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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING
By Heidi Murkoff
I don’t usually ignore a book that has the stamina to stay on the bestseller list more than 200 weeks, but I never had occasion to be interested in this one until I got pregnant. My good friend Rose gave me What to Expect When You’re Expecting, which I found to be a valuable tool and would recommend so long as you remind the pregnant friend you buy it for to read it in small bites and try not to overreact.
You see – what makes this book so wonderful also makes it a little intimidating – it’s so comprehensive. If you’ve had the symptom, it’s talked about in this book. Cramps, swollen feet, bleeding gums, morning sickness, sore back, heart racing, recommended diet – it’s all in there. And so is everything that could wrong. I actually found myself feeling a little nauseous when I first started reading the book, which might have been a function of where I was in the pregnancy, but also may have been a function of reading too many graphic descriptions of how awful and painful and gross pregnancy can be.
Look – information is always a good thing – but you may not want to read about every possible deformity your baby can develop, every possible complication that can happen during delivery, every possible sign or symptom – especially if you’re a worrier like me. My husband actually threatened to hide the book from me after he found me obsessing over a chapter.
So – I give a qualified recommendation to What to Expect When You’re Expecting – just don’t let it get in the way of enjoying this miraculous experience. On the Book Beat for KSL Newsradio 1160, I’m Amanda Dickson.
