Recommend some books for someone whose wifey *might* be prenant

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I've heard that "what to expect when you are expecting" is to be avoided at all costs because of it's high scare/worry factor but beyond that I haven't heard opinions on much else. I'm especially interested in books that deal with being vegetarian and pregnant or raising a child vegetarian. Thanks!

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:18 (twenty years ago)

err, that should read "preGnant". Sorry...

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:19 (twenty years ago)

What to Expect When You're Expecting was great for me - it was comforting about lots of weird things I thought HAD TO BE exclusive to me and turned out not to be. The Your Pregnancy, week by week, really sucked. I can't remember others.

― luna (luna.c), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:20 (twenty years ago)

Would you not be better concentrating on finding out whether wifey *is* pregnant first?

― ailsa (ailsa), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

Buy "The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy," by Jimmy Iovinne's wife.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:22 (twenty years ago)

"What to Expect ..." features far too much impossible diet-related stuff that no one follows, and too much stuff there just to scare you.

― Josh in Chicago (Josh in Chicago), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:23 (twenty years ago)

My wife seemed to enjoy something called When The Bellybutton Pops.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:30 (twenty years ago)

Careful with vegetarism during pregnancy. Don't eat what you would normally eat. Seek out super-sources of B12, minerals, and especially protein. Keep in mind that even a big bowl of beans and rice doesn't have as much usable protein as a small piece of chicken. Also, vegetarism will mean ignoring your cravings. For what I've heard, right around the third month you get to the point where you want to run screaming outside, kill a pig, and eat it raw.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:31 (twenty years ago)

That's safer than it used to be, I hear.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:39 (twenty years ago)

My wife thought "What to Expect When You're Expecting" was useful to the point of essential. Her copy turned into her workplace's copy, passed around as various coworkers got knocked up.

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:41 (twenty years ago)

That's safer than it used to be, I hear.

It's not dangerous, no, it's very difficult and not exactly doctor recommended.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:42 (twenty years ago)

We're still talking about eating raw pig, right?

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:44 (twenty years ago)

Oh, I thought you meant ignoring your cravings.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:45 (twenty years ago)

So about those books...

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:46 (twenty years ago)

Dude, start your own thread! Oh, wait...

― Rock Hardy (Rock Hardy), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:47 (twenty years ago)

If said wifey is a Sheila Kitzinger type, "The Girlfriend's Guide" might not be so hot.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:52 (twenty years ago)

My wife is a vegetarian and has delivered two children. When pregnant, she never had any cravings to chase pigs around for food. Only for fun.

So Kenan is off the money this time.

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 23 June 2005 18:59 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, this is on the experience of one person, who lost 30 pounds and started dreaming about steak and her doctor was telling her to eat some damn meat, already, and you'll be healthier. I don't know if she did or not.

― Paunchy Stratego (kenan), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:00 (twenty years ago)

Post-partum, my wife is reading some knitting book called something like Stitch 'n Bitch.

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:01 (twenty years ago)

I've made lots of stuff in that book and the sequel.

― tokyo nursery school: afternoon session (rosemary), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:06 (twenty years ago)

haha, nice. hey ken congrats by the way, not sure if I ever told you that.

ianinportland, I'll try to find some stuff for you. What to Expect isn't so bad, but it's not the Torah either. But you are definitely in the right town for a veggie wife and veggie kids!

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:07 (twenty years ago)

Haikunym - Thanks, I would greatly appreciate it.

k/l - She already has stitch 'n bitch pre-partum so maybe that's a sign we are on the right track (although I'm not sure how much pregnancy advice she will glean from that book...)

― ianinportland (ianinportland), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:13 (twenty years ago)

Thanks, Matt.

Haha, Rosemary, that's what I figured. Is it time to revisit this thread?

― k/l (Ken L), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:28 (twenty years ago)

GET ONE FOLIC ACID.

― Jarlr'mai (jarlrmai), Thursday, 23 June 2005 19:36 (twenty years ago)

I like what to expect when you're expecting. Yeah it has a lot of stuff about what might go wrong, but it's all contained in one chapter and they seriously tell you not to read it because chances are you'll never need it. It's a good reference, I think. The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy is fine but not essential, and certainly can't stand on its own. My sister-in-law gave me like chicken soup for the knocked-up soul or whatever and that shit is fucking worthless.

If she's been trying to get pregnant I hope she's been taking a prenatal vitamin for three months at least. If not, don't worry, but get on it. I am a nearly lifelong vegetarian and my OB (who is a little old-school) wanted me to go to a dietician just to make sure I was eating well. The dietician said yes B12 and D can sometimes be issues but in general you're going to get them from enriched foods--milk and grains. She said there was plenty of iron in my diet but not to be surprised if bloodwork later in the pregnancy (I'm 4 months right now) indicated that I needed more because even meat-eaters sometimes have trouble processing enough for pregnancy needs.

Protein is usually not an issue if you have half an idea what you're doing. Eat eggs and peanut butter and dairy products you'll be great. I have not craved meat at all, I have completely lost my taste for sweets, and any cravings I have had have been for healthy things, thank goodness.

― teeny (teeny), Thursday, 23 June 2005 22:40 (twenty years ago)

What to expect is fucking great. As long as you realise that telling you about possible issues doesn't mean you will suffer all of them, it's pretty much all you need.

― jim (jim5et), Friday, 24 June 2005 07:04 (twenty years ago)

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