Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime [Paperback]

Diana Dell (Author), Suzan Erem (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 19, 2003

An informative, compassionate guide to the motherhood decision

"...give(s) a sense of what's ahead for new parents." --Baltimore Sun

Many women aren't sure how to best time motherhood in their lives. Others think they may want a child but aren't sure they really want to take on the responsibility. Still others want to be child-free, but they are afraid they will regret the decision later on when it's too late. Do I Want to Be a Mom? offers expert information, insights, and tools necessary for each woman to make her own best choice.

Dr. Diana Dell, an expert who is board certified in both obstetrics/gynecology and psychiatry, draws on her expertise to cover the emotional, physical, sexual, social, and financial aspects of this decision. Along with award-winning writer Suzan Erem, she also provides powerful anecdotes from women who speak openly of the fears, joys, regrets, and triumphs of motherhood or being child-free.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...give(s) a sense of what's ahead for new parents." -- Baltimore Sun, October 5, 2003

From the Back Cover

Women who have been there share their stories to help you decide: Do I Want to Be a Mom?

Today, the question of motherhood is no longer just a matter of when but also if. And with the question of if comes a barrage of even more daunting questions: How will having a baby affect my career? My body? My health? My marriage? Do I Want to Be a Mom? shares the illuminating, candid voices of women from all walks of life who have grappled with these same difficult questions to help you come to a decision about motherhood that's right for you.

Do I Want to Be a Mom? is for any woman who has ever wondered:

• Am I selfish if I don't want to have children?
• Can I afford children?
• What if my marriage breaks up?
• Can I take time off from work to have children?
• Can I have kids after forty if I change my mind?
• Will I be sorry when I'm older if I don't have kids?

From new moms to those who have never heard even the slightest chime from their biological clock, the reflective stories found in this book provide a framework to help you examine your motivations and make your own guilt-free decision. These stories convey the same concerns and fears you may have raised with yourself or your closest friends, as well as the uplifting reasons you may consider motherhood--the love, fun, and fulfillment that many women gain as mothers.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 1 edition (September 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071400745
• ISBN-13: 978-0071400749
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,059 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Reiterates dilemmas, but doesn't provide insightful answers, January 4, 2005

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Book Worm (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime (Paperback)

Very disappointing, no substance, mostly full of quotes from individuals who are not very illuminating either. If you just want to know that you are in good company with your indecision, this book if fine. If you would like it to provide you with answers (as the title suggests) or assist you with your decision, it's not worth your time or money.

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Too Basic, December 3, 2004

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Allie (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime (Paperback)

I was looking to read something that would really stimulate my thinking and allow me to think about this topic in a new way, with the hope that I could come to some answers for myself. What I got was a very cursory overview of many potentially relevant aspects of this topic with nothing I could really "sink my teeth into." To give you an idea about how basic the material is, I was able to read the whole thing in one sitting in bed one night before going to sleep. Overall not very useful and I would not buy this book again.

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and honest, April 6, 2004

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Melissa Niksic (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Do I Want to Be A Mom? : A Woman's Guide to the Decision of a Lifetime (Paperback)

"Do I Want to Be a Mom?" is one of the only books I've ever read that doesn't sugar-coat the role of motherhood. This book points out a lot of things that will most definitely change for women once they become mothers. Topics of discussion include the physical trials of pregnancy, the impact a child can have on a woman's marriage and career, and the realities of what it's like to be responsible for another human life for 18 years. I wouldn't go so far as to say that this book is "anti-motherhood," but it forces you to ask yourself very pointed questions about your lifestyle in order to help you make responsible decisions about your future.