Oct 23, 2008

Pregnancy Stories

Real Women Share the Joys, Fears, Thrills, and Anxieties of Pregnancy from Conception to Birth
edited by Cecelia A. Cancellaro

This is a book I read several years ago when expecting my own child. I think I picked it up off a shelf at the library when browsing by subject. It intrigued me because unlike many other pregnancy books, this one isn't full of advice and medical information. Instead, it's a collection of individual experiences, women sharing what they went through and how they felt about it. The women in Pregnancy Stories come from a wide range of backgrounds. Married, single, working, stay-at-home, first-time mothers and those who've been through it before. Mothers who have an easy delivery, others with medical difficulties. Women who've longed and planned for a baby, others who were surprised at finding themselves pregnant. There are even stories of a lesbian couple, and some from the fathers' point of view. All the stories are short, and begin with a paragraph introducing the author. They're helpfully arranged chronologically, through conception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experiences. Compelling in their honesty and frankness, there's something every expectant mother can relate to in these stories. I remember coming away with the thought: it will never be what you expect, so prepare for anything.

Rating: 3/5                     260 pages, 2001

3 comments:

  1. I read a book similar to that when I was pregnant I think the first time. It was nice to read real stories from real pregnant women. I'm not totally sure it's not the same book but that definitely wasn't the cover and I think it was older.

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  2. Anonymous10/23/2008

    Right after I had my last baby all's I read was books about parenting. I have to admit that I like pregnancy stories because everybody is so different. It's amazing that with all that can go wrong that most babies and mothers turn out fine and it's heartbreaking when it doesn't.

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  3. I'll have to keep this one in mind for my sister--she's expecting in March.

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