Blueberry Squash: book

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Nurture Shock : New Thinking About Children

I picked up Nurture Shock : New Thinking About Children by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman on my way to the airport after my baby shower. I read the bulk of it on the plane ride, and finished it up when I returned home.

When I was peeking through the parenting section I decided on Nurture Shock because it is a scientific book about new ways to think about childhood that spans from baby into teenage years. I was ready for a break from pregnancy and baby specific books, and this was the perfect choice. The book is a New York Times Bestseller which I found in the Psychology section that is not like any other parenting book I have read thus far.

The book takes on topics like sleep, race, and lies with new insight backed up by scientific studies. It is less of a parenting book, and more of a thought provoking resource. When I read the chapter on why children lie I was intrigued by the theories, but in the end wasn't sure exactly how I would parent my child on the issue. I enjoy a book that opens up my mind to new ideas, and this book certainly fits the bill.

This book exposes some of the flaws in modern parenting, and offers scientific information to back up its theories. It is thoughtful, and well researched. A good read for parents in all stages of the journey.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

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* This post contains affiliate links, but I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product - I just like it! I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Amazon.

I came across this adorable book and wanted to do a review for those of you out there looking for a great gift for a new dad or dad-to-be. It is called Baby Barbells : The Dad's Guide to Fitness and Fathering, and simply stole my heart when I browsed through it. There are tons of women orientated baby workouts, but this one is just for dad. The book is filled with charming retro style illustration with dad advise, and workout moves to tone up with baby including baby push ups. This charming workout routine is the perfect gift for fathers on your list ... a great way to knock out fathers day early this year!

I really enjoy stories from mothers about how events unfolded when baby was brought home, and what choices they made in the arena of how to raise their child. The more and more research I do I am discovering that motherhood is really a lifestyle choice. It is about the choices you make for yourself, and the choices that you make for your children. There are many ways to raise a child, and I enjoy reading about them all.

I found the book Let the Baby Drive by Lu Hanessian when browsing through baby books on Amazon. I often browse titles online just like in a bookstore and look for something that catches my eye. I ended up with a used copy at a great deal that turned out to be an old library copy when it arrived. At first I thought maybe I should have sprung for the new copy, but the worn pages grew on me as I read the book and I wondered about all the other people who read the same words on the same pages that I was.

The book is Hanessian's story of moving from high powered career woman into motherhood. She speaks with an honest candor about bringing her first child home, and then later in the book her second. She receives advise from many sources as most mothers do, and in the end decides to push the bulk of it aside and "Let the baby drive." The book is all about where her intuition took her on the adventure that is motherhood.

The book is humorous, thoughtful and an overall enjoyable read. It is a comforting and eye opening thought to trust your intuition for new parents who are buried in books and advise. It is not your average parenting book, and would make a thoughtful addition to your reading list for new and old parents alike.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

Ina May Gaskin is recommended reading for parents to be weather you are planning a natural or medicated childbirth. After reading Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding I was hooked, and read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth almost immediately following. So when I was asked to read and review Ina May Gaskin's book Birth Matters by Seven Stories Press I jumped at the opportunity, and eagerly checked my mailbox for the book to arrive.

This book gives a comprehensive history of midwifery, and a detailed account of healthcare in America today verses other countries. It is a startling fact that women today are more likely to die in childbirth than their mothers, and Gaskin tackles the topic head on.

Birth is described in practical matters as a sexual and spiritual experience unique to each child. In order to have the best outcome a woman must be surrounded with support. The important aspects of childbirth are discussed, and for more intimate details one can read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I especially enjoyed the chapter What's a Father-to-be to Do? The advise Gaskin gives to fathers is not only useful, but charming. When a father is deeply involved in the birthing process he is able to bond on a deeper level with his child, and the birthday becomes a truly life changing event.

When it comes to birth in modern day America this book covers how we got to a system where C-sections and interventions are the norm despite the fact that they are not usually medically necessary. The book goes beyond the problems faced by women giving birth today to offer up detailed solutions that can be utilized step by step to improve the system and place a new value on the birth experience.

In each of her books Ina May Gaskin speaks to the importance of positive birth stories, and includes several in the text. This book is no different with birth stories separated on colored pages throughout. Perhaps beyond the scientific evidence that she speaks of, these stories are even more important reminders of the importance of how birth is treated in society.

