First-Time Parent, Expecting Better
Dr. Myrna Saadeh White
Authority Publishing
ISBN: 978-1965480243
Reviewed by Paul Knobloch for Reader Views (10/2025)
Dr. Myrna Saadeh White’s new book, First-Time Parent, Expecting Better, is one of those rare publications that live up to its title. I was eager to review this work for several reasons. First of all, while I’m not a parent, I did help raise my niece and have seen many women enter into pregnancy with varying degrees of awareness concerning the journey they were undertaking. Even more importantly, I was in a serious relationship with a Muslim Indonesian woman, and I have seen firsthand the pressure and taboos that females sometimes have to combat in parts of the Islamic world. It was refreshing to see a doctor like White, a PhD in Mind-Body Medicine, address not only women’s issues, but also problems that Arab and Muslim woman face when it comes to issues of sexuality and reproduction.
And guys, don’t worry: There’s plenty here for you as well.
I was impressed right away with the introduction, when the author stresses the importance of reflection and awareness, and there are reminders of this throughout the book, which, in fact, contains charts with questions and worksheets to help the reader put the knowledge she shares into practice. She explains, honestly, how her own ignorance shocked her, and in the following pages, she goes on to explain alternative and holistic approaches to pregnancy, birth, and sexuality while shattering old, non-productive, and sometimes outright unjust and brutal stigmas surrounding these practices.
As I said, White does not shy away from the realities for women in certain Muslim countries, and when she starts by exploring the role of trauma and how it can affect everything from libido to fertility problems, she reminds us that women in places like Saudi Arabia, North Africa, and the Middle East suffer some of the worst instances of physical violence worldwide. It is especially rewarding to see an author in America address the plight of women of color in third world countries.
As I said, males get advice as well, and I found it welcome. The good doctor is nice enough to acknowledge that it can be rough on fathers, too, but also calls attention to our responsibility, especially when it comes to being communicative, empathetic, and supportive of the process. She reminds us that stressors also influence men, and that smoking, drinking, and drug use can affect male fertility.
There is so much great advice, it’s hard to know where to begin. White stresses the importance of listening to one’s body, the need to “hibernate” when necessary and just completely chill out, the necessity of good nutrition, and especially the spiritual and transformational aspects of childbirth, for everyone involved. But what I liked best was the taboo-busting she engages in, with gusto. As I already noted, she even reaches out to Muslim and Arab women, steering them towards Mauj, a valuable online source for menstrual and sexual wellness for Arab females.
Plus, I now know that unless you’re handling actual cat feces, it won’t kill you, and your belly shape can’t tell you the gender of the baby. Thanks, Doc!
I really could not recommend this book more highly. I can say, without qualification, it’s one of the best, and best-written, works about the topic that I have ever read, and it’s fearless, to boot. Whether you want to bone up on what hormones you need, what Ayurvedic medicine can do for you, or simply improve your sex life during pregnancy, I strongly suggest you grab a copy of First-Time Parent, Expecting Better by Dr. Myrna Saadeh White.