the smart parent's bible

One of the best gifts I received when I was pregnant was a copy of The Smart Mom's Guide to Pregnancy and Baby's First Year. I was on my 4th month then and even before that, I tried to get hold of literature that could guide me through my pregnancy. Even though it's easy to find information on the web, a good book that I could just grab any time I needed comforting (especially during sleepless nights when I had nothing better to do) was still necessary.

I must say this is a good investment for expectant moms as it doesn't only discuss things you need to know while your baby's in the midst of developing inside the womb but all the way through his infancy. I particularly loved their checklists on how to pack your bags or the hospital and the things your baby would be needing once he arrives. Even though shopping for your little one could be therapeutic for the pregnant woman's anxiety, still you need to be practical on what stuff to buy and save up for the more important expenses such as the hospital bill, baby's check ups and vaccines, and things you need for your post-delivery well-being.

I read through the book as I go along. My baby's more than 2 months old now so my bookmark is right around those pages. I'm enjoying this book a lot because it talks of parenting and pregnancy in the Filipino setting. Things like "to use or not to use abdominal binder (bigkis, which is a Pinoy tradition)" as well as other FAQs of Filipina moms are addressed by this book. It even helps you find a good yaya for your baby, should you choose to hire one.