Rating: 
Summary: not specific enough
Review: I returned the book because 5-6 page chapters were dedicated to a whole trimester where thousands of things happen. The yahoo pregnancy calendar is more specific than this book. I was not able to find the info I was looking for month after month. This book is just not representative of what happens during a pregnancy.
Rating: 
Summary: Great reference, but somewhat judgemental
Review: This is my favorite reference on pregnancy- but not birth. I give this book 4 stars, because I found the information on pregnancy to be very concise, easy to read and informative. The illustrations are nicely done and I enjoy the sections on the baby's development.My only gripe is the section on birth. The authors give factual, fairly non-biased information on c-sections, pain relief, interventions...etc. The only problem is, after c-section there is a "section" of personal stories and nearly all are on VBAC, not anything to support a woman who has had or will have to have a c-section; or validate her experience. On the section of epidurals, it is fairly non-biased and actually pretty reassuring. Then they have the personal stories again, one of a couple who used the epidural "wisely" to get some sleep and had it turned off for pushing so her labor could be natural and the other of a horrible epidural experience. And then a snotty little comment by a fictional nurse about epidurals. They are obviously biased toward interventions in birth and lean toward non-meds/non-intervention. The labor/birth sections are not terribly informative, but that is because they have a second book- The Birth Book- as its companion which goes over the whole process in great detail. If you are bent on a low intervention birth, read the second book, if not then skip it. Overall though, their book is an enjoyable and reassuring read on pregnancy. Their diet info is good and does not go overboard like "What to Expect". I would recommend this to anyone as a reference guide for pregnancy.
Rating:
Summary: The Pregnancy Book: Month-by-Month, Everything You Need to K
Review: This book was wonderful...for the first seven months. The first part of the book was very informative and positive, and I just loved it. However, as I got into the chapters on the eighth and ninth month, I saw how opinionated and condescending the Sears' were on such issues as pain relief during childbirth, and the very worst was their suggestion that IF YOU HAVE A C-SECTION, IT'S MOST LIKELY ALL YOUR FAULT. They give examples of the "proper" use of an epidural, and those who use it when the pain first becomes bad are irresponsible and setting themselves up for a c-section. An imaginary nurse is quoted as wondering something like, "Gee, she had an epidural which slows the contractions, and now we have to give her pitocin to speed things up again. Tsk, tsk." The doctors and nurses at my hospital were happy to give pain relief, and told me that if it did stall labor, which most of the time it didn't, a little pitocin brings things back on course, so why suffer? I did have both, and dilated to 10 cm in six hours - the easiest, most wonderful labor. However, after 2.5 hours of pushing, my son was stuck and I did end up with a c-section. I remember bawling in my doctor's office 4 weeks later, remembering their "advice" on c-sections and thinking I probably could have prevented it if I'd only done their stupid exercises sooner (which by the way, are supposed to move your pelvic bones!), which I hardly started because my son came 3 weeks early. My doctor quite firmly told me that because of my son's position, head size, the fact the cord was wrapped around his neck several times, etc. that my baby could never have been delivered vaginally. If you're looking for GUILT, this is a great buy! The Sears' even say that many mothers that have had c-sections read their book and realize the errors of their ways and do much better next time. If there is one mother out there that has believed the Sears' that it was her fault this happened, I'd like to first smack her upside the head for believing them, and then give her a hug and tell her it's not her fault and she did what was best for her and her baby, because I know that's what I really needed.
Rating: 
Summary: Very informative and fun to read!
Review: I've bought 5 pregnancy books...what can I say, I'm an information junkie!:) This book and The Mayo Guide to Pregnancy are the BEST of the ones I've purchased. What I like about this book is that it is written in a conversational tone and the information is thorough and concise. It gives a month by month run down on how you may feel physically and emotionally and how your baby is developing. I'm very pleased. Also, my husband has enjoyed the Expectant Dad's Guide--helps our guys feel validated for their concerns and know better what is going on with us moms and babies.
