- Megan Johanson
Data-Centric Book Review: Expecting Better
When I found out I was pregnant, I immediately started looking for data on what I should and shouldn’t be doing, as well as what to expect during pregnancy and delivery. If you are, or know, a data nerd like to me who wants to know more about the actual data surrounding pregnancy, keep reading.
Overview
Emily Oster is an economist who tackled the enormous task of condensing research on pregnancy topics into bullet points that empower parents to make informed decisions. In her book, Expecting Better, she walks through the most common questions expectant parents have.
For many of these questions doctors only give vague suggestions like “limit your caffeine intake” and if you try to research it yourself you find many conflicting opinions. Oster not only gives you an overview of all the existing research, she explains why some findings are more reliable than others. She doesn’t tell you what to do, but provides all the facts to enable you to make the best decision for your family.
Overall, I found the book extremely insightful and helpful in knowing what to expect and how to best care for myself and my growing baby.