This book is a must read for expectant parents as well as anyone looking to gain knowledge on the subject. With women's issues in the news lately it becomes and even more important resource for those looking to educate themselves on the topic.

Find out what other books I have been reading lately at this link.

* I was not paid by the manufacturer to review this product, but I was provided with a free copy courtesy of Seven Stories Press. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC's 16 CFR, Part 255. Images courtesy of Seven Stories Press.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin is on many must-read lists for most pregnant women. This book is a comprehensive guide to both natural childbirth, and also the interventions to expect during a hospital style childbirth. This book is based on the female centric midwife style of care, and seeks to use history to educate the reader about the history of natural childbirth, and how this model can be healthy and useful for women today.

The first section of the book is filled with birth stories. They go on for pages, and pages demonstrating the uniqueness of each woman's experience bringing her baby into the world. As an expecting parent I enjoyed reading this batch of positive birth stories. I was inspired by the emotions, and informed by the details which added to my knowledge base about birthing naturally.

The pain in childbirth is not denied, but it is portrayed as a productive pain along with the techniques that have been used throughout history and in the modern age to cope with the pain, and produce a positive end result. By taking the fear out of childbirth it becomes possible for women to give birth naturally without unnecessary medical interventions.

The book does not only focus on natural childbirth techniques. It also has a detailed chapter on what kinds of interventions to expect in a hospital. The descriptions are thorough, and brought up some side effects that I was not yet aware of even though I have been researching natural childbirth for some time now. For me it is important to know a slice of everything involved in both the natural and hospital realm so I can be prepared for any unexpected events that may ensue.

The book provides information for achieving a natural childbirth in a home, birth center or hospital setting. The description of what really happens during labor, and tips for maximizing chances of a natural child birth were of particualar interest to me. Other topics include orgasmic birth, episiotomy, methods of inducing labor (the safe, and not so safe!), postpartum care, and how to work with your doctor to achieve the birth experience you desire.

A practical book, but also an enjoyable read, I agree that this book should be a must-read for expecting parents.

I love to research, and have enjoyed reading how other parents raise their children. My approach is to take each aspect of parenting, learn the details and differing opinions, and then chose which way I believe will work with my lifestyle, and be most healthy for baby.

I found myself interested in topics such as baby wearing, breast feeding, and cloth diapers. Soon I realized that these were all things practiced by the attachment parenting method so a natural next step was for me to learn more about this style of parenting.

Just as I decided it was time to get a book on attachment parenting Mayim Bialik of the sitcom Blossom fame released her take on the topic called Beyond the Sling : A Real-Life Guide to Raising Children the Attachment Parenting Way. I also really enjoy personal stories to I decided this book would be the perfect starting point for my research.

I purchased the book, and threw it into my carry on bag for the two flights that I would be taking to get to my baby shower in Connecticut where my family lives. It ended up being the perfect airplane book, and I finished it by the time I arrived at my destination. The book is an easy smooth read filled with facts, opinions, and experiences that not only reveal the beliefs behind attachment parenting, but how it can be used in the real world.

The book starts out with a section entitled Trust Your Instincts. This is an aspect of attachment parenting that appeals to me. With my historical education background, and in my modern world I am approaching parenting from a standpoint of learning as much as I can so when I am faced with the challenges of parenting I will be prepared, and can quickly find the information I need to answer the questions that will arise. However, my anthropological education also tells me that people have been reproducing for a long time, and in order to be as successful as we are in the world there must be some instinct involved. I may be doing a lot of research, but I am also making instinctual decisions on what will be best for my baby.

In the second part of the book entitled What Baby Needs the basics of attachment parenting methods are discussed. These methods are Natural Birth, Breastfeeding, Babywearing, Co-Sleeping & Elimination Communication. Her experiences with all of these parenting techniques are insightful, and made me curious to read more on the aspects such as elimination communication that I have not read as much about.

She goes on in section three to describe What Baby Doesn't Need which includes discussions about Baby Essentials, Unnecessary Medical Interventions, Pressure & Gentile Discipline. These are all topics that I was less familiar with, and her research has certainly inspired me to do more of my own.

Parenting is a a lifestyle, and there are so many choices to make the find the right parenting methods for you and your baby. The book concludes with a section about nurturing yourself, and your relationships which is a point often missed in parenting. At 30 weeks along I find myself mainly concerned with my baby, but know that I need to also pay attention to chapters such as this to make sure that I keep the strong connection with myself that I enjoy so much alive.

