Rating: 
Summary: Best pregger book I have read...
Review: I have owned this book twice (and given it away) and plan on buying it again as I am pregnant for the 4th time in my life. It has good, solid information from conception to baby's first year from a trusted, valued source. An easy reference, it is, I believe, the best buy for what you get.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Source of Information!
Review: I have read this book during both of my pregnancy's and have used it as a good source of information after each pregnancy as well. I have yet to find another book that is as informative and helpful as this one has been for me.
Rating: 
Summary: Outdated but still useful.
Review: I have very high expectations for a book that calls itself "complete" right in the title. In addition, on the front of the jacket, it says, "This unique and authoritative guide covers all aspects of pregnancy & baby care through age one . . . " So, I have a higher standard for this book than for other pregnancy/parenting books that address specific philosophies or issues.This very large book has a lot of information about pregnancy, childcare, and parenting. Many of the common issues are addressed, in addition to some not found in many such books. There is a section on the special needs of families who adopt, often skimmed over in many pregnancy books. There also are sections on families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, and death of an infant or young child. While not topics that people enjoy reading, they certainly need to be addressed so that people who experience them don't feel alone and know there are resources to help them. They also include things NOT to say to people who experience the death of a child (like "You can always have more,") and things you can say and do that could actually help the family in the healing process. There is quite a bit of information in this book that is out of date, however. Nothing is mentioned about the dangers of eating certain fish while pregnant/nursing. Homebirth is not even in the index, you need to look up "hospitals--back-up arrangements." This is despite that fact that studies endorsed by the Center for Disease Control (among others) find that homebirth is a viable choice for low-risk pregnancies when a skilled midwife is present. There is some information about alternatives to the "medical model" of pregnancy and childbirth, but not enough for the authors to call this book an "authoritative guide [that] covers all aspects of pregnancy." I, personally, was disappointed in the section titled, "Returning to Work." Firstly, because there is no complementary section on stay-at-home moms/dads or even a section on deciding whether or not to return to work. For many families, the decision of whether or not one parent will stay home with the children is a big one. There are many factors to consider, resources available, and ways to make it financially possible. It bothers me that this book assumes that all mothers and fathers will return to work within the first year. While families who choose to have both parents work need support and resources, families who are undecided or who decide to have someone at home need support and resources also. The subsection "Handling Guilt Feelings" (about working outside the home) does not even mention that fact that you may want to consider whether working outside the home is right for your family. There certainly are parenting books out there specifically designed for "stay home" parents and others for "working" parents. In my opinion, a book that claims to be an "authoritative guide" should offer resources for both. This book has good points. However, right on the jacket, it calls itself an "authoritative guide," as I referenced earlier. Since it is lacking information on many important issues, however, I cannot recommend it, (...) and supplement it with additional resources.
Rating: 
Summary: Has many good sections, sadly lacking in others.
Review: I have very high expectations for a book that calls itself "complete" right in the title. In addition, on the front of the jacket, it says, "This unique and authoritative guide covers all aspects of pregnancy & baby care through age one . . . " So, I have a higher standard for this book than for other pregnancy/parenting books that address specific philosophies or issues. This very large book has a lot of information about pregnancy, childcare, and parenting. Many of the common issues are addressed, in addition to some not found in many such books. There is a section on the special needs of families who adopt, often skimmed over in many pregnancy books. There also are sections on families who experience miscarriage, stillbirth, and death of an infant or young child. While not topics that people enjoy reading, they certainly need to be addressed so that people who experience them don't feel alone and know there are resources to help them. They also include things NOT to say to people who experience the death of a child (like "You can always have more,") and things you can say and do that could actually help the family in the healing process. There is quite a bit of information in this book that is out of date, however. Nothing is mentioned about the dangers of eating certain fish while pregnant/nursing. Homebirth is not even in the index, you need to look up "hospitals--back-up arrangements." This is despite that fact that studies endorsed by the Center for Disease Control (among others) find that homebirth is a viable choice for low-risk pregnancies when a skilled midwife is present. There is some information about alternatives to the "medical model" of pregnancy and childbirth, but not enough for the authors to call this book an "authoritative guide [that] covers all aspects of pregnancy." I, personally, was disappointed in the section titled, "Returning to Work." Firstly, because there is no complementary section on stay-at-home moms/dads or even a section on deciding whether or not to return to work. For many families, the decision of whether or not one parent will stay home with the children is a big one. There are many factors to consider, resources available, and ways to make it financially possible. It bothers me that this book assumes that all mothers and fathers will return to work within the first year. While families who choose to have both parents work need support and resources, families who are undecided or who decide to have someone at home need support and resources also. The subsection "Handling Guilt Feelings" (about working outside the home) does not even mention that fact that you may want to consider whether working outside the home is right for your family. There certainly are parenting books out there specifically designed for "stay home" parents and others for "working" parents. In my opinion, a book that claims to be an "authoritative guide" should offer resources for both. This book has good points. However, right on the jacket, it calls itself an "authoritative guide," as I referenced earlier. Since it is lacking information on many important issues, however, I cannot recommend it, (...) and supplement it with additional resources.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book
Review: I just received this book last week, before I knew I was pregnant. I started reading it and couldn't put it down for 3 days in a row, it's very informative and thorough... I am telling you this is the most comprehensive book I've come across. I just found out yesterday that I'm 10 weeks along, so this has come in the nick of time! ;-) Enjoy it if you choose to go ahead and buy it...you may read the reviews of all the happy people that have already gotten this. It's also great to give as a gift!
Rating: 
Summary: A good compliment to your library of pregnancy books
Review: I liked this book in conjuction with a few others. It had some information that others didn't have.
Rating:
Summary: Consider this book a necessity for all your questions
Review: I purchased this book for my daughter, along with several other books about pregnancy. This book answered so many questions, not only for her, but also for her sister during their pregnancies and ensuing questions about their newborns. This book was a favorite as far as covering most any subject that came up, or for a quick answer during the pregnancy and the baby's first year. It is a large book, but a GREAT reference book -- very COMPLETE!
Rating:
Summary: Exceptionally informative book about pregnancy & child birth
Review: I strongly recommend this book for any one who is expecting a baby. This is a "must have" book to add to your family library. My son is 15 months now, and we still can refer to this book as a "preliminary diagnosis" for any symptoms that he may have before calling the doctor.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent pregnancy reference book that's not too cutesy.
Review: I'm a 32-year-old woman planning to get pregnant. When I looked at other pregnancy books, I found them too cutesy for my taste. I'd rather have a book that provides solid and comprehensive information in a straight-forward and unsentimental manner. This book was the closest I could find in matching that criteria, and of course, the Mayo is well-respected as a healthcare institution. Perhaps because this book is not so cutesy is why it can appeal to fathers. I found the book to be a bargain since it also offers information on the baby's first year. Very well-priced for a large hard-cover reference book. As a person of color, I appreciated that the photos and drawings of parents and babies were diverse in ethnic/racial representation (seemed to be proportionate to the population).
Rating:
Summary: The best and most complete book on pregnany and childbirth.
Review: I've read three other books on pregnancy and childbirth and this is by far the best. It is incredibly complete without ever sounding condescending. Also, it gives an overview of baby's first year, which many of the other pregnancy books do not. I think I will need a book strictly about babies when the time comes, but this gives a basic outline of development, giving a general idea of what one is in for. I highly recommend this book.
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