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Yeah Baby!: The Modern Mama's Guide to Mastering Pregnancy, Having a Healthy Baby, and Bouncing Back Better Than Ever
What every mother needs to know about pregnancy and childbirthYou know Jillian Michaels as the world’s leading fitness expert and a renowned nutritionist, but she’s also a proud mother of two. In Yeah Baby!, Jillian, along with her team of top-notch experts, will change everything you think you know about pregnancy, arming you with the most cutting-edge information available, so you can make the right choices for you and your little one. They will help you navigate the hidden dangers in your immediate environment; understand the check-ups, tests, and treatments your doctor recommends; and provide powerful solutions for all your issues, from heartburn and swollen feet to more serious medical concerns. Also learn how to optimize every facet of your child’s development, from IQ and long-term earning potential to future level of physical fitness and even taste preferences! Yeah Baby! also features a complete meal plan with delicious, nutrition-packed recipes, and a one-of-a-kind, trimester-specific fitness program, to ensure you bounce back stronger and better than ever. Expert Dream • Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz, MD, is an Ob-Gyn, a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist, and board certified in Integrative and Holistic Medicine.• Andrea Orbeck is a PregnancyFitness Specialist who holds an advanced degree in Kinesiology and Intracellular Physiology. • Katja VanHerle, MD, is one of America’s Top Physicians in Endocrinology as named by Consumer Research Council of America.• Cheryl Forberg, RD, is an award-winning registered dietitian, chef, and New York Times bestselling author. • Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, is a pediatrician who specializes in infant nutrition and breastfeeding.
581 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 15, 2016
84 people are currently reading
323 people want to read
About the author
Jillian Michaels
21 books280 followersJillian Michaels is an American fitness trainer, nutritionist, businesswoman, media personality, and author known for her influential role in mainstream health and wellness. She rose to prominence as a trainer on the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser, where her direct, motivational style became a defining feature of the program. Before entering television, she developed her expertise across multiple training disciplines including kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, plyometrics, and weight training, later becoming a certified nutrition and wellness consultant. Michaels built a broader platform through bestselling books, fitness programs, and digital media, including the award-winning Jillian Michaels: The Fitness App and her long-running podcast Keeping It Real. She launched her company Empowered Media and the streaming fitness service FitFusion, expanding her reach across broadcast, online, and on-demand platforms globally. Her work emphasizes sustainable health, mental resilience, and accessible fitness education. Michaels also supports a number of charitable causes focused on health, children, and humanitarian relief, and continues to serve as a prominent public advocate for personal well-being and empowerment.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 8, 2017
I really liked and appreciated this book. 4 stars.
I'll start with the reason I didn't give this book 5 stars before I describe features of this book that I thought were very well done. Jillian gives a LOT of advice about nutrition, and as anybody who is familiar with Jillian may know, she is a HUGE proponent of eating almost solely organic foods. While she seems to back this up with some science, many of the claims she makes are a bit of a stretch. (For example, she claims that drinking milk from cows that have been treated with antibiotics will transfer the same antibiotics into your own gut which will then kill off your good gut microbiota. My husband is currently in one of the leading labs in the world that studies gut microbiota and says there is absolutely no evidence of this and it actually seems laughably impossible based on so many reasons. Just a few things like that.) I'm FINE with her being a huge fan of organic food, however, and I can take what she says and decide what to adopt and what to disregard.
Otherwise, I REALLY liked this book. I've read quite a few books on pregnancy, labor, delivery, etc, and most of them are either so antiquated or so ill-researched that I get extremely frustrated or find them almost useless, especially the second time around when pregnancy is so much less of a mystery.
Some of my favorite features of the book:
- Jillian wrote this book with a team of experts (i.e., a highly-qualified MD ob-gyn, a pregnancy fitness specialist, an MD who is one of America's top Endocrinologists, a registered dietician and chef, and a pediatrician who specialists in infants and breastfeeding) who not only informed her writing but also make plenty of comments of their own throughout the book on their specialty topics. Her wife (who has actually been pregnant) also comments throughout the book regularly.
- Jillian is really quick to acknowledge that no pregnancy is perfect, nobody's diet can be perfect, things don't always go according to plan, etc. She talks over and over about being patient and forgiving with yourself and not feeling guilty about things.
