When I Bumped into Books With My Baby Bump: 6 Must Reads

My list of recommended books to read during pregnancy

Did you crave for books during pregnancy? I did!

All pregnant women have one or the other cravings during their pregnancy. Some crave for sweet, some for sour and some crave for hot. Of course there are some unusual cravings like chalk, ice, soap too. I had a different cravings; yes craving for books during pregnancy!

After confirming a positive pregnancy test, most of us will start reading books about pregnancy, childbirth and parenting.

I must admit, we read them as though we are preparing for some exams or doing a research and at the end we get confused or scared. So, along with those regular pregnancy books you read, why not opt for some light, fun, easy and positive books. After all we all aim to be happy and relaxed 🙂

My Unusual Craving for Books during Pregnancy:

When I was pregnant with Reyhan, like every caring husband, mine too asked me what I craved for. Without a second thought I said, ”I wish to read books, I feel like reading lots and lots of them.”

Yes, my craving was for BOOKS!!! I developed a huge appetite for books especially during the second trimester.

I was always interested in reading, but I would admit that, for me reading became more exciting and fun when I was pregnant. The fresh sweet smell of a new book and the faint musty smell of an old book equally rejuvenated me.

Going to the bookstore was the most exciting thing to do while pregnant!

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Seeing neatly arranged books at the bookstore gave me goose bumps. It was a pleasure to just take a book and turn the newly printed pages.

I loved to look at the colorful cover pages and the sketches of the scenes and characters depicted in the books. The books in the library had its own beauty.

I felt that the unique smell, yellowish pages, dog-eared corners, the scribbles, notes and the slightly worn out cover pages of the old books from the library carried a personal touch of each person who owned it before me 🙂

A cozy place, a book I like and a healthy snack to munch on made the right combination for the perfect ‘me time’!! You can read about the ideal food chart for a pregnant woman.

Here are a few books that can make you laugh-out-loud and at the same time makes you think about your life in general.

When I Bumped into Books: My List of Must Read Books When You are Expecting:

#1. PS, I Love You:

If you need a good cry, a good laugh and an insightful look at family dynamics, then ‘PS, I Love You’ is the book for you.

This novel, by Cecelia Ahern, spins around the life of Holly who is totally devastated after the death of her much loved husband Gerry.

But later on, Holly discovers that Gerry has left her a bundle of letters, gently guiding her into her new life without him, each signed ‘PS, I Love You’.

This book was a mixture of emotions and I loved every bit of it.

#2. Just Married, Please Excuse:

‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ by Yashodhara Lal is another book I recommend. The book is a fresh and honest take on marriage and parenthood.

The novel humorously tells us how young couples, Yashodhara and Vijay, learn to adjust to married life and to each other, how they handle the unexpected arrival of baby Anoushka a.k.a Peanut, especially when they have vastly divergent views on raising a child.

Will their many differences- so endearing at the start of their romance- actually turn out to mean that they are just incompatible?

Will they ever manage to agree on anything? Or have they just bitten off more than they can chew? …

Well… to know that just read the book ‘Just Married, Please Excuse’ 🙂

#3. Shopaholic and Baby:

Who doesn’t love the hugely popular chic-lit ‘Shopaholic’ novels by Sophie Kinsella? ‘Shopaholic and Baby’ is a delicious addition to the ‘Shopaholic’ Series.

Becky Brandon, our heroin, is pregnant with her first baby and she wants nothing but everything that is perfect for her little princess- from the designer nursery…to the latest, coolest pram…to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician.

She is more than happy especially sincediscovering that shopping cures morning sickness!!Crazy she is..

The book begins with Becky going for her ultrasound scan. As the story progress, Becky does house-hunting with her husband, deals with her celebrity obstetrician who turns to be her husband Luke’s ex-girlfriend.

Towards the end she pretends that she is in early labor for very many crazy reasons and then she finally delivers their little princess -Minnie. In between, of course, she does lots and lots of shopping 😛

#4. Mini Shopaholic:

‘Mini Shopaholic’ is the next in the series and a total roller costar ride. In this installment we see Becky as a mother, struggling to deal with Minnie’s toddler tantrums.

Minnie turns out to love a materialistic life just like her mommy. To screw things up in a funny way, Becky is in financial crisis and she is struggling to control her urge to shop.

The major plot in this book is about Becky’s effort to throw a surprise birthday party for her husband Luke, that too on a budget.

‘Mini Shopaholic’ leaves you laughing-out-loud with all the funny unrealistic quirky situations that Becky encounters. 

#5. Unnikuttante Lokham:

I strongly believe that, to be a good mother, it is important to understand everything from a child’s perspective.

‘Unnikuttante Lokham’ is a must read if you want to see the world through a child’s eye. It’s a Malayalam novel written by Nandanar.

The novel is all about Unnikuttan, a high-spirited four-year-old boy. The innocence and curiosity of childhood are depicted beautifully in this novel.

The lead character Unnikuttan, with all his innocence, mischiefs and curiosities, will conquer our hearts. I recommend this book to all those who wish to have a sweet ride back to their childhood.

After all you have to ‘become a child to understand a child’ isn’t? 

#6. Eat, Pray, Love:

Another book I recommend as a must read for all women is ‘Eat, Pray, Love’.

It is a memoir by American author Elizabeth Gilbert. The memoir chronicles the author’s trip around the world in search of what she truly wanted from life.

Gilbert finds pleasure in Italy, enlightenment in India and then a balance between the two on the Indonesian island of Bali. The book helps you to look at your life from a different angle.

These are the books that I read during my pregnancy phase. I found reading books like these made the weeks go by quicker and put my mind at ease.

So…why wait? Head to the bookstore, buy a few books.

Read a lot…eat a lot…pray…stay positive…

Enjoy your pregnancy…Because its unique and all yours!!

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