A review for MotherTalk

The Working Woman’s Pregnancy Book by Marjorie Greenfield

Pregnancy is a huge topic, but let’s face it: there’s only so much you can say about it. There are lots of books out there and the difference is often not in the content, but in the tone. Some books are cutesy, others alarmist, others are sassy, others hippy-dippy. I have collected many pregnancy books over my three pregnancies and they run the gamut.

The Working Woman’s Pregnancy book offers a lot of the same information as many of the others, but in an even-handed, respectful tone that I appreciated. Marjorie Greenfield is an OB/GYN, and this is the only major book on pregnancy I can think of that is written by a female doctor. The book is encyclopedic in its scope, beginning with a self-assessment (are you ready to have a baby?) for all of us uber-planners out there, and ending with tips on making the transition back to work. Sprinkled throughout the book are countless quotes from working mothers; these were my favorite parts of the book, and they range widely in experience and parenting philosophy.

Amid all the strong opinions out there on all things maternal (natural or epidural? breast or bottle?), this book is very non-doctrinal, which I found refreshing. It takes its subject matter and its audience seriously, and its only agenda seems to be to provide a one-stop resource for women who will be balancing pregnancy and motherhood with work outside the home.

Does it succeed? I’d say it does. This book doesn’t go into exhaustive detail about the developing fetus, but provides lots of tables and good basic information. You can supplement that with a good pregnancy website like BabyCenter and be good to go. There is also not a whole lot in this book on pregnancy nutrition, but again, Dr. Google is your friend in that. The only book I would highly recommend supplementing this one with is The Nursing Mother’s Companion. It is the best book on breastfeeding I’ve found; its “Survival Guides” (with grey-edged pages for easy reference) are worth the price of the book.

Other items of interest in Greenfield’s book include general tips for coping with pregnancy and motherhood on the job, everything from how and when to tell the boss to great stretches you can do at your desk; some of the most outstanding diagrams I have seen in any book; a wonderfully helpful and non-hysterical list of circumcision pros and cons; and fantastic birth plan I really wish I’d read before my babies were born.

I recommend it.