Rating: 
Summary: This is a great reference tool!
Review: I got this book during my first two pregnancies... by my third I practically knew it all by heart. The more informed you are, the better. Maybe this book is getting low ratings because as a first time parent you are very nervous and it really isn't a book to allay alot of fears. This book is pretty straightforward, and it doesn't tend to cushion things. I do find that it is written very well. It can give a woman the knowledge of what can happen, is happening and has happened by the questions in the book. I mean they wouldn't have some of the questions in the book if they weren't asked before by someone going through that experience. Stay informed is my motto.... this book will help.
Rating: 
Summary: Very depressing.
Review: Heaven forbid that a woman actually enjoys her pregnancy. The women who wrote this book presented the information in an "alarmist" format--not very pleasing. Only use this book as a reference guide. Otherwise, live your pregnancy in a plastic bubble!!
Rating:
Summary: This book can be very helpful . . .
Review: Like many others, I am surprised at how many bad reviews this book is getting. So many people are complaining about the diet. I haven't followed the "best odds diet" religiously, but it does give good advice on how to eat healthy and yes that may mean changing some of your eating habits. I have been eating relatively healthy for years and didn't find that the tips in this book limited me (though it may limit those who eat fast food frequently) and if I disagreed, I consulted several nutrition books and my doctor. Plus this book offers alternative recipes for some generally unhealthy favorites (french fries, non-alcoholic beverages, ect. .) This book gave straight-forward information and helped me to realize that a lot things that would have worried me otherwise were completely normal for pregnancy. There is no one book that can be a "pregnancy Bible" and you have to look to many different resources (parents, friends, and doctors). Every woman's pregnancy is different and this book will not cover everything, but I found it to be realistically helpful as I tracked my pregnancy. (It doesn't give extensive info on the baby's development. It focuses more on what is happening with the mother's body.) I would definitely buy it along with other pregnancy resources.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Odds for laughs
Review: My wife and I really liked this book, except for the Best Odds diet, which was insane. I liked this comment from the Best Odds Diet for Men, which was in Breathe! A Guy's Guide to Pregnancy:"...The Best Odds Diet for women recommends twenty-eight servings of healthy protein and vitamin-rich food every day. 28 servings! Whoa! That's pretty much everything within reach. The take-home rule: when your wife's eating, keep your hands clear."
Rating:
Summary: Has some good information, but rigid & old fashioned overall
Review: This book has a reputation that precedes it. Being around for so many years, many think that it is THE AUTHORITY on what to expect when you're expecting. While it may have been true when it first came out, I felt this book took the joy and excitement out of pregnancy. As many other reviewers commented, it scares you unecessarily with things that can go wrong, gives a "martial law" diet that they term a "best-odds" diet, and basically instructs you in an almost guilt-inducing manner with every single aspect of pregnancy. While this guidance may be welcome to those who are on their first pregnancy and are anxious about it ( just as I am ), I found their style and tone to be remniscent of that of the "church lady" from Saturday Night Live! And that cover picuture! That should clue you in on the frame of mind these people are writing from. I gave the book 2 stars as there are SOME parts that are helpful, as in the general information. But when it comes do the rigid details in how to do everything from your best odds diet, to the 1970s exercises, to how to stand while you are in the kitchen cooking, it just didn't appeal to me. I believe there are far more updated, positive books out there "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" By Vicki Iovine, while it not may be a medically based book filled with photos of your uterus at so many months, it is a humorous, and HONEST book of what really to expect. I felt more in touch with that style of writing, it was simply more updated and refreshing. There are so many pregnancy books out there today. Skip over this outdated "favorite" and dip into something more millenium and something more likely relatable to you. If you still feel compelled to buy this book, buy it USED. Don't waste your money on a mint copy like I did, you'll regret it!
Rating: 
Summary: This Book made me feel like a failure.
Review: The diet is impossible to follow.( According to the "Best Odds Diet", If you Eat a piece of white bread it should be considered your one weekly treat.) The Question/Answer format makes it hard to look up specific things. Have the authors of this book actually been Pregnant?
Rating:
Summary: Hardly a bible
Review: This book gave only a minimum amount of information and I was very disappointed after hearing how great this book was supposed to be. This is my first pregnancy and I've found only a few useful items in this book. Other books that give way more detail are 'The Pregnancy Journal - A Day to Day Guide' and 'Your Pregnancy - Week by Week'. These books gave details of exactly what was going on inside with the baby and with my body. What to Expect is too vague and extremely outdated - especially that horrible picture on the cover - could they make pregnancy look any uglier and 1950's??
Rating:
Summary: skip it
Review: I don't understand why this book is so popular. I found the health and well-being information lacking. There is also an abundance of "scary" information each month - "things you should worry about" that frankly, dont apply to 95% of us and I just don't need to know. I found the Pregnancy book by Dr. Sears MUCH better - more informative, more helpful, and more realistic. Of course, I also loved the Girlfriend's Guide - it's great for a laugh.
Rating:
Summary: This book will put your mind at ease
Review: Like other reviewers this book became my bible. I actually bought this book when I was first pregnant. Two miscarriages later and pregnant for the 3rd time this book was on hand at all times. I was constantly worried and fearful that I was going to miscarry for a third time. This book helped me ease my fears when I looked up something and found my symptom or worry was perfectly normal. The book covers everything from conception, symptoms of pregnancy, month by month of your pregnancy, labour, birth and then a section for "when something goes wrong" (only read if something does go wrong - you don't want to cause yourself unneccesary worry), and a section for new dads. Each month, rather than just a heading for a topic they have people's questions and they were answered with plenty of general information. I found that finding certain topics was really easy - the book was laid out well. My ob/gyn was of course my first point of contant for any fear or worry - but those times in the middle of the night when I just needed to get to sleep, this book was my warm milk!
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Summary: man's view of this book
Review: This book supports a myth that childbirth, motherhood, pregnancy are easy, natural and an etheral expereince. It does not give you any "real" data or information (ex; probability of birth defects, nor does it give any research on the reality of bottle feeding with formula as a valid feeeding method). It does give you a nice pat on the back that may reassure you. The bottom line though is it can make you feel very guilty if you decide to do what generations of parents (probably including your own) have done, and that is do what works for YOU to keep yourself HEALTHY and HAPPY. My advice, chuck all of these books out the window, have your mom, or mom n law or sister, or all of them move in for the first couple months with the newborn and learn from those who have done it before. You can not get from this book what you can get from mothers around you.
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