Expectant Parents: Preparing Together for the Journey of Parenthood

by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin, Erin Smalley (Foreword), Greg Smalley (Foreword)

Many books focus on prenatal development and the health of a mom-to-be. While Expectant Parents does touch on important issues of pregnancy, its core purpose is help expectant parents understand key issues related to the arrival of a new child in the home, offering practical assistance as they prepare themselves for long-term family success.

It’s often said that babies don’t come with an instruction manual. This book actually provides parents with information and practical steps for writing their own―as they work to create the kind of home and family they choose to build. This includes strengthening their own marriage relationship, setting plans and expectations for parenthood, increasing communication, and preparing for the new stage of their family life that is just ahead. Ideal for first-time parents, this book would also be helpful for couples wanting to explore and prepare for the emotional, physical, and spiritual life changes that come with the arrival of any new child into the family.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2014

Reviews

[Ben Albano · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have to hand it to this book, I haven’t found more useless information in a very long time. This one impressed me with how much horrible information it delivered in so many pages. Granted, I am a human being who has walked this earth for more than one month of life. If I was not, I think I would find some of this rudimentary information truly helpful in the parenting journey ahead. However, seeing as I have not walked through life with both fingers in both ears it was not helpful in the least.
My favorite aspect of this book was the consistency of delivering truly exasperating stories of the most chaotic array of accounts of pregnancy, pre-and post. To the books credit, however, I can see how this would be helpful if I was feeling all too positive and joyful about expecting a child and wanted to read some thing that would really get me down in the dumps at the prospect of adding a new member to the family.
I think the author really did a great job in communicating just how poorly one can feel after having a child. I never even realized how many things a child can do to your life that will really screw you over. This book help me learn all things.

In summary, I ask myself these questions. Did I enjoy this book? Did I find it informative? Was it helpful in anyway? I have to be fair to the author and say no to every single one of these questions.
As a follow-up; did this book frustrate me? Did the physical format and layout of the pages anger me? Did it make me pray for those who have never experienced a child in their life and who might be taking information from this book to heart? I can most definitely say yes to all of these questions.

Closing thoughts: anyone, and I mean anyone, will have better advice than this book has to give you.
I truly cannot wait to be a parent, but if anything would dissuade me from that thought, it would be this book. Please seek advice elsewhere. For your own good.

[Kari · Rating 1 out of 5]

Time is at a premium as the birth of our little one approaches. With so much to do I have to choose carefully where I invest my time. It takes a lot of energy to get ready for a baby, especially a first baby. If I had the choice to make over again I would have never elected to read Expectant Parents: Preparing Together for the Journey of Parenthood.



Expectant Parents by Suzanne Hadley Gosselin is one of the most trite and disorganized books that I have ever read. I was hoping to find a book that gave RJ and I a lot of good examples about to start our family strong from a faith perspective. What I found was a book fraught with problems. I hated the terrible page layout. I was forced to continually read one section, skip a bit, keep reading and then go back to dodge all the poorly placed sidebar inserts. The information presented in this book is too elementary. You can find comparable and better information from The Bump or BabyCenter. I also had a problem with the fact that book contained so many quotes that it was not only tedious to read, but felt more like a research paper than a book.



The main reason that I wanted to read Expectant Parents was for advice to set the spiritual tone in home early for our son. While the book gave few basic tips, it wasn’t anything that I hadn’t really thought about prior to reading. I appreciate the suggestion about praying over my delivery team and I have started doing that. But, other than that it was mostly contained with the same dull “information” (mostly quotes from others and incredibly shiny, happy stories from the author) and suggestions that populated the book. The tone of Expectant Parents is also written from an overly positive prospective. While that may sound like a good thing, it’s really very damaging. The author acts as those she will give suggestions about building families for those who’ve suffered abuse, but ultimately just sticks to the hollow Christianese talk of abusive parents as “people who try to do their best, “ instead of focusing on actual skills or coping strategies for those learning to live with the destruction left from abusive parents.



Expectant Parents could possibly be a good elementary text for young married couples that don’t know ANYTHING about being pregnant and live an easy life with an easy past. But, if you’ve done even a modicum of research, it’s going to be too basic. If you’re looking for a lot of help to spiritually structure your home (don’t even get me started about the way men are portrayed to be selfish buffoons incapable of listening) I would suggest looking for a different book.

(I was provided this book from the Tyndale Blog Network for this review, however all opinions are my own.)

[Kristian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting, reassuring, and seems like it will be helpful. I may review it again when we are ready to have a baby. It is very heavily influenced by Christian values, which works for me but I think would be distracting for people who aren't Christian. She includes a lot of stories, suggestions, and things to talk about which provide perspective.

