Rating: 
Summary: Excellent resource; great information!
Review: I found The Pregnancy Book when I was six months pregnant for the fourth time. Having been through the experience three times already, I had read many books on the subject and had a pretty good idea of what to expect. The Pregnancy Book was by far the best book on the subject that I read. It is full of useful information that can be used on a day to day basis during your pregnancy. I was able to find an answer to every question I could think of - Why do I have headaches? What causes my ankles to swell? What does the baby look like and do at three months? six months? eight? What I found to be the most useful was the detailed description of what happens inside of me during the delivery of the baby. After reading the section on labor and delivery, I had a much better understanding of how my body works with the baby during the delivery process. I was able to use some of the techniques described in the book during my own delivery and it made the delivery of my nine and a half pound son much easier. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about the whole process - whether this is your first time or fourth. I also recommend We're Pregnant! for a couple's viewpoint on the whole pregnancy and delivery proces, and A Child Is Born for great pictures of the developing baby.
Rating: 
Summary: MUCH Better Than "What to Expect" & Other "Standards"
Review: This pregnancy book is *much* better than the "What to Expect When You're Expecting" book that is so often recommended to every pregnant woman out there. It is also much better than the other 'standard' pregnancy books you'll find. This book is a complete and joyful guide to what happens during pregnancy - mentally, emotionally, and physically - to mom and baby. It has a great index; so if a specific symptom doesn't crop up in the exact month they cover it, you can easily look it up in the back and read about it. I found this guide very informative and supportive of everything I'm going through with my second pregnancy. [I wish I'd had this book for my first pregnancy, instead of that wretched "what to expect" book]. My one criticism of this book: the Sears' gloss over the pain that most women experience during labor. I didn't find the segment on labor very helpful or realistic. As a Childbirth Educator myself, I don't feel that anyone is doing pregnant women a favor by convicing them that labor doesn't hurt - that it is just 'pressure' or 'discomfort'. The reality is that for most women, labor IS painful - often extremely so. Women who seek an unmedicated birth need to prepare themselves to cope with and overcome this pain. And regardless of whether a woman expects to use medication or not, nobody is doing her any favors by misleading her about labor pain - she's not going to thank them when it hits her full on. For preparing for labor and delivery, I *highly* recommend "Birthing From Within" by Pam England. It is much more realistic in preparing you for the "Real Thing" - and it is geared to help every woman work through her own issues and concerns about birthing. It is by far the most excellent book out there on labor and delivery. Other than that small complaint - I think this is a *wonderful* guide to pregnancy - very supportive and comforting while being very honest.
Rating:
Summary: Great if you go natural
Review: I bought this book because "What to Expect" was out of stock. This book takes you through your pregnancy in an easy to follow month by month format. The authors of the book also include some stories of their pregnancy's as well as those of others. There is also a glossary that explains briefly some complications and conditions of pregnancy. I, however, feel that this book pushes the message that birth should be unmedicated unless medically necessary. They feel that pain relief should only be given in extreme cases like c-sections and to help a slow labor progress. There is a section covering cesareans but it isn't too detailed on what to expect and they really only give medical reasons for needing one. They even feel that if a breech baby can be delivered naturally that it should be done. It seems that they don't really consider the health and well-being of the unborn baby. Inductions aren't really talked about either. The only spot I remember them being discussed is if your labor is progressing very slowly or if it has been over 24 hrs since the water has been broken. This book also covers the overlooked issues such as environmental factors that affect pregnancy, pregnancy at an older age, special tests that may be needed, and whether or not to go through genetic counseling. They also cover miscarriages and how to cope and how to decide when to start trying again. All in all if you have a normal healthy pregnancy that is progressing well and you plan to have an unmedicated birth this book will guide you along nicely. However, if you are facing a cesarean, have a high risk pregnancy, or carrying multiples I would recommend you find another book. Also if you are looking for a book to cover both pregnancy and child birth either buy, "The Birth Book", or get another book altogether.
Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful, Affirming Book!
Review: This book is the ONLY one I needed, although I had others including the terrible "What to Expect" book. This book is a treat to read. Dr. Sears takes a positive approach so there's none of that alarmist tone that tends to find its way into so many books and conversations around the pregnant woman. By the time it was "D-Day" for me, I truly believed that my delivery would go well and that I was ready for it. As a first time mom, I needed the affirmations found throughout this book that my body would do what it was supposed to do, and that I would be strong enough to go with whatever the day brought. The emphasis is on non-intervention and "natural" childbirth, but all of the possible interventions are discussed as well. Dr. Sears also writes about how interventions happen to the unsuspecting mom, and how to avoid them. I found it very empowering to have some information to bring to my doctor when discussing issues such as epidurals and episiotomy. I felt my positions regarding these personal choices were more respected because I had the information to back up my feelings. The monthly format of the book is great. It's one of the few books I've found which treats the ninth month as the 8 week "month" it really can be. I highly recommend this book to others and think it would make a great gift, too, since it's not preachy.
Rating:
Summary: A positive approach to pregnancy!
Review: Throw away or return "What to Expect When You're Expecting!" "What to Expect When You're Expecting", provides information on what to expect during your appointment and then goes on to tell you all the NEGATIVE things that can happen during your pregnancy. It really doesn't provide much information on what is happening (or what to expect for that matter) with your body during each month and what is happening with baby. Leg cramps in the 7th month and what to do about them? Buy The Pregnancy book and you'll find the answer! The Pregnancy Book provides comprehensive information on questions to ask a potential OB/GYN, GP, and/or Midwife. The detailed descriptions of what is happening with your body during each month and potential "side affects" are invaluable, as well as the information on baby's development. The detailed birthing options are comprehensive and I believe, unbiased. The ninth month covers quite a bit of information on labor and delivery, but I do recommend The Birth Book as a detailed companion to The Pregnancy Book.
