Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods

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Expectant mothers are virtual magnets for unsolicited advice. Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, sisters-in-law, new mothers, friends, and even strangers offer what seems to be an endless supply of supposedly authoritative opinions on every aspect of pregnancy: A craving for spicy food denotes a boy. Carrying the baby low denotes a girl. Besides gender predictions, a pregnant woman is also apt to acquire an earful of advice about miscarriage, dietary habits and cravings, hair growth, weight gain, and childbirth. And, of course, everyone wants to touch her belly. In this engaging, humorous, and very informative book, Drs Shawn A Tassone and Kathryn Landherr - experienced gynecologists, a husband-and-wife team of physicians, and parents of four children - explore the most common superstitions and myths surrounding pregnancy. From their combined twenty years of work in a clinic, as well as their own parenting experience, the authors review the anecdotes and beliefs, from the slightly unusual to the stranger-than-fiction, and compare them with the scientific evidence. Moving through each stage, from the early weeks of pregnancy to delivery, they examine the legends about diet, gender identification, pre-term labour, the umbilical cord, initiating labour, and the size and movement of the foetus. As they detail the scientific perspective on these varied and often amusing beliefs, the authors not only entertain but provide a great deal of practical information, which will ease the fears and anxieties of expectant parents as well as clear up many confusing notions. If you are pregnant, you owe it to yourself to get this book. Better yet, suggest it as the perfect gift to all those well-meaning advice givers.

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Customer Reviews

Review by MomandDoctor, 2010-08-10

This book is both informative and fun. The authors have assembled all the questions/myths/old wives tales that doctors get asked. Over and over again. They even include fertility myths, so this book would also be a great buy for someone thinking about getting pregnant.

I am a doctor and have been asked many of these questions at prenatal visits and also at parties. However, there are definitely a few that I have never heard.

I gave a copy as a baby shower present and no one could keep their hands off the book! Everyone kept saying things like, "Listen, listen. What about this one?!"

If you are pregnant and want good solid info as well as answers to all those crazy things you read on the Internet, get this book. I also recommend this book as a baby shower gift.

Review by beth, 2010-08-05

Hands Off My Belly: The Pregnant Woman's Survival Guide to Myths, Mothers, and Moods

I got this book for my pregnant daughter-in law who had some worries and concerns about her pregnancy. I also got a copy for myself and for my daughter who is just recently married. As a mother of four and grandmother now it is great to have some accurate information about pregnancy and it's associated myths from OB/GYN's who deliver babies every day. I am a counselor as well and so like to have accurate information to share with my clients backed up by medical science. This was so much more enjoyable to read though, written with a sense of humor and some heart rending stories to illustrate. It is also great to have both the male and female perspective woven in by this great husband & wife team who both practice and author books together. Great book and wonderful, useful information. Especially nice as a baby shower gift for the newly pregnant, mother-to-be.

Review by J. Trevino, 2010-06-14

Did not get much new out of this book. Since I don't believe many o fthe myths floating around I found this book a bit boring.

Review by DJP, 2010-05-31

I found this book to be boring and it doesn't really contain any info you can't find everywhere else. What I found most annoying, was that a book about pregnancy myths would perpetuate the myth that you shouldn't raise your heart rate over 140 during exercise while pregnant. The authors also make some really bad and sometimes gross jokes in the book that I didn't appreciate.

Review by Shaina Flanagan, 2010-03-26

I would have to agree with the 95% of readers that gave this book 5-stars. I totally see what they are saying with this book being a fun and relaxing read. The woman that gave this book a down score really isn't pleased with many of the books she reads, and I disagree that this book is indeed different than anything out there. I say that because there are stories that really bring these points home and they are told in a very honest and poignant way. Pregnancy is pregnancy and yes there books out there are all pretty much the same. This book sheds light on some of the crazy myths that many of us think are true because we heard them in the past. The authors of this book compiled all of these myths into one book rather than having to read all the other books out there, it is like cliff notes for superstitions in pregnancy. Personally, I liked the chapters on Gender Prediction and Labor and Delivery. In my family the grandmother did rule the roost and I thought the section on the Seven Habits to a Highly Enjoyable Pregnancy a relaxed walk through helping us connect with our families and yet reminding us all that this is our pregnancy. I give this book 5-stars and would recommend it to anyone interested in an educated fun read that will not freak you out like some of the other books out there.