[Lindsay Reams · Rating 5 out of 5]

The procrastinator that I am started reading this on my due date, and it was just as enjoyable and informative as if I read at the beginning of my pregnancy. Not a book on "how-to parent" but gives great stories and insight on every parenting situation being different, but encouragement on getting through it with patience, grace, etc.

[Cassie_Reads_Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a pretty good read. It was really bought provoking as a mommy to be. Some things I didn't want to think about, which is why I gave the 4 star rating.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book for first-time parents, especially Christians. Some of what I read, I already knew, but some things I hadn’t thought about. Definitely recommend to new parents!

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a helpful read and guided conversations we may not have had otherwise. Took awhile as we often had to play catch up with each other, but that was not due to the book so much as us!

[Megan Fontaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great for John and me to read together as we prepared to welcome our baby into the family. Would recommend for expecting couples!

[Kristen Jett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to start 100% honestly - this is not a book for everyone. Had this been given to me as a gift instead of me reading it by choice, I probably would have felt as if that person was being intrusive. You see, when the blurb for this book says spiritual, they mean Christian. While I feel any religious person could read it with their own religion in mind, atheists may find it...less than helpful.

Admittedly, while I would peg myself as highly spiritual, and my very Southern, very God-fearing BFF would peg me as the most religious person she knows, I would not peg myself as Christian. Admittedly, I skipped past some sections - there is an entire section on fear which basically amounts to 'know that fear doesn't come from God and pray'. I simply couldn't relate to things that one mother's biggest fear when her son was born was that he wouldn't grow to love Jesus. Personally, I don't care what religion my child is, as long as they're a good person. And a person has a lifetime to make their religious choices - I imagine being more concerned with health issues, or that they'll want to help others, or that they don't make the same mistakes I have, etc.

Even when reading from a "how do you introduce a child to religion" basis", there wasn't much besides pray for them, and take them to church.

All that said, the book IS a good read. The focus is as the title says on preparing yourself, not on how to raise a baby or deal with pregnancy, although there are helpful moments that discuss parenting, birth plans, and the general process of birth. Even though I skipped most of the chapter of community as I have no intention of becoming a church mom, I did find valuable insights on the importance of friends who understand this transition of your life.

The end of each chapter lists questions to go over with your partner, and includes many a thing that couples may easily forget to discuss in all the excitement, and chaos over what to get done. These in my opinion are the highlight of the book. I believe the end of each chapter also includes a suggestion of what to pray for to help you through those challenges. (At least many did - I wasn't paying 100% attention by the end, so I can't be certain they follow every chapter.)

The layout is very peculiar - maybe this is just on the ebook version. There are poems and excerpts and stories interspersed throughout the regular chapters, and the formatting often blends the two making it hard to know what is what.

All and all, I did get value in the book, but I wouldn't purchase it as part of my repertoire or a future reference book.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

Many books focus on prenatal development and the health of a mom-to-be. While "Expectant Parents" does touch on important issues of pregnancy, its core purpose is help expectant parents understand key issues related to the arrival of a new child in the home, offering practical assistance as they prepare themselves for long-term family success.It's often said that babies don't come with an instruction manual.

This book actually provides parents with information and practical steps for writing their own--as they work to create the kind of home and family they choose to build. This includes strengthening their own marriage relationship, setting plans and expectations for parenthood, increasing communication, and preparing for the new stage of their family life that is just ahead. Ideal for first-time parents, this book would also be helpful for couples wanting to explore and prepare for the emotional, physical, and spiritual life changes that come with the arrival of any new child into the family.

About the Author:

Suzanne Hadley Gosselin is a freelance writer and editor in Colorado who has written for Focus on the Family, Zondervan, Harvest House, and David C Cook. She enjoys coffee, good conversation and spending time with her husband, Kevin, and three children--Josiah, Sadie and Amelia.

My Review:

Well the big day has arrived and you finally can say that you are expecting a beautiful blessing in your life. But it's not long before there are scary thoughts running through your mind and your hormones are surging. You start to lash out at each other and then that is when you see that your partner and best friend has become the enemy. Expectant Parents, is a book written to counteract all of these feelings and so much more. The author a parents, herself hope to inspire and encourage those expecting through their experiences and advice.

More than practical information the author offers advice for everything concerning the day of the baby's birth and beyond. This book is designed for first time parents and can be used throughout the pregnancy. The book also has a huge supply of really good information from others. I like that it focuses on the marriage aspect the most. This book could be such a big help to others. I applaud the author for writing such an informative book!



If you would like to learn more about this book, you can here.

