Thursday, April 13, 2006

Gem Of A Book

I went to the library with Lisa last night in the hope of finding some books on early pregnancy. We spent quite a long time at the "Family and Childcare" section and I found quite a few gems.


The best book I picked out was this light-hearted take on pregnancy yet no less informative called "The Girlfriend's Guide To Pregnancy". It was a breath of fresh air after reading so many books on medical terms like "Endodermal germ layer", "Hyperemesis gravidarum" and "Linea nigra" (a straight line of negroes?) The author's descriptions of pregnancy symptons made up the first chapter alone nstead of 5 small lines in a page of other more important information. It gives credibility to the pains and aches I feel and doesn't make me feel like a whiny psycho who does nothing but complain of tiredness, hunger and sore boobs all day long. I give you an excerpt here.....

Excerpt
Chapter One: So, What Makes You Think You're Pregnant?

Breasts

One of the most common changes in the pregnant woman's body is in her breasts. The newly pregnant woman often gets the same puffy breasts that she gets premenstrually, but the consensus among the Girlfriends is that these breasts are a lot more sensitive. In fact, taking a shower can be agonizing if you face the stream of water, sleeping on your stomach becomes unbearable and if your husband should happen to touch your breasts you will feel completely justified in hitting him with the bedside lamp.......

Exhaustion

The tiredness of a newly pregnant woman is like a heaviness or being on nighttime cold medication permanently. One of my Girlfriends, Becky, who sells real estate, was so tired that she fell asleep in the car every single time she went to houses of prospective clients. Fortunately for Becky, she has a partner who did most of the driving. The newly pregnant woman may find herself at work, unable to think of anything but lying down. My Girlfriend Rosemary used to lock her office door and nap on her sofa for a few minutes every day. Those of us who are fortunate enough to actually take a nap sleep like the dead, waking up with blanket creases on our faces, red cheeks and bedhead hair - and usually little more refreshed than we were before. Forget about renting a video for a cozy night in with your husband. You will be snoring by the time the warning not to bootleg the tape and sell it for profit is over. This fatigue can also lead to an inability to stay awake long enough to have sex. Please hand this book to your husband right now.


ATTENTION, HUSBANDS OF NEWLY PREGNANT WOMEN:
DO NOT TAKE IT PERSONALLY WHEN YOUR WIFE WOULD RATHER SLEEP THAN SLEEP WITH YOU! SHE REALLY CANNOT HELP IT AND IT IS ABSOLUTELY NO REFLECTION ON YOUR MANHOOD OR HOW MUCH SHE LOVES YOU. TRY AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING AFTER SHE HAS HAD SOME REST. (UNLESS, OF COURSE, SHE HAS MORNING SICKNESS, TOO, IN WHICH CASE, TRY THE PLAYBOY CHANNEL.)

Its humourous, life-like and yet full of information you'd never squeeze out of even a 400 page book on pregnancy. It takes away the clinical aspect of it all and makes all the pains, aches and whines alright. (at least to ourselves) and more importantly it reassures you and you go "Ok, I'm not going crazy". And sometimes that is all you need. Especially when the slightest things your husband does makes you cry the Nile River and makes you think he will ditch you once your stomach ballons. This is certainly a must-read.

I haven't touched the other 3 books yet but if I find another winner between the covers I'll let you know.

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