Expecting Better

By Emily Oster

Expecting Better takes an evidence-focused look at many of the rules, warnings, and decisions that come with pregnancy. Economist Emily Oster examines the research behind topics including caffeine, food and alcohol, prenatal testing, weight gain, nausea, medications, labor, and delivery, helping readers better understand both the data and the trade-offs involved.

Rather than offering a single set of rules for every pregnancy, the book encourages expecting parents to understand the evidence behind recommendations and use that information to have more informed conversations with their healthcare providers and make decisions that reflect their individual circumstances and priorities. The current edition was fully revised and updated for 2025.