Rating:
Summary: Great book for a month by month "blow by blow"
Review: This book is great. I really like that it is not wordy, all information in it is pertinent. It is also quite easy to use... there have been several times which my wife and I have used the book to uncover what her new mysterious pain was BEFORE we call the doctor and end up paying for unnecessary doctor visits. This book is very good for the inqusitive pregnant folks out there. If it is your first pregnancy, all of your friends and family will have advise and many times, that advise will not be the best advise. This book will have sound advise coming from experts in pregnancy.
I will definately be buying more "Sears" series of books.
Rating:
Summary: Another Excellent Book in an Excellent Series
Review: This is a fabulous book, especially for first-time moms. Regarding the reviewer below who said the labor section wasn't helpful because it "glossed over" the pain, I would suggest you read The Birth Book for a true understanding of the Sears philosophy of birth sensations. Martha Sears birthed seven children, so I'd say she has a great understanding of the feelings laboring women experience.
Rating:
Summary: Informative, but not scary!
Review: I purchased this book when I found out we were expecting. As your typical 20something 1st timer I had no idea what was going on inside my body, let alone what is normal or not. I've found this book to be highly informative on just about every odd little question or concern I have/had. This book is put together in a straight-forward manner with no BS, no beating-around-the bush, and no sugar coating yet is very comforting. (unlike many of the other books out there that either tell you about the 'minor discomforts' of labor... or the 'Horriffic Pain' of crowning.) HA! All and all, of the many hours I spent in various book stores reading chapter upon chapter of many different books, I found this one to be the most honest and informative out there so I bought it and now keep it as my pregnancy bible.
Rating:
Summary: Good, all-around reference book with one small annoyance
Review: I am four months pregnant with my first, and my husband is a family practice physician. Needless to say, that gives me the luxury of bombarding him with questions instead of looking them up in the book. I do like to read each month's chapter to get ideas about how the baby is developing, the physical changes I can expect, etc. There's also some good information on nutrition and exercise (haven't read the labor part yet, I think it's good not to read too far ahead). It's detailed, without being overwhelming. And, it's not candy-coated like a lot of books out there. My one complaint is that they order the weeks from conception instead of from your LMP. Since the doctors (and the general public) use LMP to date your pregnancy, it's slightly confusing to always have to add two weeks to whatever stage the book is describing. Their 12 weeks is really your doctor's 14 weeks. Highly annoying. And they never tell you that's what they're doing, so it made me confused for quite awhile. There's nothing about fertility or "getting ready" for pregnancy in the book. For that, I would highly recommend Toni Weschler's "Taking Charge of Your Fertility". It's awesome. And it's what I credit for getting pregnant after only two months of "trying". Overall, the Sears' book is definitely one of the better ones out there.
Rating:
Summary: Best Pregnancy Book I've Found for Pregnant Moms
Review: I just happened to stumble upon this book during my search through hundreds of pregnancy books for the ultimate pregnancy reference guide with a personal touch. Once I discovered that I was pregnant, everyone recommended that I read "What to Expect...," but I really wanted to check out "The Pregnancy Book" too because of all the great reviews I had read, so I read both of them at the same time. It didn't take long before "The Pregnancy Book" became my new favorite reference and "What to Expect..." just became something I read when I'm bored. Dr. & Mrs. Sears explain just about every possible symptom you could have. (I was so happy to find out that all of my symptoms were actually normal, and I wasn't the med-school case study I thought I was.) The Sears also recognize that every pregnancy is different and explain the many choices you have during pregnancy. Plus, I also noticed that they seem to have faith in the mother's ability to make decisions, unlike many authors who insist that you must follow their instructions exactly or you're a bad mother. They even added a section on what to do if you don't make it to the hospital/birthing center in time and how to deliver your baby yourself if necessary. If you're looking for information on fertility, specific birthing methods, or taking care of your new child, try taking a look at some of the other, more specific books related to your topic (some are also written by the Sears), but if you're already pregnant or expect to be pregnant, this is a MUST HAVE book (and feel free to skip the "What to Expect..." book because this one really out does it).
Rating:
Summary: uncannily helpful
Review: I'm the type of person who immediately runs to a reference book when I feel unwell or have questions about how i'm feeling. So pregnancy was one long reading session for me. This book was right on target so many times it was uncanny. I also appreciated its easygoing but informative tone. I can't imagine a more useful book to have during pregnancy.
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