- I really liked an entire chapter devoted to preparing yourself for pregnancy, and a chapter devoted to the 4th trimester.
- The recipes are really good.
- The workout schedule, while a bit intense, is REALLY good. The workouts are really smart, adapted well, and quite effective. The workouts are tailored for each trimester. I wasn't able to do most of the first trimester workouts due to some pretty intense hyperemesis gravidarum. When that finally lessened around 20 weeks I still wasn't able to do the full workout regimen due to early onset of pretty sever sacroiliac nerve pain. BUT, when I do manage to do the workout moves I feel good, they're effective, and I wish I could do a more complete workout routine from the book.
- I was really pleased with her no-nonsense treatment of labor and delivery. For example, she strongly advocates for taking the safest possible route to bringing babies into the world (e.g., she is not a proponent of home births). She begs women to be flexible and not give themselves giant guilt trips when they can't control every aspect of their births. She discusses every option and gives lists of well-educated pros and cons to making that choice. She often weighs in with an opinion at the end, but is very clear that each person should make their own decision and be okay if that decision has to change.
- She loves being a parent and always talks about it realistically and positively. It's really quite nice.
Having finished this book, I feel like I can get rid of SO many other books on pregnancy. There's finally a really good one based on contemporary science. This is such a valuable resource.
I'll start with the reason I didn't give this book 5 stars before I describe features of this book that I thought were very well done. Jillian gives a LOT of advice about nutrition, and as anybody who is familiar with Jillian may know, she is a HUGE proponent of eating almost solely organic foods. While she seems to back this up with some science, many of the claims she makes are a bit of a stretch. (For example, she claims that drinking milk from cows that have been treated with antibiotics will transfer the same antibiotics into your own gut which will then kill off your good gut microbiota. My husband is currently in one of the leading labs in the world that studies gut microbiota and says there is absolutely no evidence of this and it actually seems laughably impossible based on so many reasons. Just a few things like that.) I'm FINE with her being a huge fan of organic food, however, and I can take what she says and decide what to adopt and what to disregard.
Otherwise, I REALLY liked this book. I've read quite a few books on pregnancy, labor, delivery, etc, and most of them are either so antiquated or so ill-researched that I get extremely frustrated or find them almost useless, especially the second time around when pregnancy is so much less of a mystery.
Some of my favorite features of the book:
- Jillian wrote this book with a team of experts (i.e., a highly-qualified MD ob-gyn, a pregnancy fitness specialist, an MD who is one of America's top Endocrinologists, a registered dietician and chef, and a pediatrician who specialists in infants and breastfeeding) who not only informed her writing but also make plenty of comments of their own throughout the book on their specialty topics. Her wife (who has actually been pregnant) also comments throughout the book regularly.
- Jillian is really quick to acknowledge that no pregnancy is perfect, nobody's diet can be perfect, things don't always go according to plan, etc. She talks over and over about being patient and forgiving with yourself and not feeling guilty about things.
- I really liked an entire chapter devoted to preparing yourself for pregnancy, and a chapter devoted to the 4th trimester.
- The recipes are really good.
- The workout schedule, while a bit intense, is REALLY good. The workouts are really smart, adapted well, and quite effective. The workouts are tailored for each trimester. I wasn't able to do most of the first trimester workouts due to some pretty intense hyperemesis gravidarum. When that finally lessened around 20 weeks I still wasn't able to do the full workout regimen due to early onset of pretty sever sacroiliac nerve pain. BUT, when I do manage to do the workout moves I feel good, they're effective, and I wish I could do a more complete workout routine from the book.
- I was really pleased with her no-nonsense treatment of labor and delivery. For example, she strongly advocates for taking the safest possible route to bringing babies into the world (e.g., she is not a proponent of home births). She begs women to be flexible and not give themselves giant guilt trips when they can't control every aspect of their births. She discusses every option and gives lists of well-educated pros and cons to making that choice. She often weighs in with an opinion at the end, but is very clear that each person should make their own decision and be okay if that decision has to change.
- She loves being a parent and always talks about it realistically and positively. It's really quite nice.
Having finished this book, I feel like I can get rid of SO many other books on pregnancy. There's finally a really good one based on contemporary science. This is such a valuable resource.
