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  • Expecting Better

  • Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong - and What You Really Need to Know
  • Written by: Emily Oster
  • Narrated by: Emily Oster, Jonathan Todd Ross
  • Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (106 ratings)

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Expecting Better cover art

Expecting Better

Written by: Emily Oster
Narrated by: Emily Oster, Jonathan Todd Ross
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Publisher's Summary

What to Expect When You're Expecting meets Freakonomics: an award-winning economist disproves standard recommendations about pregnancy to empower women while they're expecting. From the author of Cribsheet, a data-driven decision making guide to the early years of parenting

Pregnancy - unquestionably one of the most pro­found, meaningful experiences of adulthood - can reduce otherwise intelligent women to, well, babies. Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Moms-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices.

When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Better is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy - and the occasional glass of wine.

* This audiobook includes a downloadable PDf of charts, graphs and an Appendix from the book.

©2019 Emily Oster (P)2021 Penguin Audio

What the critics say

"A revelation for curious mothers-to-be whose doctors fail to lay out the pros and cons of that morning latte, let alone discuss real science. And it makes for valuable homework before those harried ob-gyn appointments, even for lucky patients whose doctors are able to talk about the rationale behind their advice." (New York Times)

"A book...that pregnant women won't want to miss." (Parents Magazine)

"Oster's advice cuts through the emotion, myth, fear of malpractice litigation and looks at the numbers. A mother herself, Oster's interest isn't just curiosity, it's the same thing that motivates every new mom...and Oster's ability to break down the data into informed analysis is a refreshing break from the hysterical hearsay that often dominates the conversation." (Babyzone)

"It took someone as smart as Emily Oster to make it all this simple. She cuts through the thicket of anxiety and received wisdom, and gives us the facts. Expecting Better is both enlightening and calming. It almost makes me want to get pregnant." (Pamela Druckerman, New York Times best-selling author of Bringing Up Bébé)

What listeners say about Expecting Better

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Enlightening for future dads as well!

This book is the first one I’ve read during my girlfriend’s pregnancy. It answered a lot of questions we had and the structure of each chapter is very easy to follow. Would recommend without hesitation!

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Lots of information that helped my fears!

I wasn't sure if I would like this book but it turns out this was pretty good. it was so nice to learn about the actual stats behind the "recommendation" and to know whether or not it had to be followed or just old rules.

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Very much enjoyed.

Information laid out in a clear way and let’s you hear all sides of the story. It’s also not boring to listen to. I feel I still learned something even though I’ve had three babies. :)

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Very interesting information

Makes you really question some of the traditional recommendations and leaves you with lots to think about.

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  • K
  • 2023-09-20

An analytical view of pregnancy

Emily answers all of the question in a matter of no nonsense way. If you need information to inform your decisions look no further.

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Thank You!

This is the audio every expecting mother needs to hear! Pros and cons are listed for each topic allowing the listener to make their own decision. I really appreciated that the author also reviewed the credibility of the studies so you can have confidence in the findings. And the little bits of humour were a bonus!

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perfect gift for all future Moms

I loved it! knowledge is power. so much information is provided in an easy way to understand. great listening!

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if you're into statistics...

It's phenomenal in the use of evidence based studies and clinical research. Doesn't give you hard yes or hard no for anything but encouraging you to makes up your own mind about certain aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. I've learned a bunch and will use it going forward in my pregnancy.

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great listen!

I really enjoyed listening to this book, it was very informative. Highly recommend for expecting mama’s!

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Good info

Helpful information for decision making and takes a lot of worry stress away from pregnancy

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