Rating: 
Summary: The best girlfriend to have!
Review: I got this as a X-mas gift and didn't put it down for days. It really made me feel better about my body, my feelings and emotions and more importantly, my pregnancy and my baby.It really goes deep into the things that no medical pregnancy book would tell you. For example, it's normal to want to strangle your husband! Becuase your hormones are raging like a nutty person! Nothing he does will make sense to you during this time! The poor guy! It also has tips for husbands like what to do or not do. What to expect and not expect. What to say or not to say. But most importantly, it give advice on having a healthy baby and healthy pregnancy. I highly recommend it! Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: NOT for the thinking woman
Review: An easy read, humorous and sassy, but very disappointing. I found this book to be an insult to the intelligent woman and to the birthing process. Vicki Iovine indulges herself in unloading the responsibility of childbirth upon medical professionals. She is obviously pro-intervention, but fails to relay just how serious some of the consequences of these interventions are. She writes nonchalantly about C-sections and neglects to mention the side effects of the epidural or other interventions. Not all women who want to have a natural childbirth (which Vicki refers to as "frontier woman style") have "something to prove". They may have just done a little research and found out that, indeed, those medical interventions can affect the baby and the mother in adverse ways. Vicki's "go into labor with your toenails painted" approach to childbirth is not one I can relate to. If you're looking to kill some time and have a little chuckle every now and again, then this is your book. But, any woman who wants informative reading about pregnancy and childbirth needs to look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Sometimes you just need to read something different.
Review: I don't look at this book as a medical journal that will prepare you for pregnancy and childbirth, I look at it as a book that will tell the 'story' of one woman and what SHE went through during her pregnancies. She relates symptoms, emotions and cravings that she experienced, as well as those of some of her girlfriends. To me, this is a light-hearted look at pregnancy. It says, "No matter what you're going through, rest assured that others have gone through it too. It's normal." I have plenty of other books that tell me the specific medial facts about pregnancy, and those are very informative and good to have. I found this book a fun read that shows the ups and downs of pregnancy. The only real nitpick I have with it is the fact that some of the things she says are a little on the feminist side. Husbands should pretty much stay out of their pregnant wife's way and accept every mood swing with a smile plastered to their face. I do not agree. My husband is as eager to experience this pregnancy as I am, and is not content with sitting back because 'his job is done'. The comments she makes in the book are not so distracting as to turn me off, but they are there and I just wanted to warn future purchasers as to what to expect. Basically, this is a biography about her pregnancies and those of her friends. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and think it should be viewed as just a 'fun read' and not as a serious, here-are-the-facts, medical journal.
Rating:
Summary: Great Read!!
Review: As a first time expectant mother I could definitely relate to much in this book. The author is hilarious at times!
My advice to any expectant mother is to relax and read this book. Very informative, too.
Rating:
Summary: Do your girlfriend a favor. Don't buy her this book!
Review: While this book may be fun to read, as countless other reviewers have pointed out, it's medically inaccurate, unaccepting of anything but a traditional hospital birth attended by an obstetrician, and extremely superficial. For me, pregnancy was all about celebrating the miracle within, not lamenting the fact that I was gaining weight, acquiring stretch marks, and -- major tragedy -- letting my roots show. You don't do another pregnant woman a favor by giving her this book. In fact, you do her a huge disservice. Instead of buying this book because you think it's the one your girlfriend should read, buy her one of the many excellent, empowering, and inspiring pregnancy books on the market today instead -- basically anything by Pam England, Penny Simkins, William Sears, Ann Douglas, Sheila Kitzinger, or Miriam Stoppard -- books that will leave her feeling good about her pregnancy and her body. That's what being a great girlfriend is all about!
