Funny Little Pregnant Things: The Good, the Bad and the Just Plain Gross Things about Pregnancy That Other Books Aren't Going to Tell You.

by Emily Doherty

Today’s pregnancy books may no longer recommend martinis and cigarettes to help pregnant women relax, but most offer moms to be a ton of worthless information―like what kind of fruit your baby is the size of at Week 16. Is there any practical value in knowing that your child resembles produce? And where’s the good stuff―the useful details, like beware of the baby registry and all the crap you will never use, or be prepared to get breast milk all over everything you own? Hilarious, candid, and easy to read, Funny Little Pregnant Things is full of helpful information about all the stuff people don’t tell you about pregnancy―the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor, Parenting

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 17, 2014

Reviews

[Sherri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It's a funny, slender little book that tells you the bare bones what you need to know about pregnancy and the immediate postpartum period. (this is my second rodeo, so I had known most of the tidbits, although things can and do change significantly in 3 years!) So much of what to expect when you're expecting preys on the nervous mother...(it's really no wonder we're creating a culture of mothers that need validation on everything from the very beginning...I went a little bit into this in my review of Amy Tuteur's Push Back) so I appreciate the simple candor.

No citations?

Also, I totally disagree about waiting until the 2nd trimester to announce your pregnancy. You should announce when it feels right for you, not because of a fear of a loss. Nothing in pregnancy is guaranteed at any point. I'd much rather share my joy and then sorrow if I must, rather than living in my sorrow alone. (Sorry for my soapbox.)

[Brittany | BrittanyIsBooked · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you count moving from the bathtub to my bed as different, I technically read this book in two consecutive sittings. I love that it was a quick read but I honestly didn’t find a lot of it surprising.

Maybe I just have great friends who tell me the truth, or I’m so curious that I seek out the gross and weird. Either way, very little in the book came as a surprise to me, which definitely lowered the appeal of this book. Additionally some of the pregnancy things I’ve been feeling myself weren’t really addressed. And since I haven’t had my first baby yet, I cannot comment on any of the postpartum advice.

I do think it’s a good book for a quick read and a glimpse at what’s to come for expectant parents. I don’t think it’s a great book at truly highlighting all the things that you may go through.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a first time mom-to-be, I really enjoyed reading this book. On a light-hearted tone, the author quickly walked me through the experience of pregnancy and having a newborn.
I am a health professional, so I am not unfamiliar with all the physiological changes with pregnancy, but this book was much needed because it focused more on mom's subjective experience.
It was an easy read, no cold hard scientific data, just a mom telling some stories!

[Kaiti Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, brief, and informative. Nothing here was super new after my other pregnancy research, but the registry and baby shower advice was good to add to my notes. I will say this book did have a bit of a negative vibe, especially towards the end, regarding loss of freedom, children ruining your life, etc., which felt out of place with the tone and humor of that rest of the book. Not necessarily encouraging. I enjoyed the quick read and the laughs!

[Rachel Dows · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lighthearted look at pregnancy from an author who clearly enjoys her children but wishes someone had told her a number of things about having them. Not a book to turn to for a lot of technical information, but more akin to having a conversation with someone who recently had children who is actually honest, thorough, and not blinded by the cutest of the infants.

[A Bear and a Bee Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read and it had me laughing out loud quite a few times. Though it did make me question certain things as a first time mom. Nervousness and excitement seem to run hand-in-hand whilst expecting your first child and I’m certainly no different.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a total newbie when it comes to pregnancy and what to expect. I've tried reading the more "serious" books and found them intimidating and didn't get very far. This was exactly the book I needed to get more comfortable with the idea of pregnancy. Thank you Emily Doherty!

[Brittany Wooten · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the kind of book I'd buy for friends that are newly pregnant. It's an easy, light reader that gets you thinking and doesn't give you all the answers. I loved the short chapters and the humor. Def. wish I'd read this one before some of the others.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute book!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some useful info. This book definitely needs a copy editor, though.

[Cara Ordonez · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read. Funny at times, realistic at others. Helped to understand that things with pregnancy are normal and not to freak the f out

[Isabel Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Funny Little Pregnant Things was a joy because it was so easy to understand and get through. There are plenty of heavier, more academic pregnancy books on the market nowadays; those are certainly helpful to read during pregnancy. However, this book in particular caught my eye because it looked like more of a light-hearted read. The author straight-up acknowledges that she is not giving out any medical advice; instead, she focuses on the things that she went through during her two pregnancies and shares plenty of details relating to those things. Her tone is funny and down-to-earth, and it really makes the reader feel like she is sharing insider knowledge with them. I related to various situations that she described in the book. For instance, we shared the feeling of overwhelmedness when walking into a baby store for the first time and taking in the sheer amount of baby items! As a first-time, soon-to-be mom, it was nice reading Emily Doherty’s book because it made me feel like less of an outsider in the pregnancy world by validating plenty of my personal experiences.

[Heydi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very humorous, down to earth book that explains some little known truths about the miracle of life.

I found this book open and honest. I appreciated that she didn't digress but moved quickly from topic to topic getting in all the important advice in under 200 pages.

A great gift book for anyone who is having their first child.

[Karlen HK · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book is cute and fun to browse through, but don't expect any real in depth advice (or anything new if you've read a single "10 Things About Pregnancy No One Tells You" article from any mommy blog). Also, not ALL of these things happen to ALL women, and some of the more common things addressed seemed a little...overstated. Perhaps I've just had a very easy pregnancy. I just hope any newly pregnant ladies out there don't read this and get freaked out!

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick read. Not ever having been pregnant or lived near anyone close to me who was pregnant, pregnancy is a mystery. This little book is a high-level, humorous look a pregnancy's impact on the body and life in general.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

-loved it ! Finished it in a couple days

[Jackie Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated the authors honesty. It was a bit frightening, but having a baby is pretty frightening I would think, no?