The Yummy Mummy's Survival Guide

"I haven't given a review before, but having read some of the comments on this book I just had to say something as I feel some readers have missed the point! The Yummy Mummy Survival Guide is a fun and subjective read to complement the serious heavy tome and is specifically aimed at the new mother-to-be and new mum. If you want a 'serious' book on pregnancy, labour and the early months that is objective, factual and professional, then buy something such as the Pregnancy Bible which covers everything in excellent detail and thoroughly covers every topic imaginable. If you're only buying the Yummy Mummy Survival Guide for a sterile and medically accurate read then you have missed the point and chosen the wrong book.

Having spent several months with my head down the toilet and feeling like I had lost my identity forever, buying a pretty hardbacked book with the words 'Yummy Mummy' across the page was a lovely step towards cheering myself up and being able to look back and laugh at the first half of my pregnancy. As a first time Mum-to-be I value hearing about the thoughts and experiences of anyone who has already been there and this book covers lots of the small practical details too, for example, which baby products proved to be a waste of money, (everyone has a different opinon of whether a baby bath is needed or not), what sort of snacks proved worthwhile in the labour ward etc ... I don't believe for one minute that Liz Fraser is trying to create an army of Liz Fraser clones and expect us all to mirror everything that she has done. It is a light-hearted record of her own experience which reminds the mother-to-be or new mother that she needs to take care of herself and not feel guilty about it. I haven't gone off for spa days or invested in designer clothes but I have felt encouraged to focus on myself as well as the baby, buy a few nice clothes and treat myself now and then ... and it has made a huge, positive, difference. I have never felt so good as I have these last few weeks and if being seen sitting in a cafe with a piece of cake and the Yummy Mummy Survival Guide propped open in front of me makes me feel yummy then I say it is worth every penny of the £12.99 I spent!"
~ Written on 2008-08-08

"This book is absolutely irresponsible. I was particularly appalled with the way the pregnancy and labour has been covered. It undermines everything which has been done with trying to bring mothers to enjoyable pregnancy and natural labour. To assume that all of us will need an epidural is one of the classic understatements of this book. Totally, totally awful and patronising, couldn't even reconcile it if it was written for the stereotypical "yummy mummy"."
~ Written on 2008-07-28

"Liz Fraser is clearly living in cloud cuckoo land. She seems obsessed with body image and her suggestion of dragging yourself out of bed at 5am to go for a run before the baby wakes is frankly laughable. Hmm, for the first few months with my baby, I'd have been up at least 3 times feeding her before 5am and running would be the last thing on my mind! I read this book after having my baby and found it to be quite souless - it's primary focus of body image is depressing enough for those of us who have taken a little more time to get back in shape. I didn't feel that there was enough genuine advice about actual parenting.

I like to browse in SpaceNK and get back into my heels as much as the next woman but to the detriment of my mental health (lack of sleep is a killer!) - no thanks. If anyone wants my copy of this book (I realise that I haven't done a good job of making you want it!), contact me and you can have it!"
~ Written on 2008-06-17

"I thought this book was brilliant. Not so serious but still full of great advice and lighthearted jokes. I'm really surprised at some of the negative comments - She does not obsess about food and diet, rather points out that we should take good care of ourselves similar to every other pregnancy book I've read.

Her style is relaxed, down to earth and she doesn't try too hard.

This is the best book I've read so far about pregnancy/mothering and can't recommend it enough."
~ Written on 2008-06-14

"Hurrah! I feel I need to thank Liz Fraser for writing the first 'baby book' which I read without experiencing one single bit of guilt! It gave me permission, if I needed it, to have a life of my own as well as mothering. For the first time, I felt OK about letting my baby grizzle so I could apply essential eye liner! Yes, I know it's shallow, but it keeps me feeling sane! I suffered with post natal depression, and a measure of a good day was if I'd managed to apply make up! Success criteria changes radically when you have a baby!

Sometimes I smile, because though I may despair at my new frock being covered in baby gunk, at least I know that underneath, I've got fabulous underwear on! Even though most of the time I'm more 'scummy' than 'yummy,' this book is about still feeling nice when some of us feel at our most vulnerable and overwhelmed. The book also helped me rationalise that if your children are loved, celebrated and cuddled to excess, then it's just fine to save a little gorgeousness back for yourself. Perhaps we really can have it all!"
~ Written on 2008-03-20