Rating: 
Summary: A good suppliment, but...
Review: First of all, I would highly recommend to anyone that you get more that one pregnancy book. I read this one in conjunction with "What to Expect," and I found that between the two, my questions were generally answered, but neither was entirely complete.
That said, I think this book ignores a few important issues pregnant women may encounter. For example, I am now pushing 42 weeks, and I need information on post-date babies and induction. The only mention in this book about being overdue is a short blurb saying that your doctor will tell you what you need to know. Considering that around half of first-time pregnancies go past 40 weeks, the absence of information on this issue is a major oversight. And there's hardly any discussion about inducing labor. I know that the Sears' are pro-natural childbirth, and I wonder if they left out the information because they don't agree with the procedure. They also kept their postpartum advice for non-nursing mothers short and terse. Knowing their position on nursing, it almost read like a judgement. It really held no sympathy for engorged mothers seeking relief.
I also missed seeing a discussion on the use of bug-repellant. Being pregnant during a West Nile summer, it was an issue I was concerned about. I also found the book to be lacking a list of no-no foods, such as brie. I had seen a list online, and looked to the book for confirmation, but it wasn't there. Fortunately, all of the information this book overlooked, I found in "What to Expect," discussed in a non-judgemental, factual tone.
The Pregnancy Book does have some merit, and I did like the part of each chapter where emotional symptoms were discussed along with physical ones. Honestly though, I got more for my money from "What to Ecpect."
Rating: 
Summary: A good, general guide to pregnancy
Review: I thought this was a great book to start off with. Dr. Sears and his wife lay out the general information in an easy to read format. While this is not the only book in my prego-library, I do find myself going back to it over and again. I don't think there's one be all end all book. Yes, there is a lot of repetition in the various Sears' books but each seems to build upon the others.
Rating:
Summary: ok book, there are better ones out there
Review: This book is just ok, it covers many things well and if you dont know anything about having a baby this may be a good book for you. This book takes no stand on any "right" way of doing things. Each topic seems to end with "it (the problem/issue) is probably ok, but maybe it isnt, so you had better call your doctor". So really, I could have saved my money and just picked up the phone and called the doctors office if I had a question, because ultimatly that is what the book is going to end up telling me anyway!
Rating: 
Summary: Good info, but a bit unrealistic
Review: Overall this book is useful and informative. However, there are times when it is a little unrealistic and seems to oversimplify things. For example, in the first month the author indicates that it is best to just not set an alarm to wake up naturally since you may need more rest. Somehow I don't think that my employer would agree with this option! They make it sound like for nine months, the only thing that is occuring in your life is pregnancy. The whole book isn't like that, but it is an overall tone. I have used it throughout my pregnancy so far, but if I had it to do over again, I would save my money and go back to the old stand by, "What to Expect When You're Expecting."
Rating:
Summary: Buy this book!
Review: This book is amazing! It is so much better than "What to Expect When You're Expecting." That book was boring and depressing to read. This book, "The Pregnancy Book," by William and Martha Sears, is enjoyable to read, knowledgable, practicle, up-to-date, down-to-earth, has beautiful illustrations and it's very reassuring. I actually look forward to reading this book! With that other book, I dreaded even picking it up.
The first Sears book I purchased was "The Baby Book." I bought it because I was totally sick of "What to Expect." I was so impressed by it that I bought this book and "The Birth Book." I'm so happy I did... I will probably end up buying all of their books! The Sears are advocates of attachment parenting but don't try to force it down your throat. So even if you're just slightly interested in attachment parenting and natural child birth... buy this book!
Relax, be well and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A good, general guide to pregnancy
Review: I thought this was a great book to start off with. Dr. Sears and his wife lay out the general information in an easy to read format. While this is not the only book in my prego-library, I do find myself going back to it over and again. I don't think there's one be all end all book. Yes, there is a lot of repetition in the various Sears' books but each seems to build upon the others.
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.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book if You're High Risk and Counting the Days
Review: I bought this book because "What to Expect..." was out of stock and I'm glad I did. This book is very informative and keeps every aspect very consise and to the point. The pictures in the book are wonderful and sometimes helpful. They explain most everything and they even give real life stories from other mothers. This book is biased in some ways that they promote a low intervention birth and they focus on that in the 9th month chapter. They also seem to focus on what's the norm with 90% of mothers to be. I just happened to be in that 10% that wasn't normal. My water broke before hand and they only said a little blip about that which didn't help me much. They also don't focus on the C-section issue very much. They don't give personal accounts of mothers who chose to have a C-section and why. They seem to focus more on the failure of VBAC's as a reason for C-section. Their view on pain relief is if you have to have it then use it but if it's not necessary stay away and they give one story where it helped and one where it was hurrendous. Over all the information in this book is very good. I would recommend it to anyone who asked. The one thing you have to keep in mind is that the authors are very pro natural birth and low/no intervention and if you're facing C-section choose another book in addition to this one. It also has a companion, "The Birth Book", which I didn't read in depth that goes into more detail of the labor and delivery process.
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