This book is an easy to understand breakdown of why Bialik is raising her children the way she does, and how she came to these parenting methods. It was an ideal read for a long plane flight, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it cover to cover in one setting. With any parenting method I found that I agreed with some of Bialik's techniques while being skeptical of others. However, I was quite interested in them all. The book is well researched, and the references provided make for a great next step reading list that I will certainly utilize. The best thing a book can do is inspire me to read more on the topic, and this book absolutely accomplished that task.

Building Healthy Minds : The Six Experiences That Create Emotional Growth in Babies and Young Children by Stanley Greenspan, MD is the latest parenting book that I have read.

I admit to having this book for most of my pregnancy at the bottom of my to-read stack. It goes beyond baby into childhood so it took me some time to feel like I had a good grasp on pregnancy and birth before I was mentally ready to learn about baby rearing and childhood. Now that I am approaching my 3rd trimester it was time to pick this one up and check it off my list. Like many other books I have read I see myself returning to this one again as my child grows to review the information I learned beyond the baby and toddler years.

The book gives detailed explanations of behaviors, and why babies and children exhibit them. By observing your child you can then categorize them by behavior to discover the best ways to interact with your individual child. What I find most interesting are the specific games and fantasy play recommended for each developmental stage. I believe that we all want our children to be intelligent, and these detailed guidelines give a good to-do list to go off of as your baby grows.

The book is long and detailed so as you read the book you may find yourself skipping the parts that do not apply specifically to your child. I find this to be one of the assets of this book. There are so many behaviors described that the book is relevant to a variety of personalities.

Currently you can grab this book used on Amazon from $0.01 and it is well worth the read!

You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

It was getting to the point in my pregnancy where I was ready to read a book about breastfeeding. I had heard the success stories, and the failures through websites, blogs, and podcasts. I found a great multi-use product that would provide me with some privacy when I am ready to breastfeed in public, and registered for a pump and all the supplies that go along with it. Next it was time to get into the details.

Ina May Gaskin is perhaps the most well known midwife in America. She is experienced, and respected for her knowledge and years of experience so I decided that even though her book was not the one I saw most often in the used book store that I frequent that it would be the first book I would read on the topic. So I picked up Ina May's Guide to Breastfeeding and got reading.

The beginning of the book is very practical. It speaks to the bonding period after birth when breastfeeding is initiated along with the basics on how mother and baby learn this practical art. Methods are discussed in details followed by discussions of problems one might encounter and what to do when they occur. I love these practical details since I am not only educating myself on a topic of interest to me, but I am also using the books as an instruction manual for things I will need to do in my new life as a parent. The steps are interlaced with personal stories which keeps the book interesting as well as reinforcing the behaviors taught.

A unique feature of this book is it goes beyond the practical knowledge of breastfeeding to also discuss topics such as the history of breastfeeding, wet nursing, and shared nursing. Through her stories I realized just how much breastfeeding practices have changes over time, and how even though breastfeeding is regaining popularity, how much society has moved away from practices that were once deemed normal and healthy.

As this realization became clear, I reached the chapter called Nipplepobia which recounted stories of breastfeeding in modern America. Frankly it worried me on a practical level. I began to think of "safe" places I could go with my baby where no one would notice I was nursing when I needed to. I also became angry at the the stories of mothers told not to nurse their baby. These stories were recounted from public spaces to women hiding in their cars in the back of parking lots. I don't like the conflict of a situation like this, but when I have the intention of feeding my baby on her schedule I feel like it is inevitable. This inevitability is disappointing, and opens my eyes to the importance of normalizing breast feeding in our society.

This book was not only an informative learning experience for me, but I also see it as being a useful reference as I start to breastfeed my baby in the months to come. With a good overall knowledge on the subject I can see myself picking up this book again to review details or troubleshoot problems that may occur during the process.

You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

I picked up Your Baby's First Year Week by Week at a bookstore a few weeks ago. Although this book can be used simply as a refrence I decided to read it all the way through to give me an idea what to expect for baby's development.

This book is just the basics in condensed form. It speaks about development, and problems that might arise along the way with the same format in each chapter. Although it is a little dry, I think it will prove to be quite useful when baby arrives. After finishing the book I think it will serve me best to re-read it after baby arrives, and starts to grow. Reading a week or two ahead will keep fresh in my mind what to expect developmentally, and I can put the fun games to play with baby suggestions at the end of each chapter to practical use.

