44 pages • 1 hour read
Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know
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Discussion Questions
General Impressions
Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.
1. How does Oster’s data-driven approach to pregnancy compare with other pregnancy books or advice you have encountered, such as Ina May Gaskin’s Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth? Did her tone feel empowering, overwhelming, or something else?
2. Which aspects of the book—tone, structure, or use of evidence—did you find particularly helpful or frustrating as a reader navigating pregnancy decisions?
3. Did the book’s mix of personal anecdotes and statistical analysis work for you as a reader? Why or why not?
Personal Reflection and Connection
Encourage readers to reflect on how the book relates to their own life or work and how its lessons could help them.
1. Did any of the book’s insights challenge assumptions you previously held about pregnancy, birth, or postpartum care? How did that shift your thinking or plans?
2. Reflect on a time when you followed medical advice without questioning it. In hindsight, would you have handled the situation differently if you had reviewed the evidence yourself?
3. Which chapter or topic in the book felt most personally relevant to you—whether it was about birth planning, food choices, or postpartum decisions—and why?
