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: 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 bit disappointing Review: I'm a great fan of Dummies books--but not this one. There are too many holes in the book: the authors only give superficial treatment to such important issues as preconception health, work-related issues (e.g. how to tell your boss you're pregnant), the implications of taking various types of drugs during pregnancy, and the role that doulas and midwives can play in prenatal care and labor support. Worst of all, the chapter on pregnancy loss failed to address the important physical and psychological issues involved: how to cope with your grief, the physical aftermath of pregnancy loss, when it's safe to start trying to conceive again, and how to cope with the stress of a subsequent pregnancy. The tone was also pretty heavy--even a little dry--as compared to your average Dummies book. I was hoping for a book with a bit more personality. If you're looking for a comprehensive pregnancy book that's strong on content, pick up The Unofficial Guide to Having A Baby by John Sussman and Ann Douglas. If you're looking for a book with lots of style, pick up The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy. Unfortunately, this book doesn't have much to offer in terms of content or style.
Rating: Summary: A Good Resource Review: I'm an expectant mother, and I found the presentation of this book to be extremely helpful. The information is thorough, no-nonsence, written in plain English, and is fun to read. i would highly recommend this book to anyone who is pregnanct or is looking to become pregnant.
Rating: Summary: The author is my doctor Review: I'm lucky enough to have Dr. Stone assist me with my twin pregnancy, the book is great for those who can't actually see her. She doesn't take the fearful, doom-and-gloom approach (my gripe with other pregancy books), but has excellent information on how to have a baby safely.
Rating: Summary: Pretty good but not all that. Review: Overall this is a decent book. I like its no-nonsense approach to what changes a woman's body goes through during pregnancy, what things to look out for physically, and what types of things are checked by the doctor at typical office visits.
However, based on the title, I expected it to be more comprehensive than it was. This book was almost exclusively medical information and I wanted to know other things like, when does one normally start taking birthing classes, when should one start buying things for the baby, choosing a hospital, and other basic topics.
I understand if that wasn't the scope of this book, but, based on the description, it should have been.
Rating: Summary: Extremely well organized and useful Review: Pregnancy for Dummies is an excellent resource for the journey of pregnancy. It is extremely well organized, including a chapter on things to think about and prepare for before you get pregnant as well as a chapter on what to do with the baby once he/she is here! It is also very well written... with humor and anecdotes. I believe it is written by two OB/GYNs - a man and a woman who has had children of her own. Like the others below, I too found it superior to "What to Expect" which was pretty dry, and in a Q&A format that might not appeal to everyone. I'm not sure why the reader below freaked out about scheduled inducing, but you have to remember the book is written by doctors... inducing is convenient for them as well as perhaps the parents! Anyway, you won't go wrong with this book.
Rating: Summary: AWFUL!!! FALSE ADVERTISING!! Review: The book isn't the one in the picture or the one you can view. It is a MINIATURE ADDITION. It only has a few pages and minimal information. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
Rating: Summary: AWFUL!!! FALSE ADVERTISING!! Review: The book isn't the one in the picture or the one you can view. It is a MINIATURE ADDITION. It only has a few pages and minimal information. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!!!
Rating: Summary: So much to read, so much to learn Review: This book does a great job in trying to present the incredible amount of information surrounding pregnancy. It's organized extremely well, and covers many of the subjects and areas one would expect... and then some. I highly recommend it. I also highly recommend the video version of this book which I luckily had a chance to see a promotional copy of. Almost 4 hours in length, most of the same material is covered in a way that is far less difficult to absorb. It's well worth viewing. That said, the best approach is getting both. While the video presents the info wonderfully, the book is a fantastic research tool thoughout the course of a pregnancy. Together, they add up to more than their parts individually. Fantastic!
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