November 25, 2019
Coming from an individual who has no children and does not intend to have children, this book was very informative. I liked to learn about the nutritional plans a pregnant woman should follow, along with having a fitness plan in place as well. I think there is a lot to be gained from reading this book, even if you don't have children and aren't necessarily planning on having any. There are other tips and tricks that definitely apply to the population, regardless of pregnancy status.
July 17, 2017
Lol, no.
February 19, 2018
Seems like a bit of a scare tactic kinda writer, not much info i didn’t know either.
Smoothie recipes were good tho.
Smoothie recipes were good tho.
March 26, 2024
I have very mixed feelings about this book! It's definitely not the first pregnancy book I'd recommend to someone, but it does have some useful information. I'm glad to have read it, although I don't see myself referring back to it anytime soon.
The Pros:
-Gives advice starting from pre-conception all the way to the fourth trimester.
-Covers a ton of pregnancy topics (think What To Expect When You're Expecting).
-Gives useful fitness advice.
-Isn't alarmist about a health concerns related to the baby (for example, kick counts).
The Cons:
-Is extremely alarmist about toxins. She literally says she'd rather a pregnant woman eat refined sugar than a carton of non-organic raspberries. She also says to reach out to your favourite takeout places before placing an order to make sure they don't use plastic containers. Wtf?
-The suggestions she makes regarding healthy living and pre-conception are extremely expensive and would be impossible for people who don't have solid salaries and/or good insurance. A lot of pregnant women are already struggling to afford fresh fruit; it's harmful and extreme to suggest fruit is literally worse than refined sugar unless it's organic.
-I don't like the way she talks about her (now ex) partner. Seems insensitive and mocking at times. Other time's it's overly sexualized (there was A LOT of talk about her increasing breast size).
-Very clear Jillian Michaels has never been pregnant. For example, she talks a lot about the importance of eating healthy during the first trimester, and dismisses the idea of food aversions. LADY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING I WANTED TO EAT DURING THE FIRST TRIMESTER! I already lost close to 10 pounds during this time, if I hadn't had my plain butter bagels, non-organic apple slices, and Kirkland brand French fries it would have been way more!
The Pros:
-Gives advice starting from pre-conception all the way to the fourth trimester.
-Covers a ton of pregnancy topics (think What To Expect When You're Expecting).
-Gives useful fitness advice.
-Isn't alarmist about a health concerns related to the baby (for example, kick counts).
The Cons:
-Is extremely alarmist about toxins. She literally says she'd rather a pregnant woman eat refined sugar than a carton of non-organic raspberries. She also says to reach out to your favourite takeout places before placing an order to make sure they don't use plastic containers. Wtf?
-The suggestions she makes regarding healthy living and pre-conception are extremely expensive and would be impossible for people who don't have solid salaries and/or good insurance. A lot of pregnant women are already struggling to afford fresh fruit; it's harmful and extreme to suggest fruit is literally worse than refined sugar unless it's organic.
-I don't like the way she talks about her (now ex) partner. Seems insensitive and mocking at times. Other time's it's overly sexualized (there was A LOT of talk about her increasing breast size).
-Very clear Jillian Michaels has never been pregnant. For example, she talks a lot about the importance of eating healthy during the first trimester, and dismisses the idea of food aversions. LADY, I WAS JUST TRYING TO FIND ANYTHING I WANTED TO EAT DURING THE FIRST TRIMESTER! I already lost close to 10 pounds during this time, if I hadn't had my plain butter bagels, non-organic apple slices, and Kirkland brand French fries it would have been way more!
January 13, 2020
FOR FITNESS MANIACS ONLY...I feel that this book is meant for you only if you're physically and mentally in shape. I was searching for a simple motivational book to help me finally take better care of my self. Instead I'm panicking over the air I breath(so basically everything else as well), eating things that make me sick(generally blessed with no nausea), instead of listening to my body(no, I'm not eating white bread and drinking cola). And don't even get me starting on the exercises. I'll repeat my self again if you're someone that goes at least 3 times to the gym weekly good for you. But to someone who only walks to work (if that)these exercises put a lot of pressure on me, both physically and mentally. I usually don't write reviews for the books I read(mostly because I fear I'll get judged) but this book was so harmful to me I would like to spare the same fate to someone else. I will continue to search for ways to prepare my body for the journey ahead of me, but not at the expense of my sanity (yup I may have cried for an hour and a half that I am already a bad mom because I should have thought about these things earlier...thank god for my love and his humor)...
