“What to Expect” Series Review and Giveaway

THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED.

One of the things I’ve found most annoying while being pregnant (and now being a parent of two) is when others offer unwelcome advice.  Of course, their intentions are good, but they can also sometimes feel insulting. i.e. “Should you really be drinking that coffee?  You’re not supposed to have caffeine when you’re pregnant, you know!” And then there are those times you get conflicting advice.  i.e. “Just let your baby cry-it out!” and “Letting your baby cry will lead to an emotionally unstable child.”

Being pregnant and learning to adjust to a newborn can be stressful enough without having others make things more complicated with their “advice”.  Luckily, there are great resources available to the new and experienced parent that give trustworthy, time-tested advice from experts.  And best of all, this advice comes only when you need it.  The resource I am speaking of is the highly popular and recommended “What to Expect” book series.

The “What to Expect” series provides an amazing wealth of information for nearly every question or concern one may have from pre-pregnancy to post-partum and beyond.  I purchased “What to Expect Before You’re Expecting” prior to getting pregnant with our second child as it seemed to be taking longer than it did with our first.  The book answered a lot of questions I had that I otherwise would have been to embarrassed to ask someone about.  It also covers some very practical things, such as changing your diet to get your body as ready and healthy as possibly to carry a new life.

If you’re already pregnant, then “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” is the next step.  This book gives a month-by-month look at your baby’s development, changes in your body and emotions, and special questions and concerns.  It was in this book that I discovered I had restless leg syndrome during my second pregnancy.  If I hadn’t had come across the information in the book, I would have never convinced my husband that I was not crazy for thinking I had RLS.  But seriously, this book covers the whole gamut on pregnancy, from the common to the not-so-common issues that may arise.  Even better is the book ends with chapters on labor and delivery, 6-weeks post-partum, and even has a special chapter just for dads.  Every pregnant woman should have this book!

As we all know, pregnancy is just the beginning.  Once the baby is born, the real work begins.  “What to Expect the First Year” and “What to Expect the Second Year” cover the basics and beyond to help guide you through baby’s first two years of life.  Breastfeeding, sleeping, first aid and illness, and baby-friendly recipes are covered in these books, and that doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface.  These books are big, but they conveniently come with an index that makes it quick and easy to find a topic you’re specifically looking for.

This series of books has become my go-to guide for any advice I am looking for.  I know the information is current and from a source I can trust.  If you haven’t already, make sure you buy these books and visit their website for even more information and resources to help you from pre-pregnancy planning and beyond.

****NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU’RE EXPECTING BOOK****

Thanks to the people at What to Expect, IntoBaby is giving away one free WHAT TO EXPECT book! Enter the giveaway now by doing the following:

• Required: Leave a comment as to why you like/would like the What to Expect Series
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• Earn 2 extra entries: Write a post on your blog linking to this page and post the URL in the comments

CONTEST RULES:

• All entries must be submitted by midnight on July 30th, 2011.  No late entries will be accepted.
• Winner will be chosen at random using the generator at Random.org
• Winner will be contacted via email the morning of July 31st, 2011
• Winner must respond within 48 hours or the prize will be forfeited
• This contest is open to U.S. residents only

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