The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant [Paperback]

Jean M. Twenge Ph.D. (Author)

Book Description

Release date: April 17, 2012

Trying to get pregnant is enough to make any woman impatient. The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant is a complete guide to the medical, psychological, social, and sexual aspects of getting pregnant, told in a funny, compassionate way, like talking to a good friend who’s been through it all. And in fact, Dr. Jean Twenge has been through it all—the mother of three young children, she started researching fertility when trying to conceive for the first time. A renowned sociologist and professor at San Diego State University, Dr. Twenge brought her research background to the huge amount of information—sometimes contradictory, frequently alarmist, and often discouraging— that she encountered online, from family and friends, and in books, and decided to go into the latest studies to find out the real story.

The good news is: There is a lot less to worry about than you’ve been led to believe. Dr. Twenge gets to the heart of the emotional issues around getting pregnant, including how to prepare mentally and physically when thinking about conceiving; how to talk about it with family, friends, and your partner; and how to handle the great sadness of a miscarriage. Also covered is how to know when you’re ovulating, when to have sex, timing your pregnancy, maximizing your chances of getting pregnant, how to tilt the odds toward having a boy or a girl, and the best prenatal diet.

Trying to conceive often involves an enormous amount of emotion, from anxiety and disappointment to hope and joy. With comfort, humor, and straightforward advice, The Impatient Woman’s Guide to Getting Pregnant is the bedside companion to help you through it.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book is comforting, accurate, and very funny! I recommend it!"

--Christiane Northrup, M.D., ob/gyn physician and author of Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom and The Wisdom of Menopause

“Reducing stress is essential for healthy conception, and this book is sure to help!”

--Stephanie McClellan, M.D., coauthor of So Stressed

"Psychology professor Twenge (Generation Me) cuts to the chase in this wonderful (and often humorous) guide to getting pregnant—and fast. The author explains that when she was trying to conceive, she read everything she could get her hands on—and found that much of the commonly accepted information was false. She decided to set matters straight and help women get pregnant as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Twenge takes a active and confident approach from the get-go, assuring women that if they use her methods of “fertility awareness,” there’s a good chance of getting pregnant on the first try. She offers three ways to determine the time of ovulation: charting, ovulation predictor kits, and fertility monitors, advising that the “Very Impatient Woman” use all three. Twenge details the vital importance of timing, citing research on the best days—and hours—to procreate as well as to synchronize ovulation with the chances for a boy or girl. This is a fine science, indeed, but Twenge explains her approach with clarity and precision. She debunks the myth that a relaxed attitude affects outcome and shoots down outdated statistics (e.g., oft- cited research about the fertility of women over 35 culled from birth records from France in the 1600s). Women hoping to conceive will swiftly find very helpful information in this manageable, informative, and entertaining guide." -- Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., is author of Generation Me and coauthor of The Narcissism Epidemic and a professor of psychology at San Diego State University. Her research has appeared in Time, USA TODAY, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on Today, Dateline, and National Public Radio’s All Things Considered. She holds degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two daughters.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Atria Books; Original edition (April 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1451620705
• ISBN-13: 978-1451620702
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,230 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Diseases & Physical Ailments > Infertility
  • #27 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Women's Health > Pregnancy & Childbirth

More About the Author

Jean M. Twenge, Ph.D., is a widely published associate professor of psychology at San Diego State University. Her research has appeared in Time, USA Today, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and she has been featured on Today and Dateline and National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She holds degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Michigan. Dr. Twenge lives with her husband in San Diego, California.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, practical and comforting: A must-read for every woman May 10, 2012

By Glass half full

Format:Paperback

This book is wonderful: not only an excellent read, it is informative, practical and comforting.

I am the impatient woman this book describes - although very philosophical, relaxed and healthy, I don't want to mess around with "seeing how things go". I have become very tired of reading material, both in books and on-line, which seems to perpetuate what I can only describe as false myths. There are next to no books of this kind written by academics who can pull together scientific facts to portray a real (and comforting) picture of how to get pregnant. The book debunks some very common myths by presenting facts from scientific studies in an easy-to-understand format.

I had just got to grips with OPKs and basal charts, when I got hold of this book. I have read and re-read it a number of times in my TTC journey. It's to-the-point, detailed, scientifically backed up and most of all, just comforting. I cannot reiterate how reassuring it is to read a book written by someone who has been on this TTC journey and someone who understands the science behind getting pregnant - it is even more reassuring to know things aren't as doomy-and-gloomy if you're over 30, as society would lead us to believe.