P.S. It's a pregnancy book from a woman that's never been pregnant..
P.S. It's a pregnancy book from a woman that's never been pregnant..
May 12, 2019
I have a few natural/organic pregnancy books and I've enjoyed reading them all side by side to get a variety of information and decide what is best for me.
I chose this book specifically for the fitness aspect of it - something I was very curious about while trying to conceive. I actually ended up not using the fitness guides though. One thing I wish this book would have changed - it had workout plans by trimester but the explanations of the moves are in the back of the book. Having the guides and explanation for each trimester in the same spot would have made it more likely that I'd use them.
What was helpful though - for every area of pregnancy you had a few perspectives: a professional doctor, a mother (Jillian's partner Heidi), and a partner (Jillian). Its always good to get different points of view and hopefully that addition will help me remember to incorporate my husband in this process.
I chose this book specifically for the fitness aspect of it - something I was very curious about while trying to conceive. I actually ended up not using the fitness guides though. One thing I wish this book would have changed - it had workout plans by trimester but the explanations of the moves are in the back of the book. Having the guides and explanation for each trimester in the same spot would have made it more likely that I'd use them.
What was helpful though - for every area of pregnancy you had a few perspectives: a professional doctor, a mother (Jillian's partner Heidi), and a partner (Jillian). Its always good to get different points of view and hopefully that addition will help me remember to incorporate my husband in this process.
August 1, 2017
Up-to-date tips for a healthy pregnancy and 4th trimester written by Michaels and her team of experts in several fields related to women's health. This book is a one-stop-shop for women hoping to be moms or already on their way, filled with tips on how to prepare your body and optimize each trimester regarding your lifestyle and living environment, nutrition, and fitness. Provides specific meal plans and fitness routines for the entire period, also general guidelines on how to avoid toxins and deal with common pregnancy symptoms as well as what needs to be tended to at any time. A reference of clear and lighthearted advice!
July 11, 2018
I read this book (listened to the audible version) towards the end of my 2nd trimester (and 1st pregnancy). This book is incredibly comprehensive, which can be a good and bad thing. I have been pretty anxious throughout my pregnancy, and this book gave me a lot of new things to worry about (like how non-stick cookware is terrible and lots of other things I hadn't thought about before). However, Jillian Michaels definitely accomplished what she promised to do in the subtitle so I can't fault her for stoking my own anxieties. I would just say to proceed with caution if you are already a worrier. I know in my case, I'd rather know all of this than not know, so I am glad I read it.
July 25, 2017
My review comes mostly based on loving the exercise routines in this book. I found them extremely useful throughout pregnancy until I just didn't have the energy to do them anymore. There's a lot of information on how to approach things the organic way, which I didn't really follow, and a full section of recipes I admittedly didn't utilize even once... but that being said, I still found this book worth it. (And Jillian Michaels at one point referenced Six Feet Under being her favorite show of all time, sooo that made me love her even more!)
June 27, 2018
I listened to this book because it was the only audiobook on the topic available without hold through my local library's Overdrive collection. I didn't have particularly high expectations, but this book was informative and supported by research. Jillian also mentions explicitly if and when the research is inconclusive or if turning to other resources might provide more information. (I should note that my particular level of knowledge on anything pregnancy-related is very low; this book was super informative for me.)
November 29, 2018
Full disclosure: I bought this book on the recommendation of a friend I used to work out with because she said it had good exercise tips. And, as you would expect from Jillian Michaels, those tips were good and helpful. The rest of the content was just fine- definitely not your go-to pregnancy prep book, but has some decent info. My biggest complaint was there was WAY too much use of the words “mommie” and “momma.” (Her spelling, not mine, which also annoyed me.
November 18, 2019
This book was more comprehensive than I thought (in a good way) I love that it addition to first, second & third trimester chapters it dedicates a chapter each to the time before you get pregnant/are planning and the postpartum period. There are tips and nformafion scattered from different experts which is also helpful. The pictures of the different workout moves were great as well as the recipes.
