Nightstand (November 2014)

Last month, I sat in a hospital room typing up my Nightstand post, trying to hold off my baby’s delivery as long as possible. This month, I eagerly await news that I can return to a postpartum hospital room, room in with my daughter and BRING HER HOME.

It’s been an eventful month, full of traveling back and forth from home to hospital and pumping endless gallons of breastmilk (nope, not exaggerating, you should see my deep freeze). It has not been a particularly reading-rich month, since I’ve been rather busy with Tirzah Mae. But, there are still books on my Nightstand – can a fish live without water?

This month, I read:

• The Essential C-Section Guide by Maureen Connolly and Dana Sullivan
  Since about 30% of American births take place via c-section, the authors attempt to fill a gap in prenatal education, teaching women what to expect before and after a c-section. Reading this, I was a) frustrated that the c-section rate is as high as it is (much of it due to repeat c-sections without other indications) and b) thankful that I didn’t have a c-section – except that, oh wait, I did. The authors seem to go out of their way to try to present a c-section as a normal and appropriate birthing experience (though they stop just short of encouraging the completely elective c-sections that are normative in some South American countries). Meanwhile, the typical side effects/after effects of a c-section that the authors describe are so truly horrific that this reader is convinced (if she wasn’t already) that VBAC is the way to go (I was blessed to NOT experience anything particularly awful after my section – but why risk those side effects if you can avoid them entirely?) I really want to review this book more fully, but don’t know if I will, since, well – I am recovering from my c-section and taking care of my preemie, which doesn’t exactly leave a lot of room for other things.
• 1628 Country Shortcuts from 1628 Country People by editors of Country and Country Woman magazines
  “Who knew” type tips from before Pinterest.
• Christmas in Williamsburg by Taylor Biggs Lewis, Jr. and Joanne B. Young
  Lots of pictures of Colonial Williamsburg dressed up for Christmas. A fun review from our trip.
• Preemies by Dana Wechsler Linden, Emma Trenti Paroli, and Mia Wechsler Doron M.D.
  A great comprehensive look at the questions and concerns parents have while their preemies are in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Read my full review.
• Christmas Customs around the World by Herbert H. Wernecke
  Many of the customs described in this little book, published in 1959, are depicted elsewhere with equal or greater artistry – the real strength of this particular volume compared to others is the missionary vignettes shared throughout. While I can’t find the passage that gave me the impression, it seems that the author was involved with some Presbyterian missions agency, and he shares a variety of missionary’s depictions of how their community (often a mission school or orphanage) celebrates Christmas in Africa or Asia.

On the docket for next month:

• Books about preemies/childcare
  ‘Cause we have a daughter who needs to be cared for
• Books about estate planning
  ‘Cause we have a daughter who needs to be cared for
• Books about postpartum body stuff
  ‘Cause there are special rules for recovering from a c-section and I didn’t study up in advance because I didn’t expect to need it.
• Books about building houses
  ‘Cause we’ll need to be thinking about the process of putting a house on our land.
• Books about gardening/homesteading
  ‘Cause I’m dreaming of what else we can put on our land.

Don’t forget to drop by 5 Minutes 4 Books to see what others are reading this month!