Rating: Summary: Very biased and basic info you can get at your monthly exams Review: I found this book to cover most normal pregnancies, but I found myself constantly afraid of premature labor every other day with their "When to call your doctor" sections. They obviously are a pro-hospital birth book and I do not recall home birth being mentioned in a good light. And, if you aren't going to breastfeed, well then you may as well prepare for a sickly child according to their stance. I also found it a little old-fashioned since there are a lot of single mothers out there that this book constantly reminds them of their singularity.
Rating: Summary: This one is a keeper! Review: This book gives a good overview of what to expect month-to-month and has an easy to follow format. I think even dads can get alot from this one. It explaings what is happening not only to the woman's body, but also explains routine tests and symptons. I also liked the note section in the back. I would recommend this one to any soon-to-be-parents. It's a keeper!
Rating: Summary: Good, but shouldn't be the only book on your shelf. Review: Useful and non-dogmatic. Presents multiple views on many issues, such as breast vs. bottle, without making judgments. Month-by-month format is good for first-time expectant parents, but makes it difficult at times to find specific information. Good as an overall, reassuring guide. Once you figure out your preferences on certain issues, you should look for books that go deeper. The follow-up book on baby's first year is similar and helpful.
Rating: Summary: Throw it away! Review: If you haven't purchased this book yet, don't bother. If you have, toss it and look for something more accurate and empowering! The authors of WTE are in the medical field, and apparently of the "Drs. are Gods" mentality, which is obvious in their approach to the information they provide - they write as if all tests and interventions *must* happen during your pregnancy, and they are constantly looking for the "problems" that pregnancy causes. In their view, pregnancy is a disease to be treated as such, not a natural, normal occurance in the lifecycle of many women.
Also, this and all of the other WTE books are so full of misinformation, subtle and glaringly obvious! While I read it with some interest and some disgust during my first pregnancy, I ignored it completely during my second, and threw it away after my third. (I refused to give this book away, and risk spreading more of their misinformation to unsuspecting mothers-to-be.)
If you are looking for a book that will inform and empower you throughout your pregnancy, try "The Pregnancy Book" by William and Martha Sears. They also have other books to take you through the birth and care of your baby, with proper information and a "you know yourself/your baby best" attitude. A far cry from the drivel published in the WTE books!
Rating: Summary: NOT FOR EVERYONE, BY ANY MEANS Review: "WHAT TO EXPECT" MAY BE FINE FOR SOME, BUT I FOUND IT PRETTY EXCLUSIONARY: IF YOU ARE NOT MARRIED OR HETEROSEXUAL, YOU WILL LOOK IN VAIN FOR ANY REFERENCE TO YOUR LIFE. AND MOTHERS-TO-BE, BE WARNED--THE BOOK HAS A JUDGEMENTAL TONE THAT CAN REALLY HIT YOU HARD WHEN HORMONES ARE AT HIGH TIDE. I COULDN'T BREASTFEED, AND THE CHAPTER ON BREASTFEEDING MADE ME FEEL LIKE A CHILD-MURDERER.
Rating: Summary: Informative and Simple Review: The book is easy to read and understand. I was anxious about my first pregnancy and really didn't know what to expect. This monthly guide helped ease my fears! Great for first-time mothers.
Rating: Summary: This book was like having the OB/GYN at home. Review: This book help me so much through my pregnancy. I would recommend this book to anyone. The book eased my mine about a lot of things I was nerves about (I'm a first time mom). There were times when I was ready to run to the emergency room, before I went I would look in the book and there it was, I took the advice of the writers and it worked just find. GOD Bless the Writers and whom ever else had something to do with this book. You guys deserve the Pulitzer Prize for this book/guide
Rating: Summary: Excellent Review: Whether or not What to Expect When You're Expecting is a good book depends entirely on what kind of person you are. If you feel much more comfortable if you know everything, including all the bad possibilities, What to Expect will answer all of your questions in great detail, including stuff that your doctor simply doesn't have time to tell you no matter how helpful he/she is. If, on the other hand, you are the kind of person who freaks out when somebody suggests a negative possibility and stresses about anything and everything, What to Expect would be a terrible book for you. I am one of the former type, and I absolutely loved the book, especially since I had a doctor who was inclined to tell me "everything's fine, don't worry about it". It became progressively clearer throughout my pregnancy that if anything was wrong, he wouldn't tell me, for fear of my stressing about it. By not telling me, I stressed more for wondering what he might not be telling me! When he told me I had toxemia, I would have dismissed it and not done anything about it since he said it so vaguely. But when I read about what it was in What to Expect, I realized I had better take it a bit more seriously, and so I arranged to take one day off work a week and made a conscious effort to rest more. I think this was what prevented the toxemia from getting any worse. So do an honest evaluation of yourself before you buy this book and good luck with your pregnancy and your baby!
Rating: Summary: Good, BUT....... Review: This book answered a lot of questions, but was too hyper and anal. What to Expect should come shrink wrapped with the Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy, to prevent panic attacks. I had preterm labor and found nothing in this book to help me out or understand what was going on.
Rating: Summary: Not the best AT ALL Review: The book was a good starting point, but had a lot of misleading information. Seemed like every other day I thought I was having a miscarriage (during the first trimester) because of this book. My husband took it away from me and bought "Your Pregnancy Week by Week", which was much more positive and informative.
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