Rating:
Summary: A limited viewpoint presented
Review: I was really disappointed by this book. It was given to me as a Christmas gift and I have heard other pregnant moms recommend it. The author says "I have always thought of pregnancy as divine permission not to exercise." She even lists her top 8 reasons why you shouldn't exercise during pregnancy. The author also gives misleading information like that if it is your first baby, chances are you will have an episiotomy. Episiotomies are rarely given these days. She also seems to equate midwives with home deliveries. While some do deliver at home, most midwives deliver at hospitals or birthing centers and have 24 hour physician back-up. The author also described a girlfriend who chose natural childbirth as a cavewoman who had something to prove. Really disappointing viewpoints expressed in this book
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I had high expectations regarding this book! However, I was totally turned off by it. Most women I have talked to at least liked being pregnant (some even LOVED it), but obviously this woman was not one of them. If you like to complain or listen to people complain, this book is for you! I appreciated the lists of things to bring to the hospital and suggestions regarding what products were helpful, but found the negative comments tiresome (such as the one suggesting exercise outside where there aren't any mirrors). I received WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING from my OB/GYN. It was a breath of fresh air after this book. As it turns out, my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, but WHAT TO EXPECT had an entire section on when things go wrong, unlike the Girlfriends' Guide. I tossed the Girlfriends' Guide and have What to Expect in my bookshelf for future reference. Once you are on a hormonal roller coaster, the Girlfriends' Guide loses its charm rather quickly.
Rating:
Summary: The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy
Review: Good overview of what to expect during pregnancy, childbirth and first week, from a non-health educated person. But don't rely on it for medical facts of any sort because she gets the terms mixed up at times.
Rating:
Summary: Don't mistake this for pregnancy advice!!!
Review: Yes, this book is funny in parts, if somewhat offensive. But DON'T mistake this for actual pregnancy advice. It's both narrowminded and dangerously off the mark in some areas and shouldn't be considered anything other than a sometimes humorous opinion on pregnancy.
Every other page ridicules anyone who is not a perfect size 4 to start with or is enjoying the changes in her pregnant body. It assumes that your husband, like hers, will be revolted and strangers on the street will running screaming if they see your natural hair color growing back in, and that everyone (including yourself) will find you bloated and disgusting. And while she encourages you to eat to your heart's content since you don't have anything else to enjoy (BAD advice!!!) she also condemns anyone who is considered "overweight" and assumes you got that way sitting on the couch eating junk food all the time (naughty girl, that'll get you kicked out of her appearance-obsessed clique of "girlfriends"!). The notion of taking any route other than going to a male obstetrician, giving birth in a hospital, and having an epidural is ridiculed, never mind that there are a lot of options out there that will help you have the safe and comfortable birth you want.
Personally, I think pregnancy is about a lot more than how you look and having screaming fits at your husband, and I'm offended by the notion that I should dress up and flirt with my (presumably male) obstetrician as one of the highlights of late pregnancy, since no-one else could possibly find me interesting at that point. Pregnancy is full of enough challenges without this shallow and superficial view touted as "the new pregnancy bible." Give me a break!
Rating:
Summary: Can't Stop Laughing Out Loud!
Review: While reading this book, I'm constantly worried that I'll wake up my husband sleeping in the bed next to me, either from my out loud laughing, or from shaking the bed! Pregnant with my first child, I'm reading this book as a supplement to the many medical and technical pregnancy books available. I'm so glad I bought this book!
Author Vicki Iovine constantly inserts the disclaimer that she is not a medical professional, and her advice should never take the place of that of your doctor. However, for someone like me, who is living far from friends and family, it's wonderful to have a "buddy" point of view. Keep in mind that this book's purpose is to ease your fears about being crazy ("pregnancy insanity") and help you deal with the fact that your body and life will change forever.
Iovine uses the same language as your best girlfriend, and while this book shouldn't be taken too seriously, there is tons of great information available. For example, how to dress when your body goes from your pre-pregnancy size to the lovely "upholstered" look. Or explanations in perfect detail of every single pre-natal test that you may be administered. All while telling you that it's perfectly normal for you to want to kill your husband.
Morning sickness is referred to as "progesterone poisoning", and each chapter is titled with very descriptive names, such as "Pregnancy is a Total Body Experience" and "Postpartum Dementia".
"The Girlfriends Guide" is a wonderful break in the serious and dry pregnancy literature available. Just enjoy it for what it is, and always consider your doctor's advice to be tantamount to everything else. Read it for a laugh!
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