Pregnancy for Dummies

Rating:
Summary: I can't praise this book highly enough
Review: (Australasian edition)
I bought and read a lot of different pregnancy books, but this is the one I kept referencing back to (and finding the answers/info!) again and again. I can't praise this book highly enough - this is the first time I've reacted strongly enough to a book to volunteer a reader review. During the last 9 months expecting my first baby, there was never once this book couldn't answer my questions or doubts, big or small. It is easy to read in digestible chunks as you progress, but also more importantly easy to use as a reference source for those quick questions e.g. hearburn (nformal), tingly fingers (can happen, normal), PUPPS rash (can happen, normal), night sweats (can happen, normal), when bleeding is to worry or not, etc. Very reassuring and informative. Although I was only fucussed on the progressing pregnancy and later the delivery/birth, surprisingly I still found myself regularly scouring this book's pages post-delivery e.g. breastfeeding, baby healthcare, immunisations, etc. A wealth of tips and resources. As well as presenting just 'medical' or 'physiological' accounts, the book also presents *practical* info, e.g. what to expect at the hospital, what to pack/bring, baby items to have ready at home, the first days after delivery (normal or caesarean), first days at home, etc. It's like having a combination of your own private midwife, and Mum, on call 24/7. Indispensible - you'll be no dummy when you've read this book!

Rating:
Summary: I can't praise this book highly enough
Review: (Australasian edition)
I bought and read a lot of different pregnancy books, but this is the one I kept referencing back to (and finding the answers/info!) again and again. I can't praise this book highly enough - this is the first time I've reacted strongly enough to a book to volunteer a reader review. During the last 9 months expecting my first baby, there was never once this book couldn't answer my questions or doubts, big or small. It is easy to read in digestible chunks as you progress, but also more importantly easy to use as a reference source for those quick questions e.g. hearburn (nformal), tingly fingers (can happen, normal), PUPPS rash (can happen, normal), night sweats (can happen, normal), when bleeding is to worry or not, etc. Very reassuring and informative. Although I was only fucussed on the progressing pregnancy and later the delivery/birth, surprisingly I still found myself regularly scouring this book's pages post-delivery e.g. breastfeeding, baby healthcare, immunisations, etc. A wealth of tips and resources. As well as presenting just 'medical' or 'physiological' accounts, the book also presents *practical* info, e.g. what to expect at the hospital, what to pack/bring, baby items to have ready at home, the first days after delivery (normal or caesarean), first days at home, etc. It's like having a combination of your own private midwife, and Mum, on call 24/7. Indispensible - you'll be no dummy when you've read this book!

Rating:
Summary: Extremely Informative
Review: Every expecting Parent and Grandparent should have this book. It is well written and an easy read. As an expectant grandmother, I needed an update since it had been thirty years since I carried and delivered a baby. This book did just that.

Rating:
Summary: Better than What to Expect..
Review: I agreed with some of the other readers. I was given this book along with "What to Expect When You're Expecting." It was by far much better than "What to Expect..." "What to Expect..." was too serious and made me feel guilty everytime things didn't go exactly as written.

Rating:
Summary: don't be turned off by the title
Review: I almost didn't buy this book because of the title, but it turned out to be the best pregnancy book I found. The doctors who wrote it are informed, reasonable and are able to walk the fine line between medical reality and pregnancy hysteria (see "What to Expect When You're Expecting"). I felt comfortable with the advice and found it well-organized.

Rating:
Summary: Pregnancy for Dummies
Review: I am appalled that any book on pregnancy would tout the "convenience" of having your labor induced. The idea that working parents with busy schedules can just go in and "have" their baby at any time is not only unnatural but so unfair to the safety of the newborn. If you are too busy to work your labor into your schedule, then I think you should rethink whether you want to raise a child.

Rating:
Summary: Everything You Need to Know
Review: I bought this book because of the title and absolutely loved it. I recently went to the doctor and she was impressed at how much knowledge I had about pregnancy considering I have never been pregnant. The book is easy to understand and very informative. The authors keep is simple, yet get into the scientific explanations for those who want them. I would recommend this book for Dads or partners too. My husband and I read it together and he enjoyed the "For Dads" parts.

Rating:
Summary: More informative than any other book in my "library."
Review: I found this book to be very realistic and less flowery than "What to Expect" and "Your Pregnancy Week By Week", even though the latter of the two was a very wise purchase. "Pregnancy for Dummies" was much more informative and seemed to give me more honest information on what things will really be like for the duration of my pregnancy. If you're looking for good books for the father-to-be, check out "The Father's Guide to Pregnancy" and "She's Having a Baby-and I'm Having a Meltdown". My husband is in another country right now and has no idea when he'll be back, so this is his way of keeping in touch with my pregnancy. As hard as it is be apart for him, these books ease his mind somewhat.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Start for Beginners
Review: I found this book to be very well organized and easy to follow will valuable info-not intimidating or daunting in the least! Neither my husband or I had any idea what to expect when we decided we were ready to begin trying to conceive. We considered ourselves to be total "dummies" when it came to the entire process and we BOTH found it extremely useful.
This book answered the questions we were too embarrased to ask!
I found the information on preconception very useful--many books focus on infertility and not necessarily presumed low-risk conditions.
It is a great first step before moving on to more technical reads-it's a great first book.

Rating:
Summary: Less than Satisfactory
Review: I love this series of books - but didn't love this one. Some really important issues - like dealing with illness while pregnant - were dealt with in a very superficial way. I am pregnant for the first time, and I have a ton of really specific questions. This book does not go very far in answering those questions. For a first-time mom, I would suggest "What to Expect When You Are Expecting," instead. This book simply does not provide enough detailed information to be truly helpful. It is more like an outline of everything you need to know; but you still end up seeking out other books to get more info, so save yourself the money and skip this one.