From the Hips: A Comprehensive, Open-Minded, Uncensored, Totally Honest Guide to Pregnancy, Birth...
Drawing on the experiences of hundreds of real parents and the expertise of doctors, midwives and other birth and baby pros, this indispensable res...
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reviews
Aug 27, 2010
Kelsey
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I know that my reading list makes it look like I'm about to have a baby but I promise you I'm not. Don't start looking for a baby bump for a few years folks. But I've always like to read about pregnancy and parenting, I'm a planner, what can I say? This book had been recommended and it was a good read. Very un-biased and seems to cover just about any topic that might come up - at least in the conception through infancy stages. Doesn't cover everything in great detail though but does have a great
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Aug 07, 2010
Rachel
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A great book for pregnant women as well as those thinking about pregnancy and children, and all it entails. I knew basic things before reading this book, but it really opened my eyes to the all that is involved in getting pregnant, giving birth, and taking care of the baby afterwards. I had heard of things like an amnio, but never connected it to the giant needle in the belly test (shudders at the thought). Now I think I'm more freaked out about the actual labor and recovering after the birth, a
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Jan 22, 2011
Sarah
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I’m not doing a whole lot of reading up on pregnancy/childbirth/parenting/etc before the baby comes because I feel like it kind of leads to freaking out over the magnitude of it all and/or setting preconceived notions of what your personal experience should be like that may not be all that realistic. So this is pretty much the only book I have read, and I’m glad I chose this one as it is very open minded. The two authors have two different mindsets, with one being a little more crunchy and one b
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May 18, 2011
amelia
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This is the first pregnancy related book I read and probably my favorite. The authors are very good about presenting their information without bias and I really liked the comments from "real mothers" on each topic. It doesn't go super in depth into anything, but it's an excellent place to start. My only complaint is that the format they chose (lots of different colors and speech bubbles for the quotes) was a bit visually overwhelming and, I think, made it more difficult to read those s
Apr 17, 2009
Sarah
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This book gives a refreshingly modern perspective on pregnancy, delivery, babies and parenthood. The authors make a good attempt at covering both sides of all issues. The book is excelently crossreferenced and provides significant lists of references to other books and web sites. Because so many topics are covered in the book, none is covered in great depth, so it is good to know that going in. But, I believe it is a fairly comprehensive reference guide and a good place to start for anyone l
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Feb 16, 2010
Ali
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A GREAT book to read while trying to conceive or considering conception. The overview of pregnancy, birth and new born care is an eye opener and the quotes from real parents are great! The authors also summarize a lot of common crossroads parents to be fill face and give resources without advocating any method. Not enough info to be your only pregnancy book, but I love the no guilt "from the hips" attitude.
Feb 23, 2008
Lolakay
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I was really dubious, but gave this one a go anyway. I'm so glad I did. I was already hooked when I got to the list of things you _actually_ need to buy for a new baby (filtering out all the crap you can do without), and then I was in love when I realized one of the authors was Rebecca Odes, a co-founder of gURL.com. This was also the first book I found with a decent discussion of circumcision-- openly admitting that views are shaped by politics, culture, and inexplicable feelings about 'the w
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Jan 24, 2012
Hope
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I far prefer this to What to Expect... The tone is down-to-earth, with lots of quote from "Anonymom" and the two authors, which basically tell you that every woman's pregnancy is different. That is comforting. The advice is pretty reasonable and doesn't make me feel like I have to be perfect, or just like anyone else in my feelings or behaviors.
Apr 14, 2010
I didn't read this book in depth, because it's about pregnancy and little babies and I'm so over that. It looks like a great resource, though. It's formatted kind of like an online message board from a really supportive mom's group. The authors' statements on hot topics like natural birth are pleasantly nonjudgmental and mellow.
