KidSpace Blog

I recently wrote about the new baby in my family (check out my July 17th post). And I wanted to share with you what the new mom, Wendy, has been reading (and did read) to prepare for the newest addition! Wendy even gave me permission to post a picture of the two of them! Aren’t they adorable??Okay, so what exactly can Wendy share that may just contribute to one becoming a successful, confident, relaxed and down-right great mommy (or daddy!)?? It all starts here with Part 1 of the Got Baby? series: Top Books and Websites for Before and After Baby:

First, she highly recommends subscribing to and viewing online Mothering Magazine. Specifically, Wendy stated that this magazine, which promotes natural family living “offers advice, information, and products from a different perspective than the plastic corporation backed magazines like Parenting, etc.” FYI: Wendy is an anthropologist (soon to be Dr. Wendy) and does LOTS of research when it comes to anything that has to do with feeding, bathing, and raising babies…She is one informed momma!

Wendy then went on to share with me some of her favorite book resources that she read before giving birth to the little one. She read What to Expect When You’re Expecting… which she felt was a useful book. She explained that it incorporated “scenarios that were different from the medicalized and institutional hospital birth experience.” FYI: Wendy chose an entirely natural birth at a birthing center called Labor of Love.

Wendy also recommends the book Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn: The Complete Guide because she felt it explained the birth and delivery stages in more depth than the What to Expect book.

Wendy also enjoyed reading the Sears Series on Pregnancy books. And she finds that the Sears website “provides some of the most comprehensive and balanced information and resources” for new moms and babies. And now that little baby is here in the world she is currently reading How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of your Pediatrician. This book was actually recommended to her by her chiropractor “who does not believe in traditional pediatrics (except in extreme cases or obvious sick-child cases) and has not vaccinated his children.”
(To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? That’s a tough question. I thought I should throw in some extra resources here from both sides of the coin. Here’s an article from the CDC entitled “Concerns about Vaccine Safety” and a question/answer forum from Mothering Magazine on vaccinations. And check out the National Vaccine Information Center’s website for more information for consumers to use to make an educated and voluntary decision on vaccinating.)

So, that ends Part I of the Wendy inspired series Got Baby?. Stay tuned for Part II: Breastfeeding! (please send me any information you may have to add to this upcoming post).

Oh, and I just found a very cute blog entitled Musings of a Crunchy Domestic Goddess. She’s all about natural childbirth, breastfeeding, cloth diapers, etc… and she’s funny! Her August 7th post is actually about breastfeeding and I will probably refer to it in Part II of Got Baby? (and she even recommends lots of books…she’s definitely a favorite of this librarian!).

Happy Mothering and Fathering!!