In the beginning: conception. Prep work ; Data-driven conception ; The two-week wait -- The first trimester. The vices: caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco ; Miscarriage fears ; Beware of deli meats! ; Nausea and my mother-in-law ; Prenatal screening and testing ; The surprising perils of gardening -- The second trimester. Eating for two? You wish ; Pink and blue ; Working out and resting up ; Drug safety -- The third trimester. Premature birth (and the dangers of bed rest) ; High-risk pregnancy ; I'm going to be pregnant forever, right? ; Labor induction -- Labor and delivery. The labor numbers ; To epidural or not to epidural? ; Beyond pain relief ; The aftermath ; Home birth: progressive or regressive? And who cleans the tub? ; Epilogue -- Appendix: quick reference: OTC and prescription drugs

Pregnancy--unquestionably one of the most profound, meaningful experiences of adulthood--can reduce otherwise intelligent women to, well, babies. Pregnant women are told to avoid cold cuts, sushi, alcohol, and coffee without ever being told why these are forbidden. Rules for prenatal testing are similarly unexplained. Moms-to-be desperately want a resource that empowers them to make their own right choices. When award-winning economist Emily Oster was a mom-to-be herself, she evaluated the data behind the accepted rules of pregnancy, and discovered that most are often misguided and some are just flat-out wrong. Debunking myths and explaining everything from the real effects of caffeine to the surprising dangers of gardening, Expecting Bettering is the book for every pregnant woman who wants to enjoy a healthy and relaxed pregnancy--and the occasional glass of wine.--Publisher's description