Rating: 
Summary: Take it with a grain of salt
Review: When I first picked up this book, back in December, 2000, I was so upset by the content that I threw it across the room, vowing never to pick it up again. Since that time, however, my perspective has changed. Within every dark cloud there is a glimmer of light; similarly, within What To Epect When You Are Expecting there are useful pieces of information. The "Best-Odds" diet, for instance, is useful, with certain modifications, while the reference section towards the back is helpful.Be sure, however, to stay away from the section on all that can go wrong. What a way to scare a preganat woman! What To Expect When You're Expecting can be a useful refernce book...just be sure to use your common sense.
Rating: 
Summary: Lot of information but be sure to read other books, too.
Review: What to Expect has often been called the Bible of pregnancy books. When it was first released, it probably was. But, its somewhat preachy tone and emphasis on the many problems that can occur during pregnancy but rarely do, decreases its value to women who are having a normal, healthy pregnancy and just want to be reassured that what they are thinking, feeling and doing is normal and okay. What to Expect does answer just about any question a woman might ask and for this reason, it can be a valuable resource. There are many other good books that also provide a great deal of information without focusing on potential problems. The Pregnancy Book is an excellent resource book. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy is fun to read and is really like talking to your girlfriends about all the intimate details associated with pregnancy. We're Pregnant! provides a couple's viewpoint on the whole process of being pregnant, giving birth, and becoming a parent for the first time. Read them all and you will be more than prepared for anything that comes your way.
Rating:
Summary: What to Expect With This Book
Review: There is a lot of good medical information in this book, however there is so much information on things that could go wrong that it could leave a first time mom worried. The information on breastfeeding is inadequate at best and moms who plan to breastfeed should not rely on this book.
Rating: 
Summary: If you're pregnant, you have to buy this book!!
Review: This book was my Bible. I was completely clueless about pregnancy and what to expect. I don't think there was a day that went by that I didn't look up something in this book! It was a God Send! Every single ache or pain I felt was explained to me in terms I could understand. It answered all my questions. I don't think I could have made it through without it. My husband enjoyed the book as much as I did. It answered questions for him about what I was going through and gave him a greater understanding of the whole pregnancy process and the changes taking place with me both physically and emotionally. A very good friend of mine called to tell me she just found out she is expecting. My initial thought was to give her my copy of "What to Expect When You're Expecting", but I couldn't bare giving it up! So, I ordered her a copy for her very own. Any one having their first child NEEDS this book!!
Rating:
Summary: Like cold water on a freezing day...
Review: This book revolutionized pregnancy manuals the same way that USA Today revolutionized the newspaper industry: by creating pages full of graphics instead of text. The pages are even organized into columns to encourage readers to feel that they are looking at a magazine rather than a book. Ten years ago, it was the only pregnancy book that looked like this but now most of them do. The problem is, alot of people who don't consider themselves 'good readers would buy this book and be intimidated by the authors' incredibly preachy tone! The main problem is that the authors do not have alot of compassion. If you are disappointed or even heartbroken by something that happens during the course of your pregnancy or childbirth than the only words of comfort you will find here is to "grow up and be happy" that you have a healthy baby. If you want to breastfeed in church, well, they must be praying to the God who invented formula companies because they don't think it is appropriate. If you want to eat comfort food every once in a while STAY FAR AWAY from this book because you will feel very guilty and paranoid about that decision! And remember the words of Katherine Hepburn, "A pregnant woman needs a good piece of chocolate every day". Please, treat yourself to anything by Sheila Kitzinger, Elizabeth Noble, Robin Lim, or the Sears' instead of this!!
Rating: 
Summary: Should be retitled to
Review: What To Expect When You Are A Lamb Being Led To Slaughter. Basically prepares you to have the most medical intervention available, without questioning anything. Allows you to be abused by doctor and hospital because 'that's what you can expect'. Has a lot of inaccuracies and partial information. Fine if you are a sheep, but if you are a thinking woman who wants to know ALL her options and have a satisfying birth experience, I recomment 'The Thinking Woman's Guide to Better Birth' by Henci Goer.
Rating:
Summary: A lot of information and a lot of sanctimonious preaching
Review: While I found that this book had a lot of information, I also found that it was condescending and put a lot of focus on blaming the mother for everything. Some of the information is also contradictory. For example, the book chastizes women who gain "too much" weight during pregnancy, but says that only "trained athletes" should exercise. The book also claims that if you really want to, you can drop the weigth six weeks postpartum. Well, I'm sure most women would LIKE to do that, but it isn't always feasible. I bought this book as soon as I discovered I was pregnant, and was horrified by the Best Odds Diet, and admonition to think about each bite "Is this the best bite for my baby?" when I couldn't choke down much besides crackers. I would not recommend this book; I would instead recommend Pregnancy for Dummies, which has almost as much information, a lighter attitude, and a realization of the fact that being pregnant is not easy, and that we do the best we can to create healthy babies.
Rating:
Summary: not too good because of format
Review: The format of the book is by the month. However, my doctor and all other literature refer to the week from the date of last period. I have absolutely no idea where in the book to refer to in order to guage development of baby or my own progress ! I dont recommend the book unless the format is changed.
Rating:
Summary: A doctor-minded approach to pregnancy.
Review: This is a great book if this is your first pregnancy, and you want to be reassured that whatever your OB tells you is God's Absolute Truth and that all you have to do is trust the men and women in the white coats and they'll take care of you and do what's in your baby's best interest. I read this book with my first pregnancy and ended up allowing myself to be induced early, and had a "perfect" but disappointing birth. Go ahead, buy this book, but also buy Our Bodies Ourselves (or some of the other books recommended), to get the other half of the story. With my second baby I had the courage to wait until she was actually *due* (not when the doctors said she was) and had a *much* more satisfying birth. Doctors and hospitals want you to abide by their rules, which is fine, if you think you want to give up control of what could be the most important event of your life. This book will help you be at ease with this mentality. But please, don't consider this the Bible of how to be pregnant and give birth, because it will come up short.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: This is the only pregnancy book I have viewed, but it proved to be an excellent resource. I bought it about mid-way through my pregnancy and even then, it was invaluable to me. It has month by month chapters about what to expect and was accurate to what I was going through. It also has a small chapter for fathers, which my husband enjoyed. In response to a previous review, I didn't feel as if it was a book for someone who expects their OB to "order them around."
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