Rating: 
Summary: great for an uneventful pregnancy, but...
Review: As long as your pregnancy is progresses "normally," and you are able to birth "naturally," this book probably provides adequate information for you. However, it does not deal very extensively with the many complications that come up during pregnancy, and does not deal much with birth defects and fetal problems, other than to assure you that such things are very uncommon and therefore you shouldn't worry. I have had a very difficult pregnancy, and more than a few times the condition or complication I was experiencing wasn't even mentioned in the book, not even in the appendix. Also, Dr. Sears insists on using gestational age dates, which is not how most doctors date pregnancies, and I was always reading about something that was supposed to happen at, say, 19 weeks, and having to add and subtract weeks to figure out how it pertained to me. That was irritating. I liked the reassuring tone of the book, and I liked the flexible, commonsense approach to nutrition and weigh gain, which was a pleasant change from What To Expect (Yikes! That Best-Odds Diet is for superwomen.) All in all, it is an okay book, and probably fine for women with uneventful pregnancies, but there are better and more comprehensive books out there if you want more detailed and objective information on tests and problems.
Rating: 
Summary: The only disappointing Sears book I have read
Review: I am very attachment parenting, low intervention oriented, and I found this book a waste of money. There was too much information missing in this book, and any mother who had an intervention during her birth or suffered from morning sickness and required meds for it or didn't simply sip hot tea when she had the flu is going to feel like she scarred her child for life. It covered way too little- it was basically written for the woman who is going to have the picture perfect pregnancy and birth, with just a little nausea in the beginning, a little backache and heartburn in the middle, and a little backache and ankle swelling at the end. She then goes on to have a perfect 8-hour birth with her husband breathing with her perfectly through contractions, and her baby perfectly attaches to her breast after the birth. If you don't think you are this person, skip this book. Unforunately, I don't have any better recommendations- I am a fanatical reader and have yet to find a good pregnancy book on the market.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent resource!
Review: The Pregnancy Book is an excellent resource for anyone who is expecting - whether you're pregnant for the first time or the third time. The book walks you through each month of the pregnancy and describes what mom and baby should look like and feel like. Throughout the text, the actual thoughts and feelings of expectant moms appear in italics. I found these comments to be very comforting since many of them were similar to what I was feeling myself. At the end of each chapter, there are questions and answers. Again, I found myself relating to many of the questions that were asked. While providing a great deal of factual information, The Pregnancy Book also comes across as very personal and caring. It is a great companion book to We're Pregnant! which focuses on a real life couple as they experience life as expectant parents. The two books together give a true picture of what a woman goes through during a pregnancy. I found it reassuring to know I was in good company when it came to my thoughts, feelings and concerns.
Rating:
Summary: great for an uneventful pregnancy, but...
Review: As long as your pregnancy is progresses "normally," and you are able to birth "naturally," this book probably provides adequate information for you. However, it does not deal very extensively with the many complications that come up during pregnancy, and does not deal much with birth defects and fetal problems, other than to assure you that such things are very uncommon and therefore you shouldn't worry. I have had a very difficult pregnancy, and more than a few times the condition or complication I was experiencing wasn't even mentioned in the book, not even in the appendix. Also, Dr. Sears insists on using gestational age dates, which is not how most doctors date pregnancies, and I was always reading about something that was supposed to happen at, say, 19 weeks, and having to add and subtract weeks to figure out how it pertained to me. That was irritating. I liked the reassuring tone of the book, and I liked the flexible, commonsense approach to nutrition and weigh gain, which was a pleasant change from What To Expect (Yikes! That Best-Odds Diet is for superwomen.) All in all, it is an okay book, and probably fine for women with uneventful pregnancies, but there are better and more comprehensive books out there if you want more detailed and objective information on tests and problems.
Rating:
Summary: Great if you go natural
Review: I bought this book because "What to Expect" was out of stock. This book takes you through your pregnancy in an easy to follow month by month format. The authors of the book also include some stories of their pregnancy's as well as those of others. There is also a glossary that explains briefly some complications and conditions of pregnancy. I, however, feel that this book pushes the message that birth should be unmedicated unless medically necessary. They feel that pain relief should only be given in extreme cases like c-sections and to help a slow labor progress. There is a section covering cesareans but it isn't too detailed on what to expect and they really only give medical reasons for needing one. They even feel that if a breech baby can be delivered naturally that it should be done. It seems that they don't really consider the health and well-being of the unborn baby. Inductions aren't really talked about either. The only spot I remember them being discussed is if your labor is progressing very slowly or if it has been over 24 hrs since the water has been broken. This book also covers the overlooked issues such as environmental factors that affect pregnancy, pregnancy at an older age, special tests that may be needed, and whether or not to go through genetic counseling. They also cover miscarriages and how to cope and how to decide when to start trying again. All in all if you have a normal healthy pregnancy that is progressing well and you plan to have an unmedicated birth this book will guide you along nicely. However, if you are facing a cesarean, have a high risk pregnancy, or carrying multiples I would recommend you find another book. Also if you are looking for a book to cover both pregnancy and child birth either buy, "The Birth Book", or get another book altogether.
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