What To Expect When You’re Expecting

The full extent of my pregnancy fitness was cradling my bump on the bus on the way to work. By the time I got home every night I was utterly exhausted. I’d heard all the hype about swimming, but having dived into a pool several years ago and got my hair caught in a vent, you’d be lucky to get me in a body of water any more substantial tan Dexie’s paddling pool.

But this time around I’ll be considerably more careful. I’m the heaviest I’ve ever been at the moment and put it all down to lack of exercise both before and after Dexter’s birth. As soon I get those 2 pink lines I’ll be donning the maternity lycra and slipping on (every pregnant woman’s secret weapon) What To Expect When You’re Expecting: The Workout, and trying my best to join in.

So my contribution to exercise (and Project Baby 2) this week has been to watch this DVD whilst laying on the floor with Dexter re-learning Silent Night on his Leapfrog xylophone. I haven’t attempted one lunge, pelvic floor or squat, but I’m full of admiration for the tiny people on the telly doing their best to inspire me.

I blame this blog, the heat, lack of appropriate footwear, and a child that refuses to play independently with anything remotely age-appropriate - seriously, I had to pluck keyboard keys from my laptop out of his mouth yesterday morning. I’m not complaining - I’ve just written off bikinis for this upcoming holiday and picked ‘forgiving’ dresses that will minimise the chance of a foreign waiter asking me ‘when I’m due’.

In all seriousness, this is a pretty impressive DVD packed full of easy and safe exercises for the mum-to-be. Keeping fit in pregnancy is actually incredibly important and no laughing matter. There are a whole host of benefits including preparing yourself for the rigours of childbirth, improved sleep and guarding again gestational diabetes. There’s Pilates-based moves and yoga-inspired stretches to help build stamina and rejuvenate aching and tight muscles. Thankfully the soundtrack is also less ’70′s disco’ than other pregnancy workout DVDs too.

But for now, as the heat is crippling, I’m way behind with my blog posts, and there’s chilled wine in the fridge that might not last until Craig gets home, I’ll make myself comfortable and watch the very funny What to Expect When You’re Expecting (the movie) instead.

Centred on the upcoming births of 3 women, the film follows each of them and their hapless other halves to D Day. I thought it was heartwarming and funny, and dealt with some pretty tough issues (miscarriage and adoption) in a sensitive way. Sadly Craigy found it a little patronising. Craig was very hands on throughout my pregnancy and is probably a more natural parent than I, so he gets a little pee’ed off when he sees dumbed-down-dad’s on the tv. If he’d only watch one episode of One Born Every Minute he’d quickly realise what a rare (and sought after) commodity he is and I’d lose him to a considerably yummier mummy from Dexter’s playgroup!

There’s lots to like about this movie, and most mums will see snippets of their own experience of pregnancy in each of the characters. From the desperate-to-be-pregnant Wendy (Elizabeth Banks) with her cringeworthy breastfeeding children’s book and his and hers ovulation alarm, to the mum-to-be (Cameron Diaz) that refuses to slow down, to the mum (Brooklyn Decker) whose fertility knows no bounds and winds up sneezing out her first born twin.

The only thing that’s apt to make you raise your eyebrows is how utterly gorgeous all the mums-to-be look with their incredibly cute baby bumps (I didn’t spot one scene without a large helping of mascara and lipgloss) - I certainly didn’t look like that pushing my trolley around Tescos in my 8th month!

You can find both these DVDs on Amazon, or check out the new website to learn about all things pregnancy, baby and beyond. The WTE UK team can also be found on Facebook and Twitter and are always on hand to answer those questions that just can’t wait - do pop over and show them some love.

DISCLAIMER: The What to Expect team kindly sent me both DVDs for the purpose of this review, but all views and opinions are my own.

When I was pregnant with Dexter, I was glued to books like What to Expect When You’re Expecting. Every week I’d whip them out and follow the development of baby like a student cramming for a PHD in Obstetrics. I knew exactly when his fingernails finally formed, when his taste buds began to develop, and when he took on his daddy’s ears. I think a first pregnancy brings out the neurosis in women and every stray kick, twinge or burp sees you flying to the bookshelf for confirmation that baby hasn’t punched his way out of the amniotic sac in a bid for freedom.

0031 My Bible: What to Expect When Youre Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

As pregnancy is different for every woman, and every baby, it’s all too easy to get deflated when you’re still waiting for a kick at 16 weeks when your friend can feel her baby at 14. There’s also a battery of tests and scans that can heighten anxiety for expectant parents. It’s no wonder that pregnancy manuals are at the top of a pregnant woman’s wishlist as they really can help you keep a level-head when your emotions are all over the place.

Yep, there’s no denying that baby books are Big Business. I remember spending entire afternoons reading reviews on Amazon, and once famously spent 2 hours in Waterstones (during the Christmas shopping season no less!) selecting my pregnancy bible. It simply didn’t matter that I was signed up to countless websites and receiving daily email notifications, you can’t ever put a price on a good book when you’re curled up in bed (especially as that was where I spent the majority of my pregnancy!).

So what sets this book apart from all the others? It’s the sheer level of detail. There’s advice on preparing your body for conception, early pregnancy signs, and thorough sections dedicated to each month of your pregnancy. There’s also loads of postpartum advice and a very sympathetically written chapter on how to cope when things don’t go to plan. It’s funny (in places), informative and there’s not a hint of the patronising tone that so often accompanies books in this genre. It’s incredibly well organised and aims to pre-empt any question (no matter how minor or ridiculous) you might have about your pregnancy journey. With a superior index for quick referencing, it really deserves its accolade of being the world’s bestselling pregnancy manual, and hasn’t moved from my beside table for a whole year.

005 My Bible: What to Expect When Youre Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

If you’re planning / expecting your first child, I can’t recommend this book highly enough. You can get your copy from Amazon or check out the new website (click on the image below to be transported to all-things-baby!). WTE should also give out social media lessons as they’re incredibly supportive on Facebook and Twitter too - don’t be afraid to pop over and say hello if you have any questions that just can’t wait!

Capture My Bible: What to Expect When Youre Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

DISCLAIMER: I was sent a signed copy of What To Expect When You’re Expecting, and 2 DVD’s. I previously owned a copy (albeit a little battered now!) which I was happy to replace with the new one! All thoughts and opinions are my own.