Why Did No One Tell Me This?

The Doulas' (Honest) Guide for Expectant Parents

De: Natalia Hailes, Ash Spivak, Louise Reimer

Narrado por: Jillian Yetter

Full of honest advice and inclusive options, Why Did No One Tell Me This? is the funny, personality-filled, illustrated guide to pregnancy, birth, and beyond that modern parents have been waiting for.
Pregnancy and childbirth are full of big questions -- what if my baby is enormous? Will my water break naturally? What even goes into a 'birth plan'? How on earth am I going to keep this child alive once it's here? And where do I turn for advice that will really work for me and my life?
In Why Did No One Tell Me This? doulas and reproductive health experts Natalia Hailes and Ash Spivak answer these questions and more for today's wellness-focused, intersectional parents-to-be. Drawing on years of experience in their birth doula practice Brilliant Bodies, Natalia and Ash guide readers through the entire process, from the earliest stages of pregnancy to the jungle of postpartum feelings and responsibilities.

Bite-sized pieces of advice are interspersed with vibrant illustrations by artist Louise Reimer to break down the doubts and fears that often surround childbirth, empowering readers to explore their own individual needs, know their rights, and find their voice both during and after pregnancy. By addressing common fears, incorporating regular tips for partners, and providing information on a wide array of birth and parents styles, this unique and inclusive guide is the perfect tool for a new generation of parents.

Returned, poorly written

While trying to be inclusive and supportive, the book comes off instead as condescending and #annoyingly trite. I got that the authors wanted to express a “you can do it” attitude, but it was just too much of that and not enough facts. There were blips of good info, but it was buried in tons of unnecessary writing that told you nothing and felt coddling. This book was really NOT written for an audiobook version. The overuse of hashtags made the book feel like it was written in 140 character tweets strung together. *Maybe* if reading the book, you could just ignore these and more easily skip to the informative bits. But why on earth would they have the narrator read the hashtags aloud in the audiobook version?? It was so annoying. Returned and would not recommend.

Wow I #Hated This Book

Yes, it’s possible to be #infantilize as a person about to bring a baby into the world. Sure there is some helpful info in this book, but plenty of other books have the same info without all the dumb #girlboss delivery. If you are someone who needs to be coddled and think #hashtag is a good punch line to you, then maybe this is the book for you. “A pelvis like Elvis” is an actual quote, and where I couldn’t go on. I do recognize the book does a great job being inclusive, but just doesn’t seem like enough to redeem it.