Top 5 Books for Black Mothers-to-be

Congratulations! You've just been selected to join an exclusive club - motherhood! Now that you know you're pregnant, your next question might be, "What's next?" Here are some picks to get you started.
(All prices are from Amazon.com)

1. The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy by Kimberly Seals Allers ($15). Written by a black woman for black women, this book is tops when it comes to learning what to expect. Not only does it have the usual information (such as how to deal with the weight gain, tend to your partner and inform your boss about your pregnancy), it has special sections where readers get to hear what celebrity moms went through to have their babies. It's good to know that pregnancy can make mere mortals out of the celebrities among us.

2. What to Expect When You're Expecting by Helen Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg, Sandee Hathaway ($14) - This book is the standard, helping pregnant women since its debut almost twenty years ago. Some readers have said it focuses too much on complications and what could go wrong. However, we've found that if learning about the different complications isn't your thing, you can just skip those pages. Besides, it's always good to have the information there, even if it doesn't apply to you. A month-by-month guide is especially helpful in helping you break your pregnancy into manageable pieces.

3. Baby Bargains: Secrets to Saving 20% to 50% on Baby Furniture, Equipment, Clothes, Toys, Maternity Wear and Much, Much More! By Denise and Alan Fields ($18). Who (especially expectant parents) doesn't want to save money? It can be overwhelming for new parents once they get over the initial joy of their new bundle and get hit with the sticker shock of baby items. It's hard to imagine how anything so tiny could need so much stuff! However, as the title suggests, babies come with their own list of supplies. If you're looking for ways to save but still want to get top-quality products, try this book as a starting point.