The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy (Paperback)

by Mari Gallion (Author)
Key Phrases: personal shopping business, child support enforcement division, single pregnant women, San Francisco, Zombie Effect, Salvation Army (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
When Mari Gallion, an unmarried tour guide in Alaska, discovered she was pregnant, she immediately made the decision to have the baby. What she never expected was the hypocrisy of the movement that condemns a woman's right to choose while witholding information that could empower single women who had chosen to continue with unplanned pregnancies. In response, Gallion set out to write a guide that offers unconditional assistance to the women who have chosen to take the unorthodox path of pregnancy without a partner. The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy is Gallion's gift to those women who find themselves pregnant and going it alone. It is a positive, affirming, and sometimes humorous how-to that covers all the bases: staying positive, getting organized, preventing depression, and finding the agencies that offer assistance. The author also gives valuable advice about living circumstances, money management, and even what mothers need to acquire before the baby comes. The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy is not a book about morning sickness and blotchy skin. Instead, it is about well-being, attaining power through knowledge, and planning ahead.

About the Author
Mari received her BA from University of San Francisco and her MA from Alaska Pacific University. Her hobbies are environmental activism, music, and horseback riding. She currently resides in Eagle River, Alaska with her son, Oberon.

Product Details

• Paperback: 166 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (July 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419633287
• ISBN-13: 978-1419633287
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,467 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book we've been waiting for!, August 27, 2006

By	IReadALot (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

So many people don't understand the dilemma of single pregnant women who want to keep our babies and become parents. We're always being told that our choices are wrong. We can't find a pregnancy book that doesn't mention the role of a child's father when having a father for our child is beyond our control, and if we go to pregnancy centers for help, it seems that we just have to examine and re-examine our views on reproductive rights again and again, only to be led down a line of thinking that we aren't doing the "right thing" unless we give our children up for adoption! Even books that claim to be feminist often have a subtle message of pity and too much discussion about abortion and too much mention of adoption as a possibility. Abortion is not the issue when you've already decided to have a baby, and adoption is not everybody's path. But this book is like having your own personal support group right in your own home. This book focuses mostly on your own happiness, and gives you real down-to-earth ways to keep yourself happy. It also helps you to prepare for the baby, but this author knows that the most important piece of baby gear is your own happiness and stability. She doesn't go on much about what you should do, but what has worked for her, understanding that we're all different. She encourages us to make our own educated decisions about personal things: naming the baby, whether to opt for a hospital birth or home birth, to exercise caution while we follow our own hearts and instincts. She talks about God, but it's in a loving and inclusive way rather than an "I know God better than you do" way. Finally, some respect! I guess the wait is over.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an absolute must read!, October 25, 2006

By	BookReview.com (Madison, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

If there was a time when I needed a friend the very most in my life, it was during my pregnancy and after the birth of my first child. We can't all have Mari Gallion for a friend, but through her book "The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy," we can learn to feel better and to be our own best friends.

Mari shares her own story, as a single mother, right from the start. She doesn't hold back and lets the world know how it was and is. She shares what she did to get through some tough things, and like a great friend, puts herself in the position to understand what her readers are going through. Her most imperative message is to feel confident and do what you feel is right and not to worry about what friends, family, or society have to say about your decisions if they are not in agreement. Offering a plethora of information, on all topics from breast-feeding to diaper changing, organic foods to dark chocolate, bassinets to WIC, the book reads like letters from a gal-pal you can't live without. Her advice is down to earth, honest and well researched (as well as lived out by the author herself).

Not just a guide for Singles, or those boasting a baby on board sign, the advice holds true for all women in many aspects of life. Meditation, healthful eating, exercise, finding companionship or not, financial interests, and emotional well being are all topics we all can relate to. Buy this book for a friend, read a copy yourself, and pass it on. Mari may live in Alaska but she is right there in the peace of mind of every one of her readers.
Review by Heather Froeschl.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended Reading, November 25, 2000

By	Shelly Donchak (Anchorage, AK USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Single Woman's Guide To A Happy Pregnancy (Paperback)

The Single Woman's Guide to a Happy Pregnancy is a well written book that I would encourage not just single pregnant women, but also their friends and family to read. It is full of useful information - I found things like the minimum list of clothing and equipment needed before bringing home a newborn to be especially worthwhile. The even blend of practical information, resource material, and anecdotal references also made this book an enjoyable read. I feel that after reading this book, any woman, especially one that is nervous or frightened, will come away feeling stronger and more secure.