Bumpology - 9781451684995

From award-winning science journalist Linda Geddes, a fascinating and practical companion for expectant parents that makes sense of conflicting advice about pregnancy, birth, and raising babies.

The moment she discovers she's pregnant, every woman suddenly has a million questions about the life that's developing inside of her. Linda Geddes was no different, except that as a journalist writing for New Scientist, she had access to the most up-to-date scientific research. What began as a personal quest to find the truth behind headlines and information that didn’t patronize or confuse became a much-discussed weekly column and is now a brilliant new book.

In Bumpology, Geddes discusses the latest research on every topic that expectant parents encounter, from miscarriage to breastfeeding, exercise to hot tubs, cravings to stretch marks, and much, much more. She also seeks to alleviate some of the worries pregnant woman face each day. We are constantly bombarded with conflicting, often misleading information: Don’t eat too much, as it may raise the baby’s risk of diabetes. But don’t diet, either, as that could have a similar effect. Avoid exercise, as it could trigger a miscarriage, but stay active. Just thinking about these things is enough to raise anyone’s blood pressure—but pregnant women need to be careful about that, too, because stress can be bad for the baby. Geddes cuts through the confusion with wisdom, and wit.

Packed with astonishing facts, Bumpology answers any question you’ve ever wondered about having a baby.