Rating: 
Summary: Pretty good but I'm sure I could find better.
Review: I bought this book before any other based on all the hoopla I had heard before I was pregnant. Although I found all the Q & A's very helpful, I was not impressed with The Best Odds Diet. The book made me feel like a horrible person just because I ate healthy all day, but may have snacked on a piece of chocolate or something. Although it taught me a lot on what I should be eating, I have also never been so paranoid about my diet in my life! What I really found lacking was what was going on in my body. For each month, there was a small chart on what to expect and a 2 sentence explanation on how my baby was growing. I want to know specifically what is going on in my body step by step. This is the reason I am going to buy a week-by-week book that has been recommended by several others. Since this is my first baby, any information I can get is great, but I've been told there's much better books out there.
Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Reference!!!
Review: I find this book to be extremely informative for mothers-to-be. A wonderful reference! I really appreciated the portions of the book that let you know what to expect at each office visit. I could really relate to the question and answer portions of the book as well.I read in a lot of the comments that this book could frighten a mother or throw them into paranoia and guilt. I didn't pick that up from the text at all. I've used this book in addition to advice from my OB-GYN and things have worked out fine.
Rating: 
Summary: There are so many better books out there!!!
Review: I just don't understand the appeal of this book. Everyone who knows I'm pregnant told me I had to rush out and buy it, so I did. What a mistake. I've since found other books that have far more information and that are a whole lot less preachy--like The Pregnancy Book by the Sears, The Unofficial Guide to Having A Baby by John Sussman, and Pregnancy, Conception, and Birth by Dr Miriam Stoppard. It's a good thing that everyone thinks they're supposed to have this book or the authors would be in trouble. No one would buy it on its own merits. If and when the authors revise the book, they might think of scrapping the chapter on diet altogether. It's just plain insulting.
Rating: 
Summary: Exhaustive and informative but not very inspiring.
Review: This was yet another of the many books I read in pregnancy but I am an obstetric anaesthetist so have a good knowledge of problems in pregnancy already. I am surprised that this book has provoked such vitriolic reviews although I too prefered Sheila Kitzinger. I thought that this was actually a reassuring book for people who do get complications in pregnancy and the chapters relating to such complications were sensible. I am afraid I have little sympathy for people who object to the eating dogma (everything on your fork...!!!) cos believe me, if you are like me and put on too much weight only a few pounds of which disappears at birth then you too will wish you had considered each forkful a bit more carefully!! Overall I think people would be well advised to combine this with a more "naturally" orientated book but that if used in combination with other sources it may well be useful.
Rating:
Summary: Helpful and Informative
Review: I bought this book a year before I got pregnant, which is a good thing because it gave me enough time to follow its advice to quit smoking and change my eating habits. Now I feel both physically and mentally prepared. Contrary to what others said, I thought the information given about things that could go wrong was very helpful. The only negative thing I can think of is that the book was very repetitive in some parts, which made it a little boring to read.
Rating:
Summary: No help at all!
Review: My OB actually GAVE me this book on my first visit. It's horrible. I never was quite sure how they divided up there months(which weeks were which months- every book does it differently). Plus, it didn't seem like they actually had information corresponding to the correct month in that particular chapter. Not to mention that it never talked about anything except what could go wrong. Oh, and the "Best Odds Diet"- are you kidding me! I AM NOT a bad mother just because I ate a candy bar or a piece of cake! This book was made me feel horrible about myself, and I was constantly worried. "The Pregnancy Book" by Sears was much more reassuring,uplifting, and answered many many more questions.
Rating:
Summary: There are far better books out there than this one!
Review: I'm not pregnant, nor even planning it any time soon. I am, however, a student researching childbirth. I have read this book, along with others, without the added anxiety of actually being pregnant at the time. I have to say that I find this book irritating, condescending and not very helpful. Although the authors do provide lots of helpful information about changes month-by-month, and so forth, isn't that what ANY worthwhile pregnancy guide should do? I find their tone objectionable--it is patronizing to women, overly deferent to the medical establishment and only seems to address problems in pregnancy, but not very thoroughly at that. Though not vitally important, I also find the format makes it difficult to read. I would recommend Sheila Kitzinger's "Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" over this one any day. She actually explains things to you, is not preachy about nutrition, provides both the pros and cons to every aspect and treats the reader like an intelligent capable human being! Kitzinger is realistic and sensitive. What to Expect makes me think of a corny 50s sitcom. Just because it has a clever title is no reason to buy this disappointing book.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent! Informative and reassuring.
Review: A friend who is also expecting recommended this book to me. This book is like a knowledgeable and reassuring friend who is there for me anytime, anywhere.
Rating:
Summary: Extremely helpful
Review: This book was extremely helpful all during my pregnancy & delivery. It answered questions my husband & I had, and prepared us for what to expect.
Rating: 
Summary: Much too scary... Who needs this much paranoia?
Review: I did read this cover to cover for both of my pregnancies because friends told me to. I was lucky to be a calm expectant mother, and to have an excellent OB who spent time with me, and answered my every concern. After he asked me what I was reading, and I replied, he said,"Toss that book in the garbage!" Who needs to be in such a constant state of anxiety? Certainly not a pregnant mom. Go for the Good Housekeeping Illustrated Guide to Pregnancy. Also check out 125 Things You Must Know About Being Pregnant, by Nina Landi. Totally sweet, cute, and not one second of alarm. Good luck with your pregnancies!
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