Two of Us Make a World: The Single Mother's Guide to Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the First Year

This book has everything a single mom-to-be needs to plan her pregnancy, childbirth, and first year of single parenting. It focuses on six areas - the mother and the importance of nurturing herself, the baby, the father, networking, finances, and employment. The book gives concrete and specific advice on such diverse topics as how to: develop a support network; announce the pregnancy to family, friends, and employers; handle the father or donor; budget for the coming baby; prepare for the birth; tap both public and private resources such as prenatal incentive programs, welfare warriors, WIC; address child support & custody issues before the birth; and deal with employment concerns such as parental leave, child care, and alternative work arrangements; and talk to the child about the father. The book is full of referrals to agencies and support groups and includes phone numbers and step-by-step instructions on how to go about getting the information or help you need. I disagree with another reviewer's comment that the book focuses too much attention on legal matters. It is an unfortunate reality that the single mom-to-be faces special legal pitfalls the traditional two-parent family doesn't. As an attorney, I can say with confidence that the book does mother's a favor by urging them to become aware of these issues and to address them head on before they become huge headaches. This book gives single mothers the tools they need to get/do the most for their babies and themselves as the embark on the wonderful, yet truly daunting task of becoming a two-person family. If you're a single mom-to-be and you're only going to get one pregnancy guide, this is the one to get.

The authors help a single mother navigate through very complex issues and provide information and sources. What I especially appreciate is the authors totally non-judgemental stance. Women become single mothers in a variety of circumstances. The authors provide information for the range of situations.