The Information Battle: Pregnancy Books vs. Pregnancy Web sites
The classic
baby book has a whole new look. According to an article on MSNBC yesterday, "What to
Expect When You're Expecting" just released its largely rewritten, fourth edition, complete
with an updated, chic woman on the cover. (See below for before and after pictures.)
However, the
article questions whether the revamp is enough. Not only are there hundreds of
other baby books, “but there's also the big wide Web world out there, and it's
not just all those sites offering medical information. This is the age of the message board,
where a woman who has a strange ache or pain at 3 a.m. can fire off a
cyber-question: "Late-night cramps at 5 months pg, dh asleep, what do i
do?" Answers come within moments.”
At
iVillage, we have just that. You can track your pregnancy progress day by day with
the Pregnancy
Calendar, find a name for your baby-to-be with the Baby
Name Finder, keep your style up to date with maternity
style tips and talk to other women due the same month you are by joining an
Expecting
Club.
As a person who grew up using the internet as my main source of information, I can’t imagine looking anywhere else for pregnancy tools and information. But what is your preference? What did you use for your pregnancy—books or the Web?
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I am using both. As soon as I found out, I bought the book, What to expect....but, have since, probably joined about 10 sites that I get weekly updates from. Buying the book made it feel "official" for me, and I like all the information it provides. On the flip side, the websites provide benefits the book doesn't. For starters, as the author stated, a big benefit is the ability to, at any time, post a question for instant replies. The other huge draw that the book does not provide is the ability to just talk to and relate with other pregnant women. But, I have to say, I am equally happy with both mediums.
I have to say that I use both books and websites. When I first found out I was pregnant, I went right to the store and bought "What to Expect..". It made it feel more official to me. Since then, ( I am now 5 1/2 mos) I have joined probably about 10 sites, which email me weekly updates. I like both and would not go to using just one or the other. Like the author states, websites offer the ability to go on at anytime and post questions and get immediate answers. Another huge plus for the websites is the interaction and relationships you can build with the other users on the sites. Though, I must say that I wouldn't change anything-the book usage or the sites.