A Is for Advice (The Reassuring Kind): Wisdom for Pregnancy

by Ilana Stanger-Ross

A small gifty package with beautful black-and-white illustrations by Iris Gottlieb, this is the ultimate babyshower gift for your best friend, sister, or daughter. Practical, reassuring, and beautifully written, A is for Advice provides a brief and compelling reflection on pregnancy, birth, and the early postpartum period for expectant mothers of all kinds--whether you prefer a water birth at home or a scheduled C-section in a hospital, whether you believe in painkillers or an all-natural labor, breast milk or formula, this book speaks to you and your pregancy. Written in the approachable and friendly tone of a best-friend blogger but informed by the insight of a Registered Midwife, A is for Advice seeks to comfort and inspire, providing realistic and soothing advice at a time when most women desperately seek out information. Through 26 lesson/letters of the alphabet (C is for Control; F is for Fear; W is for Water), A is for Advice offers practical and emotional insights into the often overwhelming transition to motherhood. Using a combination of humor, story-telling, research distillation, and personal reflection, A is for Advice speaks to concerns common to all women as they approach birth and motherhood. Eschewing the “birth wars” for a women-centered, feminist perspective, A is for Advice does not argue for any one type of birth experience, but rather empowers each woman to be her own advocate. If the book could be summed up in one line it would be, simply, “be gentle with yourself.”   Read it cover-to-cover or in the short bursts available to an expecting mom (each letter stands alone), this book offers a compelling call for well-informed, judgment-free, and forgiving birthing and mothering.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Audiobook

144 pages, Hardcover

Published March 26, 2019

Reviews

[Jane Henningsen]

This was a super quick little book written by a midwife. I enjoyed it a lot- it was informative and (as promised) reassuring.

It’s an alphabet of short reflections on parenting and pregnancy topics.

I think this would be a nice baby shower gift or gift to a pregnant friend when you want to send more than a card. My copy was put together upside down, so the back of the book was inside the front cover the wrong way up. So weird. Maybe check yours before gifting! Didn’t mind though

[Irina]

The book I wish I'd had in pregnancy (still great in the postpartum period though) and my new go-to baby shower gift.

[Shelley]

Beautiful and clear writing, good stories, and a manageable length.

[Jaclyn]

A sweet little book of short advices kindly offered. Passed a few 3-4 AMs with this one. Look forward to gifting it on to the next person.

[Emmie Prince]

Really lovely and insightful. Wonderful for your pregnant friend or if you're supporting pregnant people. I really liked the mix of good advice (evidence based) as well as personal touches and stories.

[Callen]

Sometimes books come along exactly when you need them. The author didn’t lie to me and just say, “Everything will always be okay,” or “This sucks,” or try to terrorize me in the way that some pregnancy books seem guilty of. Instead, she made clear that there will be good parts and bad parts. That wonder, hope, and joy are possible alongside guilt, grief, and fear. Wonderfully real and reassuring. Will be rereading as needed.

[Hadissa Primanda]

sebuah buku yang menemani masa-masa akhir kehamilanku, so comforting ❣

[Brooklyn || The Wild Library]

A short and sweet collection of anecdotes about pregnancy and birth from a midwife, in the format of an A-Z alphabet book. It was definitely true to it's name in that the book felt very reassuring, as well as compassionate and caring. It was also neat to learn that the author works as a midwife in my hometown! This would make a lovely baby shower gift or just a gift for anyone who is newly pregnant or hoping to become pregnant.

[Francesca R]

Quick read

This book was a good, quick read. Helpful to read when you’re pregnant (I am in my 32nd week going on 33) if anything just for the calmness of the author’s voice. She brings up some points for mom to be to think about without being Forceful and let’s you make your own decision about how you feel about the specific topic.

[Ashleigh Lemelin]

This book would be fantastic for a first time mom not knowing what to expect. As a repeat mom it was still reassuring to read the stories throughout. It gives you a renewed sense of hope and motivation. But it was less applicable since a lot was info that was already known from my own experience. This is a very quick read and worth it.

[Megan]

written by a midwife and fluffy in all the right ways that isn't over the top. a touching and encouraging book to read, perfect for the last trimester preparing for labor and early parenthood.
my ob provider recommended it.

[Makenzie Moreno Otto]

**read as a labor nurse & friend, not for myself lol**
This is a cute, quick, non-judgmental compilation of basically everything I wanna tell my pregnant friends. Catch me gifting this at baby showers along with some postpartum undies 💗

[Kate]

Excellent read for pregnancy or new moms.

[Hanna Douaud]

Very basic information but written in such beautiful way with full heart and sympathy. Joy to listen❤

[Katie Hamilton]

So encouraging - a beautiful and quick read!

[Amber Owen-Clifford]

Lovely quick read with great advice and reminders.

[Tay]

So warm

This is truly such a heartwarming book that made me feel more emotionally prepared for pregnancy. The tone was so warm. Loved it

[Abantika(hiltonjenkin)]

Calming. Enjoyed listening to it in my second trimester.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian]

A short reassuring book that does exactly what it promises. It would make a great baby shower gift!

[Karen]

A true delight!

[Jorry Mcnow]

Such a gem. Found it at my place of work 🤍🖤.
Enjoyed so much.

[TheLinhDo]

Reassuring and informative. Just what I needed for my pregnancy

[Floor Visser]

4 stars

Positive, short bits for every letter of the alphabet.

[Tori Costello]

Recommend by our doula. It’s a quick little read but hits a lot of points that can encourage more research/questions/talks.

[Janelle]

"Often, the finest moments are those we don't orchestrate."

[Maddie B]

Midwives are amazing ❤️