May 30, 2017
Jillian's books are all excellent. This book raises the bar - outstanding detailed interesting guidance on eating, exercising, environment, and health before, during, and after pregnancy. I loved the true-to-life explanations of what the woman's body goes through in each phase. Truly invaluable information for a woman planning or going through the pregnancy process.
August 3, 2018
Best to get this book during pregnancy. I picked it up after I gave birth and the only part that applied to me was the final chapter. That being said - there are some great tips throughout the book.
November 18, 2020
It was ok. Jillian talks a lot about "getting your body back" but what does that even mean. You get get back to the same weight or to the same fitness level, but in some ways your body will never be the same. Not in a bad way, it's just different.
January 11, 2022
While this had some parts that I didn't care for, I really appreciated the meal plans and exercise outlines. Those are a great resource for clueless people like me who are very uncreative about those things. It will be fun to try!
September 9, 2017
Yes! This book covers so much & is absolutely amazing. I loved it.
November 21, 2017
Had to end it early at the very end because I was so afraid she was going to spoil the finale of Six Feet Under for me. Hope I didn’t miss anything! Lol
September 19, 2018
A little too preachy for my taste, but interesting information and good layout for a non-reference book.
November 21, 2018
Excellent book
This book is perfect for first time moms. It provides information about each stage of your pregnancy. It also includes exercises and nutrition per trimester
This book is perfect for first time moms. It provides information about each stage of your pregnancy. It also includes exercises and nutrition per trimester
January 10, 2019
I love Jillian Michaels and how she is straightforward and to the point. This is an easy book to follow. Its really like any other baby book I've read so far. Nothing too special.
January 19, 2019
Really enjoyed this book. So far it has been a great workout plan during my pregnancy.
October 24, 2019
Great recipes & exercises included!
May 3, 2020
Lost a star for encouraging bed-sharing with your baby which goes against the AAP guidelines. Baby can room-share, but should never be in an adult bed. There is no safe way to bed-share.
July 25, 2021
Workouts and meals are helpful. Made some adjustments since I follow a keto diet. Also interesting to see a female partner point of view of being one not carrying the baby.
August 10, 2022
Third time reading! I appreciate all the evidence based advice on pregnancy and that I can trust the nutritional and exercise recommendations.
May 29, 2023
Fantastic guide for pre conception through to birth and beyond.
January 24, 2025
While this book shares some interesting information about pregnancy, it also contains dangerous misinformation. For example, including a doctor’s dismissive claim that detractors of co-sleeping or family beds just want babies to sleep poorly—without addressing the legitimate safety concerns—felt reckless. Additionally, the suggestion that sex should be encouraged from the birthing parent even when you don’t feel like it because “your spouse needs it” and you can't care for a baby without them was unsettling and came across as coercive.
The information on chemicals, nutrition coaching, and fitness plans was helpful, but this content being in a PDF made the audiobook format less effective. And this was such a small part of the book even though it's exactly what readers would be looking for from this author/celebrity. Overall, the tone of the book often felt condescending—like being mansplained to (spoiler alert: Jillian Michaels has never been pregnant)—which made it difficult to fully engage with.
The information on chemicals, nutrition coaching, and fitness plans was helpful, but this content being in a PDF made the audiobook format less effective. And this was such a small part of the book even though it's exactly what readers would be looking for from this author/celebrity. Overall, the tone of the book often felt condescending—like being mansplained to (spoiler alert: Jillian Michaels has never been pregnant)—which made it difficult to fully engage with.
March 9, 2017
I received this book as a preview copy from Goodreads. And it almost makes me want to be pregnant - I am only 73 years young. This is focused on a youthful lifestyle for the mother, baby and family. The author is famous for her exercises and her healthy body. During this book, she picks up help and helpful hints from three doctors, a dietitian, and a pregnancy fitness specialist. There are exercises for all stages of the pregnancy and good recipes throughout. But the book is also fun. There is no author attribution for the "Poop Glossary." The topics are The Blowout, The Nuclear Nugget, The Poo-Mergency, and The A-Poo-Calypse. (You will have to get the book to read the definitions.) What I loved about this readable book is that she includes the family and family advice. For example. one doc urges the parents and the baby to sleep together for the first year. One does not have to take all the advice but it is all worth considering after the professional gives the reasons. This is a great gift book, even if you are not pregnant.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews