CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

‘Expecting Better’ Book Tackles Pregnancy’s Biggest Myths: Will You Read It?

save article
profile picture of Kylie McConville
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Amazon.com

Three years ago, when economist Emily Oster found out she was pregnant, she admits she found herself “drowning in frequently alarmist pregnancy advice.” The books, she said, didn’t always agree with her doctor; her doctor didn’t always agree with the official recommendations made; and the Internet never agreed with anyone. Oster says, “I definitely got the impression there was a lot to worry about, but no one seemed to be able to agree on exactly what those worries should include.” So, the mom-to-be set out to do her own research — and to tackle the pregnancy topics that she needed answers to. Her book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong-and What You Really Need to Know, answers all that (and more!).

Oster told CNN she realized that medical recommendations come from studies and the she could use her training (in both economics and statistics) to evaluate the findings and get to the bottom on the pregnancy “rules” without the conflicting advice from doctors, the Internet and books. She set out to inform herself, as well as other parents-to-be, about the truth on pregnancy by using the most up-to-date and current data so that women could make the most informed decisions about their bodies.

Looking back, Oster, says, the research was often exactly what she expected while other times, it was totally different. “The key to good decision‑making,” Oster writes, “is taking information, the data, and combining it with your own estimates of pluses and minuses.” Here are some of the most popular myths she tackles head-on in her book:

  1. Is Caffeine off limits?
  2. Should the type of prenatal testing you undergo differ if you are under or over age 35?
  3. Will sex help jump-start labor?
  4. Will an epidural lengthen your labor?
  5. Are unpasteurized soft cheeses off limits for moms-to-be?

There are more than 177 user reviews for the book on Amazon.com with over 72 five-star reviews and 85 one-star reviews for the read. Seems the audience is split on Oster’s take.

Here’s where to buy the book:

So, what do you think: will you read this book?

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

Harry Styles performs on stage during The BRIT Awards 2023 at The O2 Arena on February 11, 2023 in London, England
Harry Styles Stalls Concert So Pregnant Mom Can Go Pee
By Wyndi Kappes
Imunek Williams school bus driver saves kids from burning bus while 8 months pregnant
Pregnant Driver Saves Students From Burning Bus
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of smiling mother cuddling baby
How Getting Lost in Motherhood Helped Me Find Myself
By Christine Carpenter
ADVERTISEMENT
Gold medalist Mallory Weggemann of Team United States poses during the women’s 200m individual medley - SM7 medal ceremony on day 3 of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games at Tokyo Aquatics Centre on August 27, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan
Paralympian Mallory Weggemann Swims at Nationals Six Months Pregnant
By Wyndi Kappes
27 slides
The Best Movies to Watch While Pregnant
The Best Movies to Watch While Pregnant
By Holly Pevzner
close up of pregnant person holding belly
Where to Shop for Gender-Neutral Pregnancy Clothing
By Ashley Zielger
Pregnant Bindi Irwin with her husband Chandler and a giraffe in the background at the zoo.
Bindi Irwin on Pregnancy, Baby Names and Carrying on Her Father’s Legacy
By Lauren Kay
ADVERTISEMENT
illustrated pregnant woman with her hands up in anger
5 Things a Pregnant Woman Never Wants to Hear
By The Bump Editors
happy pregnant woman standing in the sun against neutral background
How to Change Your Last Name Before Baby Arrives
By The Bump Editors
black and white image of woman and doctor's hands looking at sonogram
US Birth Rates Hit Their Lowest Level in 35 Years, CDC Reports
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
The Worst Things to Say to a Pregnant Woman
The Worst Things to Say to a Pregnant Woman
By Caitlin Brody
couple looking away over body of water
CDC: Birth Rates in the US Have Reached an All-Time Low
By Stephanie Grassullo
woman in her third trimester of pregnancy
There’s Finally Science to Prove That Pregnant Women Need Their Personal Space
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
mid-section of couple holding hands and walking
CDC: Birth Rates in the US Haven’t Been This Low in More Than Three Decades
By Stephanie Grassullo
meghan markle in new york city for her baby shower
Meghan Markle's NYC Baby Shower Stirs Convincing Theories on the Royal Baby's Sex
By Stephanie Grassullo
Women in their 30s are having more babies than younger women.
For the First Time Ever, Women in Their 30s Are Having More Babies Than Younger Women
By Stephanie Grassullo
meghan markle's birth location is revealed
The Lindo Wing Is Reportedly Prepping for Meghan Markle's Delivery
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
couple is forced to pack up their stuff and move after having a baby.
Landlord Forces Couple to Move Because They Had a Baby
By Stephanie Grassullo
surprised baby's face
There Aren't Enough Babies Being Born in the US, CDC Says
By Stephanie Grassullo
pregnant mom worries she won't love her second baby as much as her first child.
Vlogger Opens Up on Fear She Wouldn't Love Her Second Child as Much as Her First
By Stephanie Grassullo
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List