Rating: 
Summary: Not for most of us
Review: This book may be worthwhile if you need to read up on pregancy in the question-answer format.It seems to be the most popular book amongst pregnant women I know, but I hated it, except for pointers on the post- partum period, which I did not see in nay other book. The book is preachy irritating and seems to talk down to the reader. There were some sections that I reread for laughs.
Rating:
Summary: Worst pregnancy book ever
Review: I HATE this book. I got it on my second pregnancy and was flabbergasted by the preachy tones and downright bad advice given. If you want to be a skinny, malnourished doormat then this is the book for you. The diet section is beyond belief. Ok so you eat healthily when you're pregnant (I think that goes without saying) but the idea that you need to religiously watch your weight gain went out with beehive haircuts and the Twist. And the assumption that your doctor is God and you should just lie back and think of your country is astonishingly dated. Most parents want to be informed and involved in their care, not have it dictated to them.I've read a lot of reviews that find the so-called focus on negative "things that can go wrong" disturbing and scary. I've been through a stillbirth and an incredibly complicated subsequent pregnancy and I can say with all honesty that this book is about as helpful as Cosmopolitan in that area. Everything is glossed over, and the section on loss is profoundly inadequate, guilt-causing and unsympathetic. I know pregnancy books shouldn't be all about death and the possibility of death, but if you're going to do it do it right. All in all, a total waste of trees. Buy a Miriam Stoppard book instead.
Rating:
Summary: Book of Lies
Review: If there was a star lower then One I would use it..I know some moms felt like this book scared them, I feel like this book was too preachy about things, but did not tell Pregnant women that YES you can do EVERYTHING right and STILL lose that baby..I know because I HAD the textbook pregnancy..perfect..then had my 9.8 pound and 22.5 inch long beautiful baby (healthy by all standards) and guess what..he died 3 days after birth due to an suspected inborn error in metabloism ..and do you think that anything I did or did not do could have caused a break down in my son's genetic code? I think not...I know many women who have lost their babies and IT IS not their fault as this book wants people to believe..It glosses over realities of complications that do happen and make them seem to be nothing...avoid this book..BTW I thought at one time that this was a good book until I lost my first born baby then I realized that the book made me feel like I was alone in the world..the one by Ann Douglas has got to better, I have her book written for moms who have lost babies and go on to have Sub pregnancies and it is excellent, I wish I had that book instead of the I got from my OB for free.. The book is obselete because it does not cover new medical procedures and tests that could save your babies life.
Rating:
Summary: Run Away From This Book!
Review: This is one of the worst books for pregnant women. It is scary and will provoke anxiety. Try to read something a little more kind - like The Pregnancy Book by Dr. William Sears. Get good solid information without a lot of bad advice. Become the expert on your pregnancy.
Rating: 
Summary: Overrated!
Review: I really don't understand why this book has become "the book" to have. It's very basic and doesn't go into as much depth as I would like.
Rating:
Summary: Don't waste your time
Review: I had already bought this book before my OB warned me to stay away from it. After reading it, I understand why she dislikes it. There is a lot of factually incorrect information in the book. For example, the author tells you to consider getting rid of any pets you may have before the baby is born, because pets will cause the baby to have allergies. I guess she knows more than the American Medical Association, which has stated that having at least two pets during your baby's first year will make her immune to pet allergies. I wonder how many pets have been dumped off at the pound thanks to Murkoff's irresponsible journalism. Also, I found Murkoff's "Best Odds" diet, completely unrealistic. Most women can barely stomach food during their first trimester let alone eat all the fruit, vegetables, milk, meat, etc. that Murkoff says you must eat to give your baby the best chance for health. She also tells vegetarians they need to eat almost six servings of beans a day, and as a vegetarian, I can attest that this isn't possible. Pregnancy is the one time in your life that you should be able to indulge a little without feeling guilty, so enjoy it! Finally, what my OB says she dislikes most about this book, is that Murkoff makes women feel bad by telling them exactly how much they should gain each trimester, and warning them that if they go over that amount they are overeating, being irresponsible and will have a very hard time losing it. My OB says she has had women cry in her office after being weighed in, because the book made them feel so guilty. You have enough to worry about when you're pregnant besides every pound you gain, and weight gain during pregnancy varies widely among women. During my sister's pregnancy, she gained 27 lbs., her best friend gained 50, and her coworker gained 70. A year later, they are all at their pre-pregnancy weight and have healthy babies. If you're looking for a good book with accurate information, I recommend "The Mayo Clinic's Guide to Pregnancy and the First Year" instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the $, unless you're clueless about pregnancy.
