“Emily Oster is the non-judgmental girlfriend holding our hand and guiding us through pregnancy and motherhood. She has done the work to get us the hard facts in a soft, understandable way.” —Amy Schumer What to Expect When You're Expecting meets Freakonomics: an award-winning economist and author of Cribsheet, The Family Firm, and The Unexpected disproves standard recommendations about pregnancy to empower women while they're expecting. Pregnancy—unquestionably one of the most pro­found, meaningful experiences of adulthood—can reduce otherwise intelligent women to, well, babies. Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Moms-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices. When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Better is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy—and the occasional glass of wine.

This up-to-date guide addresses all the subjects you would expect to find in an authoritative book on pregnancy "plus" issues of special concern to the 60 to 80 percent of women who hold jobs during their pregnancies: . Is my workplace safe for my developing baby? . When should I tell my employer that I am expecting? . How can I handle the discomforts of pregnancy when I need to work? . What laws will protect me when I take medical leave? The answers to these questions and myriad others can be found in the pages of this practical and reassuring book.Dr. Marjorie Greenfield draws from her experiences as an obstetrician and working mom, and from more than a hundred interviews with mothers ranging from factory workers to high-powered attorneys, to create a unique resource for working women. Dr. Greenfield includeschecklists for multitasking working moms-to-be, helpful illustrations, stories and advice from experienced mothers, and information on everything from planning a pregnancy to balancing life after the baby is born. "The Working Woman s Pregnancy Book" is an invaluable expert resource that will inform, reassure, and empower any working woman throughout the miraculous journey of her pregnancy."

Abstract: Risks associated with drinking alcohol during pregnancy, including the physical effects of heavy drinking on the developing fetus, are discussed. Specific mental, physical, and behavioral abnormalities characteristic of "fetal alcohol syndrome" are described. Risks associated with drinking smaller amounts of alcohol on a regular basis and with occasional binge drinking are not well understood. Alternatives to drinking such as exercising, talking, listening to music, or writing may help women handle some of the stresses associated with pregnancy. Outside help is available for women who suspect that they have an alcohol-related problem. Caution is recommended for using other drugs as well as alcohol during pregnancy and some general guidelines that increase a woman's chances of having a healthy baby are presented. (aj)

From award-winning science journalist Linda Geddes, a fascinating and practical companion for expectant parents that makes sense of conflicting advice about pregnancy, birth, and raising babies. Can I eat peanuts during pregnancy? Do unborn babies dream? Can men get pregnancy symptoms too? How much do babies remember? How can I get my baby to sleep through the night? The moment she discovers she’s pregnant, every woman suddenly has a million ques­tions about the life that’s developing inside her. Linda Geddes was no different, except that as a journalist writing for New Scientist magazine she had access to the most up-to-date scientific research. What began as a personal quest to find the truth behind headlines and information that didn’t patronize or confuse is now a brilliant new book. In Bumpology, Geddes discusses the latest research on every topic that expectant parents encounter, from first pregnancy symptoms to pregnancy diet, the right birth plan, and a baby’s first year.