**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Litfuse Publicity.

[Lis - The Indigo Quill · Rating 4 out of 5]

See full review @ The Indigo Quill

Special THANKS to Litfuse Publicity and Focus on the Family for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Hold onto your hats, new parents of babies 1 and 2 (and maybe 3 if you haven't gotten the hang of it yet)! Suzanne Hadley Gosselin has just prescribed your survival manual. You're welcome.

If you're a first-time parent, this book will definitely prove to be useful for you in a lot of ways. Although the cover and title seem to refer toward the pregnancy season, Gosselin actually exposes what to expect after the baby has arrived. And it isn't just for mothers, but she addresses the father as well and how to be team players in this process: mother, father, and baby.

Not only does Gosselin tackle expectations for new parents, but she also addresses some of the touchier subjects, like how to handle comments of your peers that might be a little less-than-helpful. If you're also concerned about what to do with your jobs after baby is born, then you'll also find some helpful information in here. I think that's wonderful. I'm at the age where several of my friends are having kids, and quite a few have decided to become stay-at-home moms. Which is great! Parenthood is a full time job. But for the person who thinks they might want to continue working after our little bundle of joy has arrived, Gosselin provided some helpful ideas.

The only thing about this book that I think we could use more of, is touching base with some of the more "natural" parents. I was very happy that Gosselin talked a little bit about Doulas, but in terms of breastfeeding and natural birthing options, those were minimal to none. I understand you can only fit so much into a book like this. The size is great for those parents who can't read an entire dictionary-sized manual for this kind of thing. And perhaps her knowledge is just limited in these areas (experience is the best form of learning). But I just wish we had a little more.

As for the layout, I liked it. It broke everything up into small sections so it's easy to read and easy to find stopping points if you're on the go. The boxes get a little messy sometimes (visually, they're better if you give small enough portions to fit on one page). But other than that, I think the sections were divided well.

For those who are new parents, this may be a good book for you to start with. I wouldn't say it's THE book you need, but it will definitely prove to be useful.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne Hadley Gosselin in her new book , “Expectant Parents” published by Focus on the Family Publishing gives us Preparing Together for the Journey of Parenthood.

From the back cover: Entering into parenthood is not the end . . .
It’s only the beginning,
and it is so worth it.

Hormones, weight gain, cravings—oh my! In Expectant Parents, Suzanne Hadley Gosselin creates a supportive guide and companion for couples on their pregnancy journey. Packed with stories and advice from real-life parents who have been there, along with information from numerous experts, this book offers help and encouragement for every step of the pregnancy process and beyond, covering important topics such as:

Making your marriage a priority
Dealing with pregnancy fears
Finding community
Building a foundation of faith
Planning post-baby career decisions and more
Expectant Parents includes thought-provoking questions and conversation starters in every chapter to help soon-to-be parents write their own “manual” for parenting. You’ll come away feeling equipped and ready to dive into the adventure of parenthood—along with knowing what to pack in your hospital bag!

There was once what we called the Extended Family. Both Grandparents used to live nearby or in the house with you. Certainly both sets of parents were close by as well. So when the newlyweds found out there would soon be three the grandparents and parents were there to provide support and give the wisdom of their experiences. Then what happened the family broke up as the various parties moved to different parts of the country. That meant that there was no one there to offer the advice, counsel and wisdom which left the couple to their own devices. Ms. Gosselin has filled in that gap with her book. I feel it does what the grandparent/parent support structure used to do. It provides a lot of the wisdom, experiences and counsel that the expectant couple really need. If you or someone you know is expecting then you need to get this book for you or for them.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Christian great book for first-time parents. It will get you and your spouse talking about important topics and open doors of conversation that most other baby/pregnancy books don't.

The author takes many, many quotes from other parents, along with her own experiences to share what she wish she knew before they had the baby.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a very cute cover which attracted me immediately and since I am writing my own pregnancy book, I wanted to read it. I soon learned that this book went a totally different way than my book will be going!

This book is written to expectant parents, no matter if they are experienced or not, but more focused on the parents that are #1-3. It is practical advice for dads and moms learning to cope with the changes that pregnancy brings, how to deal with the annoying comments people make and planning post baby careers.

For me, I found the layout a bit distracting. The chapters are broken up with boxes of text with stories, poems, and interesting blog post quotes. I was more expecting a focus on the physical side of coping, and while that is addressed briefly, it more focused on the emotional side of parenting. The self doubts that almost every parent faces, the frustration with the physical changes, and false information that others can give you about what to expect, is addressed in here. There are many topics addressed directly to dads, and how they found coping, pitching in and other ways to be the best father possible.