An important thing to note about this book is that there is also a portion of each chapter developed to babies born prematurely. This information will prove to be useful for parents of premature babies, and is more comprehensive then I have seen on other books.

This book is best served as a reference manual for the basics, and inspiration for further research on areas that interest you. You can check out the other books I have read and reviewed here. I am also always up for recommendations so chime in if you have one!

I am always on the lookout for candid motherhood and pregnancy books, so Andrea Buchannan's Mother Shock : Loving Every (Other) Minute of It caught my eye the last time I was shopping for books. The title was catchy, and it is an older book so I grabbed it up cheap used on Amazon.

What I love the most about this book is that it is different then the other books in this genre that I have been reading lately. It isn't a book about the day to day life of having a baby with tales of crying and dirty diapers. It is a book about what it means to become a mother. The book speaks to the feelings involved in giving up one life for another. It talks about loving motherhood, and missing parts of your former life. This unique perspective leaves out much of the details of raising a child and focuses instead on the inner monologue of a new mother.

An easy read, this book is insightful to a first time mom, and likely relatable to someone more seasoned. I enjoyed the candid honesty of the author, and felt like I got a sneak peek into the journey that is ahead of me.

I am an avid reader, and I just finished Dr. Harvery Karp's The Happiest Baby on the Block. If you are familiar with parenting sections in bookstores you have probably seen this book. When I purchased it I was sold on the title - of course I want my baby to be happy!

As a first time parent this book was an informative way to start my education on what life will be life after pregnancy with a newborn. How to keep your baby happy is the very first basic skill a parent will need, and this book keeps it simple.

The book is based on an idea that people have been rearing children for centuries, and discusses how traditional methods of soothing newborns are useful in today's world. In Dr. Karp's opinion babies are born before they are ready for the world, and he refers to the first few months after birth as the "fourth trimester."

He suggests that the best way to sooth a newborn is with a 5 step approach : Wrap in a swaddle, hold the baby on their stomach side, shhh the baby with white noise, rock the baby with a swinging motion, and lastly utilize the babies sucking impulse to your benefit. Dr. Karp goes into detail on each step of his method, and why it works as well as discussing why other methods do not work.

As a mom-to-be I found this book informative in a practical way. I would recommend it to any expecting parent or new parent. Not only do I have a grasp on how to preform this method of soothing newborns, but the book also goes a step farther to discuss how to wean your baby off these methods, and when it is appropriate to do so.

I enjoyed this book so much that I also bought the DVD to share with my husband! I will be sure to let you know what I think when we watch it. Immediately I am impressed - the DVD comes with a disc of white noise to play for baby in the background. I think I might just put an old CD player in babies room with this CD instead of spending more money on a white noise machine.

When I turn my pregnancy mind to childhood research the topic of vaccines comes up over and over again so I decided to check out The Vaccine Book: Making the Right Decision for Your Child by the well known Dr. Robert Sears.

This book is a good basic guide to vaccination your child providing information on each vaccine and disease and their side effects. It discusses traditional and alternative vaccination schedules, and even includes information about Canadian vaccines as well.

What I like about the book is the descriptions of the diseases in terms of how harmful they can be to health. With so many vaccines out there it is important to me to understand what my child is being vaccinated for in detail instead of just getting the recommended shots. The book is also thorough about how the vaccine is made, and if there are any controversial ingredients.

I like Dr. Sears approach that vaccination is not all or nothing, it is a shot by choice that parents make for their child. This is along the same lines of my current opinion on vaccination, and although I don't yet have strong opinions on which vaccinations I will give to my child I see this book as a good resource for me to make an educated decision when the time comes. Also, with this information in hand I feel more informed to ask my midwife questions I have about vaccinations to see what her opinions are on the topic.

I believe that this is an important topic for parents to consider, and no matter what you chose to do for your child proper research is required. This book is a great starting point to get the basic knowledge you will need to do further research and make a decision.

How can anyone resist a book entitled Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies? When I saw this one at the bookstore I instantly picked it up without even reading the back cover.

The book is divided into short sections making it a great read for when you don't have a lot of time. I read it in small chunks, and enjoyed this book thoroughly.

