I must confess that I was sceptical when I first picked up the book and wondered if Kareena’s pregnancy experiences would be whitewashed to make her seem extraordinary. I was glad to discover she didn’t go down that route.
Essentially, you get two books-in-one when you buy Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible: The Ultimate Manual For Moms-To-Be.
It’s not just a must-read pregnancy book but also a memoir. Even as a standalone pregnancy book, it is value-for-money.
While it’s true that Kareena is born into privilege and has a supportive family, including a spouse who whips up meals for her all year round, her memoir is another proof that there’s more that unites than divides all of us.
Why Kareena Kapoor is representative of the new-age woman
Kareena Kapoor Khan has always lived her life in the spotlight, claiming her shine with no abandon. Her pregnancy notwithstanding, which is empowering, more so in the Indian context. She went about her work casually till the end of her pregnancy.
She continued shooting for films and ad campaigns with her growing belly, dark circles, and tired skin. She was against PUMA airbrushing her face or photoshopping her pregnant body in her recent ad campaign with them.
Kareena is the true ambassador of the new-age working woman who lets nothing impede her career. She continues the legacy of Sharmila Tagore, her mother-in-law, who did some ground-breaking work post her pregnancy.
Kareena Kapoor writes about listening to her body and not bothering about weight gain
Kareena’s pregnancy accounts are relatable despite her celebrity status and downright hilarious too, especially her gluttonous adventures.
When Kareena says that she wasn’t as conscious of her diet and exercise as she would have liked, there are no contradictions from her nutritionist or fitness instructor. She wanted to let go and not be hard on herself during both her pregnancies. She wanted to listen to her body first, and her fitness and diet consultants respected her wishes.
She gained 25 kgs during her first pregnancy, and 19 kgs during her second one. Kareena also shares her breastfeeding concerns in the first trimester, such as not having enough milk to feed her babies.
“Every mother is a mother. It doesn’t make you love our child any less. I love my mom; I don’t know if she breastfed me! I refuse to set any nursing goals for myself with Jeh. Such targets place too much pressure on you.”
The book is inclusive and adopts a holistic outlook on health
This book is inclusive of all mothers – IVF mothers (Hello Good Newwz,) those who had miscarriages or stillborn babies. It takes a non-judgemental stance and respects the choice of all mothers, as it should be.
There is a lot of emphasis on mental health, including depression during pregnancy and postpartum depression – how to cope and when to seek medical help.
Also, I fell head-over-heels in love with Saif Ali Khan after reading his beautifully penned ‘Afterword.’ I’m not giving away any spoilers here because you have to read it. You’re filled with hope when you read accounts of equal partners in a fulfilling marriage. Touchwood!
Why you should pick up this book
Oh! I can give you a lot of reasons. For starters, I genuinely wish I had a book companion like this one when I was pregnant. My go-to book back then was ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting’, which is a fantastic book.
But Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible is all that and much more. It’s tailored for Indian pregnant women, and at best, for South Asian women.
The book is authored by Kareena and co-authored by Aditi Shah Bhimjyani. It has detailed, dedicated chapters by the topmost medical doctors like Dr. S. Shantha Kumari, President, FOGSI, and over ten medical specialists, nutritionists, fitness instructors from Rujuta Diwekar to Namrata Purohit.
The book is well-researched, organised, and written to the bone. You will know:
- What to expect and what to do exactly in each week, month, and trimester of your pregnancy journey.
- The changes that are happening in your body.
- How your baby is developing week-by-week.
- What’s normal, and what’s not!
- The ultimate pregnancy shopping list.
- Indian food recipes and home remedies for your pregnancy symptoms
- The best exercises for each trimester and which ones to avoid
- How to enjoy safe sex till the end of your term if you have a high libido
- How to set up a baby nursery
- Your travel options during the three trimesters, be it for work or leisure.
- The rights for pregnant working women, such as the Maternity Benefit Act
- And more.
What could have been better
The editing could have been better, for a project of this scale. There were a few typos, grammatical errors, and repeated lines that can be easily corrected in their digital and next print edition.
The benefits of this book are so powerful that they easily overshadow the minor flaws in it.
‘Kareena Kapoor Khan’s Pregnancy Bible: The Ultimate Manual For Moms-To-Be’ truly lives up to its grand title!
Go for this book without a second thought if you are expecting, pregnant, or planning to gift someone who is!