The one thing I didn’t find as helpful was the breastfeeding advice. There was a suspicious lack of it. I realized towards the end, that perhaps the author did not have a successful breastfeeding relationship, but that was the extent of the advice. There was also advice from a dad that said how they kept their marriage strong was to have the baby not sleep in their room and go on multiple date nights a week. While this may work for some parents, it can undermine a good breastfeeding relationship, just as simple as that.

I did like the coverage of doulas that were briefly mentioned in the book, although it didn’t cover anything as far as care providers or birth choices in any detail, it was briefly mentioned, which was great! There was a doula even quoted in the book!

Overall, it was a great book for the parents that are readers and looking for some guidance on the new journey they are about to embark on.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

So, I was given the opportunity to read a book called "Expectant Parents, Preparing Together for Journey of Parenthood" and I love how honest this book. Every pregnancy is different, every parents journey is different, but the common thread is that you are going to have a baby and your world is going to CHANGE, dramatically.



While so many books focus on prenatal development and the health of the mother, which are important, this book focuses on what happens when the child arrives HOME. It offers practical advice. Babies do not come with manuals and this book provides ways for your to figure out what kind of home and family you can choose to build that is appropriate for your family.

Not only does this book talk about your new baby, it also talks about what you need to do in your marriage. Having a baby can affect your relationship with your spouse. Imagine that? It talks about communication, preparing for your new stages as parents, how to deal with physical, emotional and spiritual changes that happen with the new arrival of a little one.

This book is great because it touches on all areas of life and is a real handy resource. It is realistic and it doesn't make the reader have false expectations of parenthood. If you know someone who is pregnant, I recommend throwing this into the baby shower gift, they will thank you for it! This book gets 5 stars from me!

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this amazing book to every single couple that is expecting a baby and to all parents in general. Let me just share that, I’m not in the target audience yet, I’m not married and I don’t have kids yet. I requested to review this book because I enjoy gathering as much knowledge as I can about being an effective parent ahead of time. I plan to reread this book in the future whenever we’re expecting our first child or child(s). I appreciated the advice she gave to first time parents concerning the importance of communicating with your spouse and making sure you talk about other things besides just focusing on always taking about the baby. It’s critical to still take time to listen to what’s on your spouse heart and mind. I also liked her guidance on staying connected during the pregnancy with some helpful suggestions such as having a getaway to add some romance before the baby arrives and it doesn’t have to be an expensive trip. I really loved how she guided readers through the many different pregnancy stages and how to handle them. This book is an immense benefit to parents and this will teach them all about how their lives will change once they have a baby!

“I received a review copy of Expectant Parents from Litfuse for this review.”

[Sharon Chance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne Gosselin has written perhaps one of the best books on the market regarding pregnancy and parenthood! In "Expectant Parents," Gosselin not only takes a look at the experience of pregnancy, but she also includes a close look at becoming parents for both the mother and the father! From the very beginning when you first find out you are becoming a parent, to the first few weeks after the baby is born, Gosselin goes over every step of the nine-month adventure.


There is practical advice here that every parent-to-be should know, and there is plenty of common sense tips that experienced parents would find helpful as well. And throughout the book is the overlying theme of trusting your faith and being spiritually involved in the pregnancy process, the result of which will be the ultimate gift from God - a healthy and happy baby and a healthy and happy mom and dad.


This book would be a great baby-shower gift, a gift for new parents, and a wonderful reference for any parenting library. I highly recommend it!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are pregnant, want to get pregnant, or know someone who is pregant, this is a great book for you. Full of advice and thoughts about strengthening the marriage, setting plans, preparing for the baby, ad more, this is a great book for first time parents. I didn't like that it didn't go into breastfeeding as a viable choice (apparently, the author felt it didn't work for her) and it doesn't go much into birth options, though doulas are mentioned in passing. Parents wanting a natural birth (such as home with a midwife) will need to do further research on that.

Overall, if you are pregnant, this is a great instruction manual with true stories, quotes, and other thoughts spaced through-out. Would be great as an early shower gift (long before baby is born) or a Wow, you're pregnant, you';re going to want to read this book type gift, or even for expectant moms to pick up for themselves.

[Olga · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I really appreciated about Gosselin's book was that it gave my husband and I questions to think through as we prepare for parenthood. As a first-time parent, it's sometimes hard to know what questions you should be asking. I also appreciated the many stories of other first-time parents and their experiences. Central to the book is how your faith and relationship with God, and with your spouse, will shape your family as you go from 2 to 3, which is very important. I highly recommend reading this book alongside your spouse and taking the time to discuss together your expectations and hopes for the future.