Tuesday, 26th November 2002, 12:19pm
An opinion by: Rascal

 

What To Expect When You're Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and Sandee E. Hathaway

A hormone-inspired critique

Here's the thing: I have no right to review either of these books really. I was given What To Expect When You're Expecting early in my pregnancy and it managed to annoy me so much in the first few chapters that I put it down and didn't look at it again until a few days before I went into labour. I only read the beginning and the very end, but both bits had me grumbling with anxiety and indignation, so I figure the authors failed in their attempt to write "The pregnancy guide that reassuringly answers the concerns of mothers- and fathers-to-be..." as the cover claims.

I guess part of my problem with this book is that I didn't have a lot of concerns about my pregnancy; not until I started reading that is. For example in chapter 2, titled "Now That You Are Pregnant", they start right in with information about donating the organs of my baby if "diagnosis indicates that the fetal defects are not compatible with life." This is not a standard concern of pregnant women everywhere, is it? It comes under the heading of way too much information that is not at all reassuring, I would say. Ditto for the comprehensive explanations of the variety of medical procedures I may not need to undergo during the course of the pregnancy. They should throw that stuff in an appendix way at the back of the book. Just because I got myself knocked-up doesn't mean that I need to be expertly versed in the wonders of amniocentisis, fetoscopy, maternal-serum alpha-fetoprotein screening, chronic villus sampling, et al (most of which require the insertion of needles and tubes up your vagina or through your belly, no thank you very much). "Now That You are Pregnant" would have been better titled "Now That You Are In The Hands Of The Medical Profession" if you ask me.

But I didn't lose my frayed temper until reading chapter 4 "The Best-Odds Diet":

"Every bite counts. You've got only nine months of meals and snacks with which to give your baby the best possible start in life. Make every one of them count. Before you close your mouth on a forkful of food, consider, 'is this the best bite I can give my baby?' If it will benefit your baby, chew away. If it'll only benefit your sweet tooth or appease your appetite, put your fork down."

Or here's another good one:

"Of course, the diets of most of the women in the study (like those of most pregnant women) were neither excellent nor extremely poor. They were average, and so was the health of their children. Eighty-eight percent had babies in good or fair health. But only 6% had infants in really excellent health - which is, after all, what most of us want for our children."

Oh I see, so we really we should all be trying a lot harder. Fuckoff with that guilt inducing teacherish crap. There had to be better ways to get information on prenatal nutrition. 'Away with this book,' I announced in a snit.

In contrast, I thoroughly appreciated The Complete Book Of Pregnancy And Childbirth, even though I found it too late, while searching for info on breastfeeding my newborn. A social anthropologist, Sheila Kitzinger impressed me with her sensible uncondescending approach. The information and options are presented in objective, non-judgemental language, but she also makes her own viewpoint clear:

"A woman who meets obstacles to breastfeeding - who discovers perhaps, that her husband does not like her feeding in front of other men, or who sees disgust on peoples' faces when she is breastfeeding in a public place - is coming up against a social system in which breasts are considered exclusively as playthings for sexually aroused men, and in which the life-giving milk with which she sustains her baby is treated like an unclean physical discharge."

In general, Kitzinger's writing style is more instructional, less warm and fuzzy. But the book is much less conservative in attitude - there is a section on alternative birthing methods for example, including home birth and water birth. In contrast, What To Expect offers readers a checklist of what they should pack for their stay at the hospital. The Complete Book is better illustrated too, with pretty photos and full-colour diagrams. Although in my hysterical early weeks of pregnancy I would probably have found the diagrams text-bookish and off-putting. Just to make a final comparison test, I flip to Kitzinger's nutrition section "Your baby's wellbeing":

"Women often develop food intolerances in the first weeks of pregnancy. They cannot digest food they liked before. The modern emphasis on good nutrition in pregnancy can make women who are suffering from nausea and vomiting feel very anxious about depriving their baby of essential foods. In many traditional cultures it is believed that the baby asks for the food it wants and rejects others, and it is important to give the pregnant woman exactly what she food she fancies because it is her baby speaking through her. Vomiting is one way in which your body refuses food with which it cannot cope. If you are experiencing nausea it is best to trust your feelings and eat only what you fancy. Do not worry that you are not having a 'balanced diet.' In a few weeks you are likely to enjoy a much wider range of foods again."

Need I say more? Kitzinger is way more reassuring.

Buy The Complete Book Of Pregnancy And Childbirth from Amazon.com or Amazon.ca
Buy What To Expect from Amazon.com or Amazon.ca

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