Review: So many people rave about this book, and I can't figure out why. I checked many pregnancy books out at the library before deciding which ones I wanted to purchase. I am REALLY glad I didn't just go out and buy this one. It is quite basic, and if you're ignorant about the basics of how your body works during pregnancy (nothing to be ashamed of) you may find this book informative. It is arranged in a month-by-month format. It has descriptions of your baby at each month as well as how you may look and feel. It also describes what to "expect" at each prenatal visit with your doctor/midwife, which is one of my complaints. I particularly disapprove of how this book sets up parents to accept whatever their caregiver (doctor or midwife) tells them, rather than to be informed consumers who exercise informed consent and informed dissent of obstetric interventions. If you read other books, especially with statistics on how high infant mortality is in the U.S., you'll realize that many labor and birth complications are iatrogenic--caused by the doctor "doing something" when s/he should've just waited for the mother's body to do its work. The tests and procedures available to pregnant women are described as routine and necessary, and there is practically no discussion about why you might refuse them. I did read the book in its entirety, and it was fun to look at drawings of what my baby may look like at various stages. I think their eating plan is wise and within reason (I believe MANY health problems in the U.S. are caused by poor eating habits). I'm surprised that so many women are unwilling to even attempt to improve their diet while pregnant. The authors do provide good rationale for a healthy diet and allow some wiggle room for treats and cravings. Overall, if you're looking for the type of birth your mother had and want birth to be something that happens to you rather than something you do, you might like this book. If you're looking for an alternative, check out "The Birth Book" by Sears, and books by Sheilia Kitzinger, Penny Simkin, and Susan McCutcheon.
Rating:
Summary: Too preachy and condescending
Review: When I was pregnant I asked my OB to recommend a book, and he said "anything BUT What to Expect ...". In my opinion, there was some good info, but the tone of the book overall was way too self-righteous, especially regarding the off-the-planet diet info. Get the Mayo Clinic's excellent book for medical info (also has part of the book devoted to the baby's first year), and Vicki Iovine's "Girlfriend's Guide" for laughs. You wouldn't want the What to Expect authors as girlfriends - they will sprinkle wheat germ all over you while reprimanding you for eating that extra scoop of chocolate ice cream.
Rating:
Summary: How to Worry Even More Than You Already Do
Review: While this book is obviously packed with loads of helpful information, I echo the reviewers who note that there is a decidedly negative tone to the book. After starting to read it, I began scanning ahead, trying to see if the style of the book changed with later pregnancy, but it did not. I became frustrated that the book is styled like an advice column with all topics covered with the assumption that someone out there is worried about it. For example, instead of covering the topic of weight gain (or lack thereof) in several pages, the book first poses the hypothetical question, "I've gained X pounds - should I be concerned?" After addressing that question, it then poses the question, "I have NOT gained X pounds - should I be concerned?" It's as though you everything you experience with pregnancy has the potential to be a concern. I was SO anxious and worried the first few weeks of my pregnancy, and I grasped at every shred of information I could get. Eventually I learned that putting down the books and turning off the computer allowed me to get my brain out of its rut and start concentrating on the fun stuff like perusing lists of names with my husband. It's great to have books around for when you have specific questions, but I don't recommend sitting down to read them cover to cover from week 1. I also found this book to lean towards suggesting that you should abstain from just about everything unnatural. If you are interested in keeping your body medication and chemical free while you are pregnant, more power to you. But if you aren't, be warned that this book will make you feel guilty about every aspirin you've popped or cup of coffee you've drunk.
Rating: 
Summary: The Most Helpful and Essential Guide for First Pregnancies
Review: This book was recommended to me as essential reading before having my first (and only) child.
I found it extremely useful, especially as it was indexed for quick looking up of symptoms and other useful information.
Each month has guidelines advising what your baby should be doing, and there are useful charts to ascertain where your baby is on the curve for weight and length (height).
Each chapter has helpful stories with other people's experiences, many of which were very relevant. I found myself referring to this book several times a week during the first year, and then I moved up to the next book in the series "What to Expect the First Year" (I'm now reading the Toddler Years version)
The one improvement I would ask for would be for more illustrations, especially in diagnosing rashes, and minor ailments like Thrush, or bathing and changing the baby.
I have recommended this book to all my friends who became, or are becoming, mothers for the first time.
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