Rating: 
Summary: A thorough pregnancy book
Review: This book (like some others) covers everything from preconception to the first few weeks after childbirth. Like any other Unofficial Guide I've read it is no-nonsense, matter-of-fact and fairly complete. I like that they include sections on adoption, gay parenting, being overweight and pregnant, etc.
Rating:
Summary: Great for preconception; not as great when you're prego
Review: I bought this book when we decided we wanted a baby. I really wanted to get The Mother of All Baby Books, but my store didn't have it. Turns out, Ann Douglas wrote both books, so it didn't matter.I found the preconception advice wonderful. It also gives you an overview of what to expect when you're actually pregnant, and breaks it down week by week. There are several helpful charts in the book, such as one that goes over the most common prescription and non-prescription drugs and the effects they have on the baby. There's also information on fertility testing when things don't go as planned. However, now that I'm 7 months pregnant first time mom-to-be, I find I don't use the book very often. The week-to-week information is great when you want to know what to expect before you get pregnant/just get pregnant, but it's not sufficient information to keep you really informed when you're actually at those critical points. I find that the book is lacking in details on those conditions that can pop up during pregnancy, such as increased heart rate, shortness of breath, etc. These are normal events, but I just wanted more information on what to expect and when to expect these kinds of conditions. Overall, it's still a great book. I definitely recommend it to those who are trying. However, if you're already pregnant, I recommend Your Pregnancy Week By Week. This has been my favorite book so far.
Rating: 
Summary: A great book for the thinking mom-to-be
Review: This book is intended for the smarter-than-average reader: someone who wants an in-depth analysis of all the key issues she's likely to face during pregnancy. It's very detailed and comprehensive and will answer all your pregnancy questions.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh, it was okay.
Review: Basically, I found that this book and "The Mother of all Pregnancy Books" were VERY similar, so I suggest in comparing the two to see which one would be better for what you're looking for. I found the writing pretty dry, although it did provide some good information. However, it was all information that could probably be heard or read elsewhere, probably with more focus. It seemed to try and touch on ALL the subject of pregnancy (which makes sense, considering the title) but only briefly. I wasn't totally disappointed in this book, but I wish the writing were a little more enjoyable.
Rating:
Summary: Answered all my questions about pregnancy
Review: I have purchased six different pregnancy books and this one is the one I turn to again and again when I'm hit with questions or concerns. It contains detailed information that other pregnancy books don't provide, like the facts about the relative safety of various prescription and over-the-counter medications that you may need to take at some point during pregnancy. I found the book to be a very enjoyable read and appreciated the fact that it is written for people like me who want to know absolutely everything about a particular topic. Another reviewer recommended The Girlfriend's Guide as an alternative to this book. I just wanted to point out that they are two entirely different types of books. While The Girlfriend's Guide is a fun, light read, it's not meant to be a serious pregnancy book. In fact, some of the medical "facts" in the book are totally incorrect. If you're looking for a book that's fun to read and yet still highly medically accurate, you might want to consider The Mother of All Pregnancy Books. Personally, I prefer The Unofficial Guide to Having a Baby to The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, but that's just me. I have tons of friends who absolutely adored The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, and, what's more, it's the book my doctor recommended to me.
Rating:
Summary: OK, nothing I hadn't read/heard before
Review: I was disappointed in this book. Everything in it I had either read or heard elsewhere. Also, I was already pregnant when I bought it, so the large section on preconception wasn't of any use to me. I found the text dry, and it doesn't go into much depth on the medical information. My favorite pregnancy book is "The Girlfriend's Guide". I was hoping to suppliment that book with one a little more factual and informative, but "The Unofficial Guide..." is not what I was looking for.
Rating:
Summary: Informative but feels like something is missing
Review: I have this book and Mother of All Pregnancy Books- both by the same author. I have to say with some disappointment that these books seem to be almost the same book. While the author does a good job of trying to cover all the subjects from trying to concieve, to the trimesters, to complications, to special circumstances, to labor, to post partum. It seems everything gets touched on and nothing gets really discussed in depth. I find that after reading on a subject in this book, I am left feeling like I want more on the subject. This is a decent book for overview and probably works well for women who just want the facts and to move on. It really is a good book, just not for my particular needs. For myself, I wanted to read a book that really talks about pregnancy, more personal and feeling. I found The Pregnancy Book by Dr. Sears to be much better. I even found What to Expect to be more indepth into what I wanted to know.
Rating:
Summary: A great all-around resource
Review: I'm only 3 months pregnant, but have already started to wear out this book! So far it has addressed every single question I've had. I've been amazed at how thorough it is. It covers all of the basics that books like Girlfriends Guide and What to Expect leave out. And I've appreciated the way the info. is presented -not judgmental in any way. For instance, you can read the section on breastfeeding vs. bottlefeeding and come away informed, without feeling like you're going to ruin your child's life if you opt not to breastfeed. There's a really useful section on over-the-counter and prescription medications that I've referred to numerous times to make sure I was making smart decisions. I highly recommend this book for the medical perspective on pregnancy. A really useful reference.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic All-Around Guide
Review: The authors present the topics in a factual, non-judgemental way. Having read the medical-focused and the girlfriend-focused, I found this to be the perfect balance. The chapters are broken-down well, so you can skip chapters you're not ready for and come back to them when you are. I also appreciated the tips for spending less than the system wants you to!
Rating: 
Summary: Scarey Book
Review: I wouldn't recommend this book for mother's to be. Unless you want to find out about every negitive thing that could possibly happen during pregnany and labor. This book is scarey. Don't get this one.
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