What to Believe When You're Expecting

September 18, 2017
Obstetrician Schaffir delivers a well-researched, if surprisingly humorless, look at various folk beliefs around pregnancy and helps sort out the possible, the illogical (“Why would spicy food start labor?”), and the just plain strange. The book is smartly organized around stages of pregnancy and motherhood, going from conception to labor to breastfeeding, and briefly examines questions associated with each. Are dry beets, rice, and pomegranates reliable fertility aids? Is a baby’s gender associated with the father’s virility? Can chocolate make a baby’s disposition sweeter, and can a mother’s stress make it worse? Although Schaffir diligently shares a slew of superstitions and misbeliefs, as a physician and scientist he is careful not to encourage belief in most of the “remedies” or advice. Sex and dinner as inducements for labor might be pleasurable but “there is little evidence” that they actually work, he writes. The jovial author’s best advice to parents is to “take what nature gives them and love their baby no matter what,” rather than concern themselves with issues beyond their control—baby gender, for instance. A higher dose of levity, and perhaps a more visually interesting presentation than Schaffir’s blocks of uninterrupted text, would make this intriguing and informative survey an even more enjoyable reading experience.

November 1, 2017

Pregnant women are inundated with well-meaning but not always scientifically proven or correct advice. Obstetrician Schaffir aims to examine whether the "old wives' tales" about pregnancy and childbirth are true or not (usually not), giving a better sense of the origin of these stories and whether or not they will work and why. Tales range from plausible to unbelievable, including examinations of the health benefits of women eating the placenta postbirth, whether exercise is beneficial for an easier labor, and if spicy foods induce labor. While chapters are often full of cliches and gender stereotypes, there is plenty of solid medical advice, studies, and well-researched points to make this a useful read for women who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Schaffir uses slightly dated language at times, but is also very witty. VERDICT Of interest to would-be parents who wish to clarify rumors and myths and tips from others.--Cheryl Yanek, Brooklyn

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2017
Have you ever heard that eating sweets means an expectant mother will have a girl? Or that pregnant women should eat dates in order to ease labor pains? Dr. Schaffir explores the origins of these and other stories about pregnancy and birth that have endured through the centuries. Chapters follow pregnancy from conception through birth, addressing varied topics including fertility, efforts to choose and predict gender, and labor. Schaffir examines research from throughout the centuries and puts specific studies into historical context. His years as an obstetrician and educator have given him insight into the tales that continue to persist despite decades of medical advancement. Throughout the book, Schaffir's tone is approachable and compassionate towards expectant and hopeful parents. He is well versed in folktales from multiple cultures and world regions. Given that folklore about pregnancy and birth remains prevalent while other outdated medical advice has been left behind, What to Believe When You're Expecting is a fascinating look at beliefs and stories for parents and nonparents alike.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)