Rating: 
Summary: Labor & Delivery is great, but everything else...
Review: I received this book as a gift late in my first pregnancy (I purchased "Pregnancy and Childbirth" by Tracie Hotchner when I learned I was pregnant; it was great. I especially loved the week by week development of my little fetus!) so I skipped everything but labor and delivery. After I had my baby, I read the entire book (Okay, I admit it, I'm a nut, but I was bored and there was nothing else in the house to read) and I have to say I found it very scary. It made me think that if I didn't eat enough kale I would have a baby with birth defects! But so many pregnancy books are like that. The chapters on labor were absolutely spot-on correct and you should read this book just for those chapters. I recommend What to Expect the First Year and What to Expect the Toddler Years. Those books are very helpful. And the 7th edition of Dr. Spock is amazing. He is right: you know more than you think you do. This goes for pregnant women as well. Just eat healthy foods in moderation so you don't gain too much weight, and drink plenty of water to flush out the amniotic fluid. And get your rest because you'll need it for the next 18 years!
Rating: 
Summary: Loved it!
Review: After reading all of the critism of this book, I just had to add my $.02. I am the mother of 4, and I loved this book. This book filled in the little questions on a month by month basis. I found their possible symptoms for each month very helpful when trying to decide if something was "normal". It wasn't overwhelming to read as you could follow along a little at a time each month. I'm getting ready to purchase it for a friend who is expecting her 1st child and I know she'll feel the same way. No book is going to be a word for word, perfect account of your pregnancy. Every pregnancy is unique in some subtle, and some not-so-subtle ways, but this was a very good general outline. I recommend it very much!
Rating: 
Summary: Too preachy
Review: Although this book contains a lot of information, much of it is delivered in a preachy, finger-pointing, and condescending way. I'm a perfectionist and want to be the best mom I can be, but there is no way I could do everything this book suggested. And by the time I finished reading the different concerns/complications of every possible problem that could arise, I was nearly panicked. It was overwhelming for me, being a first-time mom, and already worried about everything anyway... It just didn't seem to be based in reality.
Rating:
Summary: Not Worth the Money in the Internet Age
Review: I bought this book because it is supposed to be the "standard" for pregnancy guides, but I quickly discovered that I could get all of its advice -- and more -- from the Internet for free, so "clueless" and "first-time" mothers should save their money for an extra package of diapers and go surfing for basic information. Futhermore, while many of my fellow reviewers warn that the book's preachy diet is not helpful for larger women, I found it to be equally unhelpful for skinny ones. The writers assume a lot about your weight gain and metabolism -- none of which fit me! Most of the book's "helpful advice" is: 1) x symptom is normal; 2) x symptom can be helped by following our completely impractical diet; and 3) other than join the food police, you can't do anything about x symptom, but cheer up! It only lasts nine months. On an aesthetic note, I LOATHE the cover of this book. The schlocky pastel world of maternity and baby things often makes me wonder why I decided this was a good idea. Yuck!
Rating: 
Summary: A Terrific Reference
Review: I remember the first thing I did when I discovered I was pregnant with my first son was go out a purchase a copy of What to Expect When You're Expecting. This is a terrific resource for an expectant mother whether this is your first pregnancy or 4th. At times the book is a little clinical but the information is essential. I especially enjoyed the description of all the physical changes each month. I had the book with me throughout my whole pregnancy. In addition I used book to help me prepare any questions I might have prior to my doctors appointments.
Rating:
Summary: Unrealistic diet expectations - But still useful
Review: Don't let this book scare you to death with it's ban on white bread. It also pimps its "Best Odds Diet" to death. Chunky moms, who are otherwise healthy - buy it for the detailed answers and questions - but ignore all the "eat only whole grain stuff". Unrealistic and sometimes not what you're craving.
Rating: 
Summary: I can't tell you how much I loathed this book!
Review: On a friend's recommendation, I purchased this book while pregnant with our first child. I must say how banal and condescending I thought the tone of the book was. I found that the tone of the book and the quality of the writing bordered on the insulting. It's like a pregancy guide written for the absoloute lowest common denominator...as if no one reading the book would have finished the seventh grade. Bleck! Honestly, the writers put forth information as if everyone picking up this book hasn't bothered to pick up a pamphlet in their doctor's office and has never ever bothered to crack open another book. Furthermore, their nutrition and recipie section is completely out of whack. Let's jut say every other publication that I read during my preganacy was more helpful and better written than this one. And as an added bonus, no other book available assumes that the reader has an I.Q. lower than their shoe size. Do yourself a favor and skip this garbage.
Rating:
Summary: condescending, scary, and a waste of money
Review: Just want to cast my vote against this one because I'd love to help someone choose a better book. Don't know why this book is so popular; the whole tone of the book is alarmist and preachy. (Heaven forbid you eat something other than whole-grain) The Dr. Sears book is MUCH better for giving you the information you need to make your own choices and for treating you like an intelligent person!That said, I did like the "what to expect" organizer which is a collection of handy charts and calendars.
Rating:
Summary: great book!!
Review: I personally have gone through some tough pregnancies and i have to say this book helped me soooo much. I dont think this book is intended to scare anyone, its actually intended for everyone. Though most pregnancies may be normal, a lot aren't, so its great that anyone can use it depending on what you are going through. True you may not experience alot of the things in this book, but its intended for all types of pregnancies, not just normal ones. Its really nice to know that you can find any type of information in this book, especially for me since i am a high risk pregnancy. I recommend it for everyone wether its your first or fifth pregnancy!
Rating:
Summary: What to expect? PLEEASE!
Review: Any other book is better that this one. It has to be.
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