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iteechesinglish's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Once you tell people you are expecting, you cross a threshold into a world where you are subjected to everyone's opinions on pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. Everyone is an expert! They know exactly what choices you should be making if you want to have a happy, healthy child and also if you don't make those choices you will ruin your baby's life and be the world's worst parent. Which is why Emily Oster's balanced and data-driven take on healthy choices in pregnancy is welcome and reassuring.
I was a little nervous about using this as a resource because Oster is an economist, and not a health professional. However I was reassured with the certified midwife at my hospital referenced the book and asked if I had read it. Clearly, not everyone is going to be on the same page about managing pregnancy, but Oster does her best to arm the reader with data that will allow you to make your own decisions. Since I tend to be on the more risk averse side of the spectrum, I'm still choosing to be rather careful about things like caffeine intake, but it is helpful to know that one mistake probably isn't going to be the end of the world.
One of the limitations with these kinds of books is that for ethical reasons we just don't have a lot of randomized controlled trials on pregnant people, so most of our data is based on correlation by necessity. This makes it hard to say definitively that x causes y. So we simply have to do the best we can with the data that we have. As a first-time, expectant mother I appreciated this perspective and it has helped me understand the different choices related to my pregnancy better.
I was a little nervous about using this as a resource because Oster is an economist, and not a health professional. However I was reassured with the certified midwife at my hospital referenced the book and asked if I had read it. Clearly, not everyone is going to be on the same page about managing pregnancy, but Oster does her best to arm the reader with data that will allow you to make your own decisions. Since I tend to be on the more risk averse side of the spectrum, I'm still choosing to be rather careful about things like caffeine intake, but it is helpful to know that one mistake probably isn't going to be the end of the world.
One of the limitations with these kinds of books is that for ethical reasons we just don't have a lot of randomized controlled trials on pregnant people, so most of our data is based on correlation by necessity. This makes it hard to say definitively that x causes y. So we simply have to do the best we can with the data that we have. As a first-time, expectant mother I appreciated this perspective and it has helped me understand the different choices related to my pregnancy better.
jvmilks's review against another edition
5.0
Such a helpful, informative, and even occasionally humorous introduction to the many topics, concerns and debates of childbirth. I'm so thankful a friend recommended this to me.
daumari's review against another edition
4.0
I forgot to add this from my stealth reading, whoops (it popped as a Book You May Be interested In and I thought huh, pretty sure I reviewed it... I have not).
This was the first book I read in the pregnancy last spring, and it really helped set my frame of reference for the deluge of solicited & unsolicited information and advice headed my way. I really appreciated Oster's approach of looking not just at studies, but the quality of those studies: context matters, and if the correlation of alcohol and birth defects also coincides with cocaine usage, is that really informative? In general, I liked this more than some of the other "gal pal" type of books re: pregnancy.
Do take Oster's recommendations with a grain of salt as she's an economist by training and is essentially doing a bunch of metaanalyses and lit reviews in this book, which can be useful but context is key. She does acknowledge the choices she personally made weren't necessarily the right ones for expecting friends, and generally takes a "do what works for you" attitude.... which is why it's a little weird she became the leading voice for reopening schools during the pandemic (c'mon Oster, correlation isn't causation). I've already bought a used copy of [b:Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool|40121328|Cribsheet A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool|Emily Oster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534142751l/40121328._SY75_.jpg|62221619] and will probably read [b:The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years|55997402|The Family Firm A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years|Emily Oster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606112889l/55997402._SY75_.jpg|87227302] later, but hesitant to subscribe to her substack, if that makes sense.
This was the first book I read in the pregnancy last spring, and it really helped set my frame of reference for the deluge of solicited & unsolicited information and advice headed my way. I really appreciated Oster's approach of looking not just at studies, but the quality of those studies: context matters, and if the correlation of alcohol and birth defects also coincides with cocaine usage, is that really informative? In general, I liked this more than some of the other "gal pal" type of books re: pregnancy.
Do take Oster's recommendations with a grain of salt as she's an economist by training and is essentially doing a bunch of metaanalyses and lit reviews in this book, which can be useful but context is key. She does acknowledge the choices she personally made weren't necessarily the right ones for expecting friends, and generally takes a "do what works for you" attitude.... which is why it's a little weird she became the leading voice for reopening schools during the pandemic (c'mon Oster, correlation isn't causation). I've already bought a used copy of [b:Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool|40121328|Cribsheet A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool|Emily Oster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1534142751l/40121328._SY75_.jpg|62221619] and will probably read [b:The Family Firm: A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years|55997402|The Family Firm A Data-Driven Guide to Better Decision Making in the Early School Years|Emily Oster|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1606112889l/55997402._SY75_.jpg|87227302] later, but hesitant to subscribe to her substack, if that makes sense.
lizee59402's review
5.0
I have learned so much and I cannot wait to read more from Oster. I think that this book was a great way to introduce my partner and me to the science and statistics of pregnancy and birth. It was also presented in a way that is accessible.
helenwillow's review against another edition
2.0
I saw this book recommended everywhere for those who are ttc or pregnant. Oster is an economist and in no way an expert in fertility or pregnancy so why is this book one of the top recommended for these groups?? I found that her own bias came through when interpreting the studies. It’s unsettling that people are taking her opinions as truth.
I can see it being useful for those who are particularly anxious around pregnancy as many of the studies presented can put the readers mind at ease but everyone who reads this book should take what she has to say with a huge grain of salt!
I can see it being useful for those who are particularly anxious around pregnancy as many of the studies presented can put the readers mind at ease but everyone who reads this book should take what she has to say with a huge grain of salt!
roxymaybe's review against another edition
4.0
Author mentions "obesity epidemic" a few times and definitely believes Fat is Bad, although in the section about gaining weight during pregnancy she shows that a fetus small for gestational age is significantly more risky than one that is large gestational age, so doctor's concerns over 5-10 lbs "extra" are largely unfounded. Otherwise, good stats, seems well-researched.
tbr_hoarder's review against another edition
4.0
Some useful advice for first time parents, but a lot of it wasn't new information.