Jul 12, 2008
Kristen
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This was the only pregnancy/baby book I read, and I read, um lots of them, that did not make me want to throw it across the room, or (in the case of What to Expect When You're Expecting) burn it. Brutally honest -- the section about what happens to your body immediately after childbirth is not for the faint of heart -- and very funny, this is the only pregnancy book that didn't make me feel guilty for eating chocolate, taking hot baths, sleeping on the wrong side, etc. The book also provides nic
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Jan 10, 2011
Jamila
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Although I do not have a child, I have managed to read a silly number of pregnancy books. (I was very excited about the birth of my first godchild!) This is the most accessible, intelligent one out there.
Dec 27, 2010
Jamie
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Some interesting and informative things in this book, but overall, I think it makes you worry about things you don't need to worry about more than some of the other pregnancy books I have read.
Jul 02, 2009
Patricia
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This was my go-to guide during my pregnancy. It was very modern and left no questions unanswered. I would recommend it to any expecting mom. In fact, I passed it on to a pregnant friend.
Dec 14, 2010
Laura
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I really liked this pregnancy guide; it was unassuming, straightforward, and honest about the pregnant body and experiences one could have during pregnancy and labor.
Jul 21, 2009
Faith
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Excellent advice for pregnant women not just about pregnancy and birth but about the first year as well. Way better than "What to expect..." more realistic too.
Aug 07, 2010
Amanda
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Cool illustrations & layout (just look at the cover!). It's like a graphic artist had a baby and put a book together. I love all the "anonymom" testimonies.
Mar 18, 2009
Zen
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This book is funny, entertaining and truthful (as far as I know, LOL!) and was a great read. Now I know what many of my friends are going through!
Jan 12, 2012
Sica
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I liked this book SOOOOO much more than the "What to Expect when you are Expecting" books. Very practical and non judgmental.
Jan 10, 2011
Erin
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this is a modern book on pregnancy that provides a good intro to pregnancy and the adventures of being a new parent.
Aug 07, 2011
We appreciated accounts by others...with enough of them, likely to find some that resonate with yours.
Mar 16, 2008
Neha
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I'm in my second trimester of my first pregnancy, and this book has been so useful! It's an honest and non-judgmental approach to pregnancy, just as advertised. The authors approach some "controversial" issues - e.g. going back to work versus staying home, nannies versus day care, breast-feeding versus bottle-feeding - with complete fairness.
Also, I learned about some of the horrible things that may happen to my body that I hadn't read about from other sources. The way I se More...
Also, I learned about some of the horrible things that may happen to my body that I hadn't read about from other sources. The way I se More...
Jul 20, 2009
Sarah
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This book has been the cause of some stressful nights for me, because I am freaking out about labor and delivery, but I SO appreciate reading about what to expect, and there are so many things discussed in this book that I've not heard anywhere else....especially about recovering right after delivery and open and honest thoughts about dealing with all of the major life changes that come along with having a child. Looks like there is also a lot of good info about breastfeeding, which I also desp
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Mar 11, 2011
Jessicat
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I loved the drawings in the book. I also liked that it was pretty non-bias.
May 06, 2010
Kevin
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The title is a pretty accurate description of this no-nonsense, helpful book.
Feb 08, 2010
Jessica
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There's still plenty of that "pregnancy and birth are a magical journey" crap that I find so annoying (you can want a baby and still be realistic about how much being knocked up kind of sucks), but there are also a number of different perspectives for how to have a healthy pregnancy. I like that they acknowledge that there's more than one way to tailor gestating a baby to your lifestyle without being a horrible future-mother. Also, the layout is nice and light, making it easy to read a
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Aug 09, 2008
Shawntain
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What makes this book so great are the hundred of colorful little talk balloons in the margins of the fairly standard text, which contain frank, anonymous comments by women about pregnancy and early motherhood. it's like listening to a bunch of wise, funny friends with really diverse opinions and experiences telling it exactly as it is. while there are some moments of real desperation, worry, and borderline insanity associated with new parenthood, it seems, the overall tone of the book is posit
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