Bailey Gaddis - Asking for a Pregnant Friend: 101 Answers to Questions Women Are Too Embarrassed to Ask about Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood

Asking for a Pregnant Friend is so brave, essential, and thorough. Bailey Gaddiss writing is conversational yet poignant, revealing yet compassionate, and bold and feminine. To have answers to these sensitive and vulnerable questions given with such care, intelligence, humor, and practicality is absolutely crucial for all mothers, whether its their first pregnancy or fourth. As a mother to two children, I wish Id had this book as my ally earlier! Its going to become my go-to gift for every expecting family.

Rachel Kolar McCord, writer and artist

Guilt and horror, be gone! Nothing you are feeling or experiencing on this wildly life-altering journey is wrong, weird, or shameful. Bailey Gaddis sets it all on the table and unpacks it with thoughtful care, honesty, kindness, and a rich (and comedic) personal experience. Asking for a Pregnant Friend is a treasure trove of information on pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood, delivered in the most modern, supportive, and encouraging format. Baileys pitch-perfect, sage, and sure-footed advice feels like its coming from the best friend you wish you had.

Kristen Vadas, writer and producer

Asking for a Pregnant Friend is a fun, relatable book that will resonate with moms and moms-to-be around the world.

Nita Landry, MD, OB-GYN, cohost of The Doctors

Asking for a Pregnant Friend fills a void as the wise, funny, witty, and commonsense mama mentor that we all need during pregnancy but is so difficult to find in our society. This book is laugh-out-loud funny and relatable for anyone who has found themselves pregnant and questioning what on earth is going on with their body and emotions.

Brittany Sanders, artist (and mama)

Bailey Gaddis isnt just an engaging writer; she brings a wealth of experience in pregnancy, birthing, and motherhood to this book. She dares to go to the places that every woman wonders about. Let her hold your hand and lead you there. You will feel more at peace after you have navigated your own wilderness.

Meghan Rudd Van Alstine, PhD, psychologist

Asking for a Pregnant Friend is the book mamas-to-be have been waiting for! Bailey Gaddiss candid, loving, and no-BS voice will soothe and calm you before, during, and after your pregnancy. This is the book I wish Id had for each of my three pregnancies. Reading it now lets the thrice-pregnant me feel relieved, informed, and taken care of by my dear friend Bailey. A must-read for any person considering having a child.

Carrie Ruscheinsky, actor and producer

Bailey Gaddis has an instinctual, profound talent in making you feel empowered with her words of wisdom. This is a must-read that will give you the confidence and the insight you need as a first-time mother-to-be.

Alanna Ubach, actor in Coco, Legally Blonde, and Girlfriends Guide to Divorce

In Asking for a Pregnant Friend, Bailey Gaddis has the best way of speaking the unspeakable and connecting us to the psychological aspects of pregnancy, which is vital for all mothers and moms-to-be to better prepare for and endure this monumental experience. I highly recommend reading this book!

Jennifer Ollestad, psychotherapist

Bailey Gaddis has written the book every woman of childbearing age wants to curl up with and devour. This is the book that answers the juiciest questions, concerns, and what-the-hecks, and its written with the warmth of a knowing, open, hilarious friend. This book will liberate so many mothers.

Sophie Ward, author of Heart of Bold and founder of Milk + Seed

Asking for a Pregnant Friend tackles the most pressing (and sometimes embarrassing) questions about pregnancy and birth with striking thoughtfulness and honesty. Bailey Gaddis is a bright and refreshing voice in a sea of predictable pregnancy resources. I will be pointing my expecting friends in Baileys direction!

Marisa Belger, coauthor of The First Forty Days: The Essential Art of Nourishing the New Mother

Feng Shui Mommy: Creating Balance and Harmony for Blissful Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Motherhood

Copyright 2021 by Bailey Gaddis

All rights reserved. This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, or other without written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages in a review.

The material in this book is intended for education. It is not meant to take the place of diagnosis and treatment by a qualified medical practitioner or therapist. No expressed or implied guarantee of the effects of the use of the recommendations can be given or liability taken.

Illustrations by Amanda Sandoval

Text design by Tona Pearce Myers

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Gaddis, Bailey, author.

Title: Asking for a pregnant friend : 101 answers to questions women are too embarrassed to ask about pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood / Bailey Gaddis.

Description: Novato, California : New World Library, [2021] | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: Frank girlfriend talk and expert advice about everything women experience in pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood, including postpartum concerns--Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021005124 (print) | LCCN 2021005125 (ebook) | ISBN 9781608687176 (paperback) | ISBN 9781608687183 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Pregnancy--Miscellanea. | Childbirth--Miscellanea. | Motherhood--Miscellanea.

Classification: LCC RG551 .G34 2021 (print) | LCC RG551 (ebook) | DDC 618.2--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021005124

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021005125

First printing, June 2021

ISBN 978-1-60868-717-6

Ebook ISBN 978-1-60868-718-3

Printed in Canada on 100% postconsumer-waste recycled paper

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To Eric and Hudson thank you for loving the whole me,
weird bits and all.

Whenever I see a taboo, I just think thats something we need to drag screaming out into the light and discuss. Because taboos are where our fears live, and taboos are the things that keep us tiny. Particularly for women.

C AITLIN M ORAN

H ey, mama. I see you. I see the questions you push away in embarrassment at your prenatal appointments. I see the wariness you feel over the bombardment of emotions youve been navigating as your belly blooms. I see the dark thoughts you have about motherhood. I see you doing everything you can to lead a healthy, happy, and informed pregnancy but still feeling confused, like theres a big chunk of information and support missing from the sea of guidance on pregnancy, childbirth, and early motherhood. I see you wondering if youre the only one who feels this way.