of funny cute little tips from one mom to another and all of them are very useful such as "Don't wake your baby to change a diaper unless she has a bowel movement and she really needs it. (Good diapers are designed to handle these situations and last for hours)." And "Feed baby half of what she normally drinks. Then stop, change and burp her (even if it means waking her up). After that, finish the feeding. This way, she won't fall asleep before she is finished eating and she will be more likely to enjoy a longer rest." They're great to add to any collection and offer $25 in coupons inside off of strollers, car seats and other things.


Magazines



PARENTS: A magazine sent out monthly full of information for pregnant women up to parents of preteens. I've received this magazine for three years and I love every issue of it. The magazine offers a section for parents to send adorable pictures of their children along with comments, a section for parents to send in comments and questions and have them answered and published for other parents going through the same thing to see. It has a section with ideas for children of different ages including arts and crafts, up to date medical articles on pregnancy, infants and children, articles on your baby and child's nutrition, health and behavior. It also offers coupons here and there and delicious, easy recipes that I have made at home and find wonderful and easy. It also offers money saving tips and best buys on infant and child products. This magazine also offers much more and is different each month. I would give it five out of five stars and recommend it to any couple trying for their first baby and parents of children up to 12. If you would like a free preview of the magazine check out your local OB's office. They are sure to have a copy of Parents or Parents Expecting. There should be a card in there for you to take with you if you'd like to subscribe. Usually you can get 12 issues for some were around $8-10 but on news stands they cost more. If you do not find a card you can always write to Parents to order a years worth of issues at:

Parents
P.O. Box 3055
Harlan, IA 51593-2119

Ask them to send you the issues and be billed later. Its as easy as 123J If all else fails e-mail me at MothersToBe@yahoo.com with your mailing address and I might be able to send you a subscription card for Parents.


AMERICAN BABY: To be honest I haven't checked this magazine out much but from what I understand it is free for Expectant Parents. The magazine claims each issue is packed with valuable articles and features for new and expectant moms and dads. It also has info on what to eat when you're eating for two, great ways to decorate your nursery, getting to know your newborn, easy ways to deal with breastfeeding, money saving coupons and advice, suggestions and ideas on coping with pregnancy and your new baby. Most OB's offices also carry this magazine incase you want to get a subscription card but if not all you need to do is send a letter with your expectant date, whether this is your first child, your name, address, city/state/zip, signature, date and a note saying I would like to be sent a free subscription to American Baby. Send it to:

American Baby
P.O. Box 53093
Boulder, CO 80323-3093

AND THEY ADVERTISE THAT IT IS FREE TO EXPECTNANT MOTHERS!

BABYTALK: I have yet to check this magazine out yet but will be soon. From what I understand it just specializes in baby and child information and not prenatal information. This is another magazine that should be in you OB's office. From what I understand a subscription is free just for being a expecting parent or new parent. Unfortunately I believe you must send in one of their cards for the magazine to get this free offer but if you are interested in the magazine feel free to take one from a magazine in your OB's office. After all that's what they are there forJ

PARENTING: I've been spoiled by all the info in Parent's magazine so this is yet another magazine I have yet to check out. From what I have seen with the free copy I received from my OB, this magazine offers both prenatal up to preteen information. From what I understand its $12 a issue. This is yet another magazine you should be able to find in your OB's waiting roomJ

LAMAZE AND LAMAZE FAMILY: The Official magazine of Lamaze International since 1952. I received a free copy of Lamaze with both of my pregnancies from my OB. I found this magazine to be a wonderful source of information. It specializes in pregnancy, labor, birth and delivery. Unfortunately Lamaze can only be found in your OB's office and given to you as a free sample. Lamaze does have a magazine called Lamaze Family which is just as great and covers more information for after your child is born. You can receive a years subscription, 6 issues, for free. All you need to do is take a subscription card from a Lamaze magazine at your OB's office, fill it out and send it inJ


GREAT CATALOGS



ONE STEP AHEAD: I highly recommend this catalog to those who are pregnant or are parents. The catalog offers home safety items, toys, items for the nursery, meal time, bath time, potty training, maternity, auto safety and travel. I personally buy from this catalog and have found that the items are of good quality and most you can't find in stores. I recently bought a heart beat monitor for $29 were you can hear the baby kick, move and you can hear the heart beat in the third trimester. I haven't been able to find this item anywhere else and just knowing the baby is ok makes me feel so much better. The catalog is free and comes once every few months. The prices are also reasonable for most items. To order the magazine call 1-800-274-8440 or go to
www.onestepahead.com .

THE RIGHT START: Yet another wonderful catalog I would highly recommend. Pretty much the same as One Step Ahead but with more items and you might find better prices. The catalog is also free and comes once every few months. You can go to
www.rightstart.com to order the catalog or find a store near you. There are stores in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and coming soon in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Washington D.C.

JCPENNY MATERNITY COLLECTION: I haven't yet checked this catalog out but I have a strong feeling that since it's JC Penny, the clothes aren't going to be cheap. If you'd like to order their free catalog you can call 1-800-222-6161 and ask for TA 007-0607 A or go to
jcpenny.com

MOTHERWEAR: A catalog for nursing mothers that also includes baby clothes. I received a free catalog from my OB and flipped through it. The catalog offers great fashions for women who are breastfeeding but unfortunately like most clothes catalogs I have seen, the prices are ridiculously high. $60 for a denim button up dress and $30 for a nursing bra, and $30 for a baby jumper. The prices on the nursing pump maybe be the only thing worth looking at. You can buy both at any local store such as Wal Mart or K Mart for a heck of a lot less. If you are interested in the free catalog go to
www.motherwear.com .

LOCAL EXPECTANT MOTHERS GUIDE: Most cities have their own expectant mother's guide full of ads and coupons from local stores, hospitals and great deals on other things for your pregnancy and baby. It's a must have guide for expectant parents. You can find great deals and stores you never knew were around. Only way to get it I think is to ask your OB if he/she has one they can give you or a place were you can find one. It is free. If you are a expectant mother from St.Louis e-mail me at
Motherstobe@yahoo.com and I can send you to a web site were you can get Expectant Mother's Guide to St.Louis.

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