The Christian Mama's Guide to Having a Baby: Everything You Need to Know to Survive (and Love) Your Pregnancy

by Erin MacPherson

Overview

Everything you need to know about pregnancy, from weight gain to stretch marks to figuring out how to rely on Christ through the ups and downs of the next nine months.

In this funny, candid, and detailed guide to pregnancy 101, fellow mother Erin MacPherson takes you through each trimester with helpful tips, humorous true stories, and supportive spiritual advice—all with a friend-to-friend approach that will help you feel comfortable as you navigate this life-changing time.

This comprehensive guide is packed with information that every newly pregnant Christian mama needs, including:

• Help for pregnancy insomnia, morning sickness, weight gain and more
• Advice on how to maintain a godly attitude and outlook during pregnancy, even when you're feeling anything but godly
• What to expect from doctor check-ups, your encounters with the scale and labor and delivery
• Tips on how to survive food cravings, aversions, and even dreaded pregnancy exercise
• Healthy eating advice for pregnancy that doesn't outright ban ice cream sundaes
• Ideas on how to keep your marriage a priority when you're pregnant, including a guide for Christian dads-to-be and even pregnancy sex tips

The perfect book for any expecting mama, this conversational guide to pregnancy makes a wonderful baby shower gift for the pregnant or new mother in your life!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849964732
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	04/08/2013
Series:	Christian Mama's Guide Series
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Erin MacPherson is a mom of three who never does anything halfway. When she discovered she was pregnant she decided to write about it—but then kept writing. A former staff writer and editor for Nickelodeon, Erin now entertains parents on her personal blog as well as through freelance magazine articles, devotionals and speaking. She wants to come beside her readers not only as a confidant and Christian sister, but also as a best girlfriend who understands what daily life is all about.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction: You're Havin' A Baby! xiii

1 Getting Into the Pregnancy Groove: Being Pregnant and Loving It 1

2 Pregnancy 101: A Crash Course on Your First Trimester 9

3 The Dreaded Morning Sickness: How to Deal with Morning, Noon, and Night Sickness 31

4 Feeding Frenzy: How to Eat (er, Devour) for Two 45

5 All That Medical Stuff: An Up-Close and Personal Tour of Your OB or Midwife's Office 65

6 Work It, Mama: Exercise and Pregnancy 89

7 Pregnancy 201: Everything You Need to Know About the Mythical Second Trimester 101

8 Gearing Up for Baby: What (and What Not) to Buy for Baby 115

9 Name Games: How to Choose the Perfect Name for Your Baby 137

10 Pregnancy 301: Surviving Your Third Trimester 153

11 Ready, Se|, Don't Go: Getting Ready for Baby's Arrival 169

12 Let the (Labor) Games Begin: How to Know When It's Time to Go Have Your Baby 189

13 Labor Day: Labor, Delivery, and Everything in Between 205

14 The Christian Daddy's Guide: What Dads-to-Be Need to Know About Pregnancy 225

15 Where to Go When You Need to Know: Your Pregnancy Resources 241

16 The Christian Mama's Guide to Your Baby's First Days: What to Expect from Your Brand New Baby 259

Epilogue: The Mommiest 275

About the Author 277

Index 279