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What to read when you are expecting? 3 books to guide, amuse, and reassure you

Whether you are craving expert medical advice, a comedic break from it all, or a cultural take rooted in both tradition and modernity, you will find something here to keep you informed, reassured, and entertained until delivery day, and beyond

A symbolic image of a woman expecting a child

Whether you are craving expert medical advice, a comedic break from it all, or a cultural take rooted in both tradition and modernity, you will find something here to keep you informed, reassured, and entertained until delivery day, and beyond.

Pregnancy can be exhilarating, exhausting, and occasionally absurd, and no single book captures it all. From the meticulous week-by-week guidance of a trusted classic, to the laugh-out-loud confessions of a celebrity mom, to the glamorous-yet-grounded wisdom of Bollywood royalty, these three very different reads prove there’s no one right way to prepare for parenthood.

Whether you are craving expert medical advice, a comedic break from it all, or a cultural take rooted in both tradition and modernity, you will find something here to keep you informed, reassured, and entertained until delivery day, and beyond.

What to Expect When You’re Expecting by Heidi Murkoff

The book cover of What to Expect When You Are Expecting

New editions cover everything from IVF and multiple births to raw diets and postpartum birth control. (Source: amazon.in)

For more than three decades, this perennial bestseller has been the gold standard of pregnancy guides. With 18.5 million copies in print, Murkoff’s classic blends up-to-date medical advice with practical lifestyle tips and empatheticguidance. New editions cover everything from IVF and multiple births to raw diets and postpartum birth control, all while seamlessly including advice for expectant fathers. Whether you’re navigating prenatal screenings, weighing the pros and cons of a home birth, or wondering if that baby bump selfie is a good idea, this is the definitive handbook for parents-to-be.

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Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth, by Jenny McCarthy

Belly Laughs reads like a candid chat with a brutally honest best friend. (Source: amazon.in)

For a dose of comic relief, McCarthy’s unfiltered take on pregnancy is laugh-out-loud funny. She recounts the awkward doctor visits, strange bodily changes, and delivery-room absurdities with a “no sugarcoating” rule firmly in place. Covering everything from morning sickness to mood swings to the dreaded granny panties, Belly Laughs reads like a candid chat with a brutally honest best friend. Equal parts comedy and coping mechanism, it is the perfect choice for expectant moms who want their truth served with sass.

Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible

The book includes Kareena Kapoor Khan’s own stories, including cravings, challenges, and moments of joy. (Source: amazon.in)

This warm, glamorous, and deeply personal guide takes readers through the full 40 weeks, weaving expert advice on diet, fitness, emotions, and postpartum care with Khan’s own stories, including cravings, challenges, and moments of joy. Pair it with dietician Rujuta Diwekar’s Indian Superfoods, which celebrates ten humble kitchen staples with powerful health benefits, and you have an ideal companion for the modern, health-conscious mother-to-be. From pepperoni pizza confessions to ghee-laced wisdom, it’s as nourishing for the soul as it is for the body.