There is only so many times I can read the same information about pregnancy over and over again so I was excited to dive into this book. It is more about the science behind pregnancy then the symptoms themselves.

I learned things like :

How my diet and my mothers diet will effect my babies future food preferences.
Why my dreams are so vivid?
Where does my maternal instinct come from?
How different levels of stress react with a babies mind.
What does amniotic fluid taste like?

And of course I found out if chocolate lovers have sweeter babies - although I was planning on continuing to indulge in some chocolate every now and then either way!

This book was quirky and entertaining to read. The author takes complicated science and explains it in a way that is not only easy to understand, but also useful and relevant. My husband was even intrigued by all the fun facts I shared with him throughout reading the book. I plan on sending my copy to a good friend who is expecting, and will likely give this book as a gift over and over again.

A few weeks ago I picked up Anne Lamott's Operating Instructions : A Journal of My Son's First Year at a local used book store.

This book is a candid quick read, and I read it over several warm bubble baths. I was on a pregnancy kick, and this was the first book that I read where the main subject was the baby after birth.

The book reads like a journal, and has a personal feel. There isn't much drama involved, just an everyday Mom finding her way through the first year of her son's life. I enjoyed the casual nature of the book which made it seem more real to me then some of the more scientific accounts that I have been working my way through.

Lamott is a single Mom, but she is not alone. She has the support of close friends, and her church who help her along in her journey. I enjoyed reading about her interactions with those around her, as well as her solitude.

She not only faces the challenges of motherhood, but also being the only breadwinner with a freelance writing career. I can relate to her money fears since as a freelance photographer my money can ebb and flow unpredictably as well. Keeping the journal that later became this book was the perfect solution for her during a time when work was not flowing.

This book has inspired me to start writing in a journal again. I am going with the quick and easy method since today I am 19 weeks pregnant, and trying to get as much work done and save some money before the birth. I will be continuing my business after the birth of my child, but I also realize that I will need to take some time to adjust to motherhood as well. My solution was to purchase a 2012 day planner that has a page for each day of the year. It is a small book, and I write a few sentences every day to fill each page. It not only captures the milestones, but it also is a way for me to record those mundane details that get forgotten over time.

Frankly Pregnant : A Candid Week by Week Guide to the Unexpected Joys, Raging Hormones, and Common Experiences of Pregnancy by Stacy Querty was the first book I pulled off the shelf at the lending library in my birthing center when I went on my first appointment. I was finding What to Expect When You are Expecting a little bland and generic so the promise of some candid conversation about pregnancy peaked my interest.

This book made me laugh, and it worried me from time to time wondering if I would experience the same symptoms as the author as my pregnancy progressed. My husband read a chunk of it and thought it was a little over dramatic, but I liked the tone of the book and found it humorous. Throughout my pregnancy I have often found myself thinking I was crazy because of a symptom, and this book put my mind at ease. So far I at least don't have it as bad as the author does!

This is a great book to read early on in your pregnancy. It is a week by week journey of not only symptoms, but the fathers reactions as well. It is a tell it like it is tale that I would recommend to any friend upon finding out they are expecting.

When I found out I was expecting one of the first things I did was review what I should be eating. I already had a healthy lifestyle, but there are so many recommendations for what you should and should not eat that I wanted to get a review right away.

The book I'm Pregnant! Now What Do I Eat? by Hope Ricciotti was the perfect starting point for me. It addresses all those eat this and not that questions about foods like sushi, lunch meat, and peanuts as well as giving plenty of recommendations for what you should be eating on a regular basis for a healthy pregnancy.

As a person who is used to calorie counting I knew I would have a hard time mentally with eating healthy, but still watching the weight pile on. Reading this book quelled my fears of becoming a person who goes from working out daily to eating a box of cookies on the couch. I learned that although you are "eating for two" that does not mean consuming double the calories.

I have found that during my pregnancy I have experienced some food aversions, but overall making healthier choices has helped me to feel better so far throughout my journey. As I write this I am in my second trimester and the nausea has passed, and hunger has set in. For me the best thing about eating healthy right now is that I can consume many different foods without going overboard on calories. Splurging on piles of fresh fruit goes a lot farther then sweets or fast food.

This book also includes some fantastic recipes. I am not much of a cook (I leave that up to my husband!) so have tended to be more of a snack eater during this pregnancy, but if you have a talent in the kitchen these recipes look delicious!