Rating: 
Summary: Agony
Review: Guys - if someone told you to buy this in order to be a supportive husband, then, like me, you'll do it regardless of this review. Yes, it contains useful information about pregnancy, but if you are like me then picking it up will be more labor than delivery of your child. The authors' problem is trying to cover every conceivable ache and pain associated with pregnancy, and there are ALOT, and provide a technical explanation while dumbing it down so the average kindergartener would not get overwhelmed reading it. There are much better books on the market; save your cash.
Rating:
Summary: Marginally useful, too judgmental
Review: Everyone I know who has gotten pregnant in the last year, including myself, has not liked this book. My OB/GYN told me to take everything with a grain of salt. If you buy it, my advice would be to avoid reading the section concerning the rare complications that possibly could arise in pregnancy. If something goes wrong, you and your doctor will know and he/she will advise you. Also, avoid reading the diet section, unless you like diets and enjoy strict guidelines on what to eat. We all know what makes a healthy diet. You know better than to eat a box of cookies or a pint of ice cream a day, and if you do, so what. You don't need to constantly read that excessive weight gain is hard to lose. You know that too, and you're pregnant. I did like to look at this book on a monthly basis to get an idea of "what to expect." There are some helpful Q&As. Some, of course, are insipid and/or judgmental--remember that grain of salt. Also, don't pack everything for the hospital that this book suggests. Think about what you personally need. For example, do you really need a copy of "What to Expect in the First Year"?
Rating: 
Summary: A little let down.
Review: I purchased this book with great hope that it would give me answers to all the questions of Pregnancy. Seems like all it did was tell me the same things...symptoms...what is going on...how I should be feeling. For my it was not worth the money. I purchased "Your pregnancy week by week" and it was MUCH better. Gave a lot more information about what was happening with my body and also the length and weight (later) of the baby and what was developing each week.
Rating: 
Summary: A real lifesaver
Review: I really like this book. My cousin gave me her copy (the newest edition) after she had her baby. She and I say that although the book may contain some scary material, it has been very helpful in many ways. If something came up during the night, we could look in the book and know whether we could wait overnight or to call the doctor immediately. This book has also saved us from having to call the doctor over the littlest things. Also, this book addresses many fathers-to-be concerns, and it contains helpful indexes, such as what to do if you're sick and what to expect postpartum. So even though the book may be a little scary, we still highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Best Book out there for first time moms, GREAT BOOK
Review: This is the ultimate baby book, i have read a couple and i find this one to be the best, sure some chapters may be frightening but it only speaks the truth, it had answers to all my questions, and worries as a first time mom. I love this book. Buy it you will not regret it.
Rating: 
Summary: AWFUL!
Review: Should have called this book "Expecting the Worst". Where is the joy of pregnancy and childbirth? Having a baby is as safe as life gets, yet this book makes it seem as though pregnancy and birth are accidents waiting to happen.
Rating:
Summary: a great book to read if you like to be frightned
Review: I am a mother of six children, I read this book with baby number three. I was scared out of my wits. I didn't need the hassle. I think that educating your self about chidbirth is a good thing, but, it gets to the point in this book that you are afraid of EVERYTHING. I was worried about every test I didn't have, I was worried about every test I DID have. I think this book should have focused on basic need to know details, especially for first time mothers who really worry to begin with. There is such a thing as too much info to take in and digest.
Rating:
Summary: Just the greatest
Review: Every question that needed to be asked, the book answered. There were no late night frights, waiting for doctors responses. I knew what was happening because the book was so informative. Books cannot include everything, but this one sure answered everything I needed to know, and made my pregnancy very comfortable. I was also alerted to troubles during pregnancy and when to call a doctor. I recommed this book to every pregnant woman I know, and gave mine to a friend.
Rating:
Summary: Doom, Gloom and all around BLAHness
Review: Firstly, if you are prone to worry or suffer any type of anxiety disorder or hypochondria, as I do, avoid this book like the plague! The day after I found out I was pregnant, I was in shock and very much afraid of what lies ahead so I went to a bookstore and picked up "What to expect..." In the first few days I had it my husband tried to hide it from me twice because what I was reading upset me so much. Then one night I had something happen that I immediately looked up in the book and found it in the emergencies section. I went to pieces and was ready to rush to the ER. Instead I called the OB on call at the hospital and told him my problem. I was relieved to find out that this particular thing I had was of absolutely no concern in early pregnancy. And that is the problem with the emergencies
section...there is not even any indication of what these "emergencies" mean. It just says if such and such happens, call 911. This book is chock full of things to scare the pants off you-whether your're prone to nerves or not-and things to make you feel like you are simply not good enough to be carrying a child. Like so many others, I also find
the whole diet bit unnerving. They make out that if you eat a cookie your baby is going to come out with three eyes and a tail. Once a month treat yourself to something terribly wicked: a slice of cake or pie; an ice cream sundae or a candy bar. Oh golly gee!!! Can we *really* be that naughty?! There is far too much emphasis on weight gain, being inadequate and potential health problems. I give the book a big "blah" overall.
Rating:
Summary: Ick! This book will give any expectant mom nightmares....
Review: I HATE this book. I rushed out to buy it when my husband and I were trying for #1 (who is now 21 months old). It is practically militant in its views about diet- in what universe is a bagel a once-a-week treat?? This book did not help me at all. Its tone is condescending, its answers pat, and basically, while reading it I felt like there was no way I could ever be a good mom. I know it's the one everyone buys, but I think it's just because they don't know better. Even my OB said she doesn't recommend it to patients because it freaks too many of them out! We're expecting #2 now, and I got this book out again, but as you can see I'm back on Amazon looking for a better book this time around.
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