Rating: 
Summary: A lighthearted view of pregnancy for thinking women
Review: I really enjoyed this light hearted approach to pregnancy. I have many "expert" books here from medical doctors, midwives, etc. I have searched high and low on the internet for information regarding pregnancy and birth, joined many of a discussion groups on the same thing, and this was such a nice relief from the serious information that you are reading every day if you are pregnant.After reading reviews I have come to the conclusion this must be a book that women either love or hate. Yes this book is also for the THINKING women, as long as you take what is offered in the context it is meant in. To me this was sitting in the car for a long drive with a friend who tells me her pregnancy experience. Not a medical book but just her experience and views on pregnancy. Vicki believes in using hospitals and pain relief, so if you are looking for help on having a natural childbirth, this is not the book you are looking for. If you are looking for serious medical information, this book is not for you. If you are looking for a humerous book to read after being scared to death after reading all the information on what can go wrong with pregnancy, on miscarriage, on pain, on delivery, you will probably enjoy this book. Vicki Iovine states many many many many times that she is not a medical expert and there are other books out there that handle those situations and that she was not offering THAT type of advice here in her book. Quote from her book "It is never my intention to undermine the role of doctors in any way, and I would be forever relieved if you would think of this book as a "supplement" of sorts to the very serious advice and counsel of your obstetrician. With that burden of guilt and responsibility removed, I would like to say that I believe that women learn some of the most valuable things about pregnancy from other women. Not only were my girlfriends endlessly giving of their experience and knowledge, but they constantly reassured me that I was normal, and that was surely the greatest gift of all. While every woman believes her pregnancy is unique and special (especially if it her first), she also yearns to be told that she is no more confused, insecure or neaurotic then the rest of us mothers." So that is the basic jist of this book right there. A few things that I would like to correct here, Vicki is not against Exercising, she even says at the end of the chapter to continue on with your exercising (with your doctors blessing)but suggests you may be more comfortable moving it outside. She also highly recommends swimming as a form of exercise. Eating well Vicki goes on and on about how much gained during her pregnancy (going from a size 2 to 10...insert your own roll of eyes here) but she also states that if are not going to eat healthy at all or are going to starve yourself is not good for you or the baby. There are very humerous chapters on pregnancy insanity, sex, stretching out your regular clothing so as to not buy maternity, and how pregnancy is a total body experience.
Rating:
Summary: Loved it even though....
Review: I really did love this book. She had me laughing out loud many times and she really did give me information that no one else did (think mucus plug). The only reason I didn't give her 5 stars is for dismissing the idea of a midwife or other natural form of birth. I feel that whatever way is easiest and healthiest for the woman is just fine, and your not a "fronteer woman" if you chose to forgo doctors. Also she centers a lot of the book around not liking the way you look, and taking off the weight. Well I'm not a small girl, and I don't mind. I like my size, and I'm sure I will love my big pregnant belly as well. But again I took her advice like I would a girlfriends, if I agreed fine, but if not that was fine too.
Rating: 
Summary: What a Great Read!
Review: I got this book at the end of my first pregnancy, and wished I had not waited so long. As promised, it gives you information that you wouldn't expect to get from anyone other than your "girlfriends". My husband even laughed at some of the passages I read to him. I have lent it out, bought as gifts, and had to replace for myself at lest twice. I am preganant with my 4th child now and plan on revisiting the book again soon.
Rating: 
Summary: Witty...but just plain wrong
Review: Five months into my pregnancy I read this book as a complement to other "more serious" pregnancy books. While there definitely were some helpful points (advice re:clothing, waiting to buy the baby's crib, and wild mood swings were particularly helpful) and she definitely made me laugh out loud a few times, I was absolutely outraged by her recommendations AGAINST exercise and her cavalier dismissal of homebirths and midwives. As another reviewer noted, she completely disregards the extent of medical intervention associated with hospital births, and if she were a true "girlfriend" this would be an area where she would engage in frank discussion. As someone who was inclined toward the certified nurse midwife route, largely because of desire to avoid unnecessary intervention and to avoid saturating my newborn's system with drugs from an epidural, I found her "frontier woman" label insulting and ignorant. It ruined the book for me; and I will stay away from her followup books as well. If I could give it negative stars, I would
Rating:
Summary: Great Read for Soon To Be Moms AND Dads!
Review: This book was filled with great information as well as humor. I laughed and learned all at the same time. If you are going to be a new parent soon. This is a MUST READ! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: A Funny and Entertaining Read
Review: In my 6th month, I read this book and it was terrific because it tempers some of the bittersweet experiences of pregnancy with healthy doses of humor. I found myself laughing out loud at a time when I was otherwise beginning to feel a little anxious about approaching the last phase of pregnancy. Don't expect some overly academic or medically bent book here -- (there are plenty of others to choose from if that is what you're looking for). Iovine never positions herself as an expert or presumes to base her information or anything really, other than her own practical experience in having babies. Iovine's writing style is quick and intelligent, and her advice strives to be these things: funny and realistic. It's like hearing the voice of a good friend relate her pregnancy experiences over a good cup of coffee.
Rating:
Summary: C-Sections are a GOOD thing?!?!?
Review: I was so excited to find a funny book on pregnancy because I take a pretty light-hearted approach to life. But [bad] information is [bad]information, and I think this book is full of it. Example: A scheduled C-Section allows you to be calm at birth and maintain great vaginal tone. Well, when I had my C-Section, I was scared and physically miserable, I couldn't hold the baby for a long time, and I hated having my baby in an operating room. The incision took WEEKS to recover from! And the scar was ropey and sensitive for a year, and I'll have it for the rest of my life!!!! All to avoid going to the hospital spontaneously and to keep good vag. tone? I don't think so. Vicki needs to tell the whole stories about each of the medical procedures she seems to love so much, otherwise her book is a funny bunch of dangerous [information].
Rating:
Summary: A must have for pregnant women
Review: This book was my favorite pregnancy book. Vickie made me laugh through 9 months. I couldn't put it down. It's true, it's not full of quotes from the top hospitals or experts in child delivery, but Vickie is an expert in her own right; she has 4 kids. She writes about a lot of things I experienced. It was comforting to read about people having similar pregnancy experiences. This book is a nice break from the serious books that are filled with all that can go wrong.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing change from other scary books
Review: At no other time do you need to laugh more than in you 8th month... This book was great - which I had bought it early in pregnancy. I am buying it for all the first time mom friends I have.
Rating:
Summary: On the lighter side!
Review: I received this book as a gift during my second pregnancy. It was the perfect gift! I had read every pregnancy book under the sun with my first child and all were very serious upon the subject of pregnancy. I just roared with laughter through the entire "Girlfriends" book. Of course I took some of the authors opinons and suggestions with a grain of salt, but don't you have to judge all books for yourself? Don't take it too serious and enjoy the humor of it all!
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