Expecting Better

Outline

Expecting Better (2013) helps pregnant women make informed choices by looking carefully at the evidence behind common pregnancy rules. Emily Oster, an economist, examines advice about caffeine, certain foods, weight gain, prenatal testing, and labour, and explains what the research actually shows. Rather than telling women what to do, the book gives them the information they need to make their own decisions with their doctors.

• Many common pregnancy rules rest on weaker evidence than most women are led to believe.
• Emily Oster is an economist, so she reads the research on pregnancy the way an analyst weighs data.
• The book looks at advice on caffeine, certain foods, weight gain, prenatal testing, and labour.
• It explains what the research actually shows instead of repeating outdated advice or relying on fear.
• The goal is not to give orders but to equip women to decide together with their doctors.

Emily Oster is an American economist and professor at Brown University who uses data to help families make better decisions. She founded ParentData, a popular resource that explains research on pregnancy, parenting, and child health. Her books include Expecting Better, Cribsheet, and The Family Firm.