'What to Expect When You're Expecting' gets a modern update

BY ROSEMARY BLACK

Thursday, April 24th 2008, 4:00 AM

Back in the '80s, when pregnancy was considered a time to kick back and put your feet up, the cover sketch of "What to Expect When You're Expecting" showed an expectant mom in a Laura Ashley-style flowered dress sitting in a rocking chair and looking, well, a little bored.

Moms-to-be these days wear form-fitting jeans, are proud of their expanding bellies, and go to yoga and spinning class. And the cover of the newest edition of the book (a model wearing jeans and a tummy-hugging top, standing up) reflects the current thinking of pregnancy as a time to be active, to be working and even to be concerned about issues such as whether it's safe to get Botox or a full-on waxing.

"She is happy, excited and proud to show off her baby bump," says Heidi Murkoff, author of "What to Expect when You're Expecting" (Workman), who's been pressing for a major cover makeover for the last two editions. "She's happy. After all, this book is a celebration of pregnancy."

It's been 24 years since Murkoff (and her mom Arlene Eisenberg and sister Sandee Hathaway) first came out with what would be the perennially best-selling pregnancy bible of all time. Eisenberg died of breast cancer in 2001 and Hathaway, a nurse, hasn't been involved with the project in a decade. But Murkoff's channeled her energies not just into coming out with new editions of the book, but spins off of it ("What to Expect the First Year," "What to Expect The Toddler Years") and ' naturally ' a website called www.WhatToExpect.com.

"More and more couples are actually planning ahead for pregnancy," Murkoff says. "They're getting their weight close to where it should be, and considering the health of the dad, which has a big impact on pregnancy."

She also covers how to stay safe on the job and how to play "office pregnancy politics." And beauty concerns during pregnancy is another topic. "Some women feel like their hair didn't get the memo about the glow they're supposed to get in pregnancy," says Murkoff. "They feel a return to seventh grade acne and they want to know if they should break out the Clearasil." (Wash your face two or three times day, use an oil-free moisturizer and check in with the doctor about various meds.)

Advice in the book aside, Murkoff feels that the website ' where moms to be can interact 24-7 ' is a comforting place for people to turn.

"It is an amazing and supportive community," says Murkoff, who moved from New York in 1990 and now lives in Los Angeles. (Husband Eric helps with the business end of things, son Wyatt, 22, goes to college locally and Emma's trying out acting as a career.)

"These days, if you don't have a pregnant friend or sister, you hop onto the message board and make friends with other pregnant women. They're there to support each other and to share insight and just to relate to what you are going through."

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