Rating: 
Summary: No wonder there's a backlash against this book
Review: It's no wonder so many people are getting fed up with this book. I can't believe how obnoxious the authors can be at times. Here's a direct quote: "Before you close your mouth on a forkful of food, consider: 'Is this the best bite I can give my baby?' If it will benefit your baby, chew away. If it'll only benefit your sweet tooth or appease your appetite, put your fork down.'" Why is this book a bestseller?
Rating:
Summary: Dreary, depressing, condescending
Review: This book sells because of marketing. The RN authors want to ensure that the jobs of their sister RN's are easy, and that the job of their bosses, the OB's, are easy as well. Learn to be a good patient by reading this tripe. The format is awfully annoying and the information is given so slackly that it's no wonder that a reader of this book referred to birth being full of medical mystery. You sure aren't learning much of value here, I'm sad to say. The authors have the same thoughts that a reader of Sheila Kitzenger's "Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth"- and that's that "Ob's know what they're doing and we need to trust them." Yes, in the best world that is true, but like all professions, obstetrics have their protocols and they like to follow their comfort levels, not their patients. Pregnant and laboring women need to learn how to be comfortable and to get what they need. This book does little for that- I don't recall that they even mention doulas or other labor assistants.Get this book if you are willing to let someone else tell you what is right for you. Get "the Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" if you want to learn something.
Rating: 
Summary: For my wife this book was like a way to live during 9 months
Review: This book help any woman during the important process of being a mom. My wife has passed her book to many friends and most of them finish buying the book. We have 2 children and during both pregnancy periods she read the book to be updated. Also as a man we learn a lot about all the process.
Rating:
Summary: A must have for any pregnancy!!!
Review: I am pregnant with my third child and this book was my bible through my two previous pregnancies. It helped me answer questions without having to call my doctor every time something happened.
Rating: 
Summary: A GOOD AND RELATIVELY CHEAP BOOK FOR FIRST TIME MOTHERS
Review: This book has guided me through my pregnancy well. It contains many information which I need to know and answered almost all the questions I had. One thing I like about this book is that it summarises at the beginning of every chapter what you will be expecting during that particular month. You have to read the book to appreciate the book!
Rating: 
Summary: Only okay--don't use as your only resource!
Review: I was not very pleased with this book at all. I found the organization and structure to be not very good. For example, I'm in my second month, but I had to search all over the book for answers to questions I had about things I'm experiencing now! Also, the Best Odds diet is not only restrictive (at best), it's also unrealistic. Do you consider a bagel made with refined flour a once-a-week treat? Moreover, the childbirth section is painfully lacking in thorough information. While this book does contain useful information, don't make it your only resource. For a wonderfully thorough, detailed, and well-written resource, I really recommend "With You and Your Baby All the Way," by Jerri Colonero.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't expect to read this cover to cover
Review: Although there is very beneficial information in this book, I found that it is actually better to not read cover to cover. The first 1/3 of the book deals with all of the possibilities of what can go wrong that it can leave a first time expectant mother overly worried and as the authors themself sugest..can be skipped over or briefly skimmed. The second 1/3 of the book is where the "meat" is where is discusses the actual changes to expect during the course of each month which is really what the expectant mother wants to know, therefore, it can be disappointing to finally be reading about things that have already passed you by because it takes so long to get to this part of the book in addition to the reality that some women may already be in their starting the second month of pregnancy by the time they discover they are pregnant and can be well into their third or fourth month by the time we start actually reading anything...thus just give us the facts easily and get to the point! Good for the mother who hasplanned in advance and can read beforehand (My baby is now 1 month and half and I still haven't finished reading it!
Rating:
Summary: Good overall knowledge; explains changes your body goes thru
Review: What to expect while you're expecting is a good, well rounded reference guide for the expectant mother. This book can be very reassuring for the first time mother who is not familiar with all the changes her body may be going through. It is also a very helpful reference if you suspect that something may be seriously wrong with you. Of course, the authors suggest seeing a physician immediately if something should go wrong- and this book is not intended to take the place of adequate medical care. The only thing this book really lacks is an adequate description of what the actual birth experience is like; for this I recommend, The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy (Iovine, 1995). This book is user friendly, and provides vicarious details of countless other women and their birth experiences. A good read.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Book!!!
Review: This book is the best one out there when you are pregnant. I have recommend and bought this book for all of my friends who have become pregnant. This book answers every question you may have. I also highly recommend "What to expect the first year" I don't understand why the negative comments, I did not find this book scary at all. I found it to be very informative and reassuring. I highly recommend this book as must have when you are expecting!!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I have to admit, I was browsing Amazon.com for books about pregnancy, and when I saw all the bad reviews about this book, I decided not to buy it. Then one day I was in the grocery store in line and they had the book for sale so I picked it up and started looking at it, got interested, and ultimately took it home to discover... That I don't understand what the problem is! My honest opinion is that this is an excellent book with more information than most pregnancy books. I have to say that those who believe that this book makes you feel guilty, is unrealistic about diet and medications, etc., are simply people who don't want to subordinate their interests to those of the baby. I HATE wheat bread but I'm eating it because I know I need the vitamins and nutrients. SO MUCH ABOUT PREGNANCY IS A MEDICAL MYSTERY SO THE UTMOST OF CAUTION IS BEST, AND THAT IS WHAT THIS BOOK RIGHTFULLY ADVOCATES, CAUTION. A CHILD IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN THE WORLD, IF WE ARE NOT WILLING TO MAKE SOME MINOR (OR MAJOR) LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN THEN WE DON'T DESERVE CHILDREN IN THE FIRST PLACE. This book deserves more credit than it is getting.
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