Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know

Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom is Wrong and What You Really Need to Know is written by award-winning Emily Oster. It is a pregnancy book that challenges common guidance and aims to help women feel more informed while expecting.

Key details

• Author: Emily Oster
• Described as award-winning
• Focuses on questioning conventional pregnancy advice and myths
• Discusses guidance around alcohol, caffeine and sushi
• Covers topics including bed rest, induction, fetal testing, weight gain, pregnancy over age 35 and nausea

Synopsis

Pregnant women are often given long lists of things to avoid, such as alcohol, caffeine and sushi, without clear explanations of the reasons behind the advice. The book also addresses the confusing and sometimes alarming messages people may hear about issues such as weight gain, sleeping on your back and bed rest.

Emily Oster argues that information provided to pregnant women can be incorrect and is frequently oversimplified. She revisits standard recommendations on subjects including alcohol, caffeine, sushi, bed rest and induction, and places broader guidelines on fetal testing, weight gain and pregnancy over the age of 35 into context, alongside other topics such as nausea.