My doctor doesn't seem to want to hear from me until things turn positive and I am rather tired of my family and friends saying "relax, it'll happen". This book is like hearing the voice of a friend (with the bonus that the friend is a Professor who knows what she's talking about!). Although, sometimes I do wish the book could speak back to me! The book has a humorous tone, which helps to put things into perspective.

I have learnt that the journey towards getting pregnant is full of fun, hope and sometimes disappointment.... No other book has done as much to help me understand my body and above all, keep the journey in perspective. I thoroughly recommend it. Read more ›

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hope after loss/Pregnant on 1st try September 13, 2012

By Murr

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

**UPDATE: The tips in this book worked for me...I got my positive test after just one try. I'm 12 weeks pregnant today and credit this book with giving me my best shot. I bought the fertility monitor and opks, used them the cycle before we started just to be sure, and luckily with her timing tips only needed them for one cycle.**

If you're just starting to try for a baby or looking for quick inspiration, this book is an excellent choice - especially if, like me, you're in your mid-thirties or older. In the spring I suffered through the devastating stillbirth of twin daughters just days before my scheduled delivery, after 35.5 weeks of an uncomplicated pregnancy. My pregnancy was natural and totally unplanned, so I didn't know a thing about the world of "TTC" (trying to conceive). Well, after what I've gone through (and am still going through), so close to bringing my babies home...you can imagine I'm among the world's most impatient women when it comes to getting pregnant.

In the last couple of months, I've read a lot of books on the subject and this one is a favorite for its quick overview of all the major issues. It clearly lays out how to best use all the devices to identify your fertile time, discusses the latest research in vitamins/supplements, and indirectly introduces different fertility/TTC forums that could support you on your TTC journey. You can waste a lot of time chasing fertility leads on the internet(I know, I have) - this book presents only well-researched options. It has helped me to identify the vitamins/supplements that I'm comfortable taking in this preconception, preparatory stage. As mentioned by another reviewer, I've also been convinced to purchase a fertility monitor for when we start trying, something I only vaguely knew about before.... She suggests a three-pronged attack for the REALLY impatient -- monitor, opks, charting -- and I think I'm going to follow her advice. My only criticism is the section on diet, the organization around the neumonic device didn't really make much sense to me and was too forced. Minor criticism as the info was still useful.

This book is a "guide" as the title suggests; it will surely disappoint TTC veterans who've already tried it all. It is general and will simply lead you to the latest research and tools in getting pregnant quickly without medical intervention. If you're the overachiever or Type-A or perfectionist or worrywort type and new to TTC, you will like this book but you'll probably still want to do some follow-up research on your own. It's perfect for the Kindle in length and format. I think of it as a funny, inspiring Cliff Notes to my other favorite getting pregnant books and I refer back to it all the time. By the time I found this book last month, I had already read Making Babies by Blakeley and David (excellent) and Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Weschler (also excellent), and of course many duds. Read more ›

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous book - I could have been written just for me April 18, 2012

By waiting

Format:Paperback

I love this book! Getting pregnant is all consuming and reading this book allowed me to step outside of my crazy self for a little bit and laugh. Admittedly, I read it after testing for ovulation and seeing I only had one line on the monitor I figured I didnt need to call my husband into the bedroom for baby-making sex so instead decided to indulge in the sweet humor of this book that could have been written just for me. I saw myself in the stories of the women the author interviewed and I could take a short sigh of relief to know Im not the only one who is desperate to get pregnant and whose world consists of little more than thoughts of ovulation and pregnancy tests. Whether you have been trying to conceive for years or for a few months, the feeling of having no control over becoming a parent (perhaps again) when its all you can think of is just overwhelming. Not only does this book make you feel like you know the women who are interviewed as well as the author, it is full of solid research and great information about getting pregnant.

Take a little time out of your day, read this charming book, and remind yourself that you are not alone.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Overview April 29, 2013

By RBM

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I'm a totally impatient woman when it comes to getting pregnant. I wanted to know everything I could do to give myself the best chance of conceiving. I found this book to be written in a friendly, easy to read format that wasn't too "dumbed down." I loved how she incorporates several methods (e.g., basal body temp, cervical fluid, OPKs, fertility monitors) and teaches you how they can all work together. It's like the author took all the info out there that I'd love to read and distilled it all down into what I need to know. After purchasing this book I bought a basal body thermometer, a fertility monitor and a copy of Taking Charge of Your Fertility. We'll start trying next month and I feel like I have all the tools I need to give each month our best shot at conception.