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This book gave me a lot of great info as what to expect. I found it easier to deal with things(not to stress) when i read about symptoms i was experiencing were normal.
First of all, I read it when I was in the midst of first-trimester morning sickness and heightened food aversions. I wasn't a dummy, I just couldn't get through a decent meal because I was pregnant.Then there was the time I tried to look up "mood swings." You would think that in a comprehensive guide to pregnancy, one that claims to inform you of "What to expect," they would give a few pages over to mood swings. This book isn't all bad, it certainly contains some good advice and information, but I gave it one star because that's my gut feeling about it. When I actually read it, though, I fount it wishy-washy, condescending, disorganized, and dishonest.
It isn't exactly emotionally trying, it's more hormone-fueled insanity, and to know that it's normal and that it will pass would be WAY more helpful than to discreetly ignore such a widespread problem. As a first-time pregnant lady, I certainly wasn't expecting to experience rage like that, and this book totally ignores it for the sake of sweetness. A friend lent it to me when she learned of my pregnancy, and I was so thrilled because I know that it is the old standby pregnancy guide. It was so aggravating to read page after page after page telling me to eat my vegetables. You know what it says in the index.
Even in the "for men" section, it basically just says to be patient because this can be an emotionally trying time. I would steer other expectant mothers away from this book and towards better ones. I am a health freak, but in my first trimester, vegetables made me gag and I could not swallow them. I recommend the MAYO guide as a basic reference instead.
I really hate this book. "Mood swings: see depression." Well, that's tough, because I wasn't depressed, I was just feeling rather insane and throwing tantrums all the time. A little bit of attention to this saying "You're normal, it's just the progesterone" would be helpful. You have no idea how many mommies have confided in me that they threw something at their husbands when they were pregnant: a glass, a sponge, a kitchen chair. I completely realize that it's great to eat vegetables, and that their advice is good if you are capable of eating vegetables, but it was so discouraging to be reading the guilt-inducing message that I might be denying my baby something because I was gagging on my spinach. Start on the MAYO website and see if you like it. I DO NOT recommend it.
Buy the book if you want to have it on hand. There was little or no sympathy for that kind of reality. For someone who knows a lot about nutrition, it seemed so condescending. I could go on, but I'll spare you. Skip "What to Expect" altogether.
We are in a different country and have no one to tell us things right when we need it. Oh wow. We performed the home pregnancy test, like so many others, and got the result positive. Then I talked to my boss, with whom I have friendly relation too, told me about "What to Expect When You're Expecting" he also did give me the link to buy the book.Since the day it is in our hand we are living on it. Then next thing came in mind is OMG. now what should we do and what not. There had been so many instance when we say thanks to the writter because we would worry about things which is common and ignore things which is not common without this book. This book is exactly what is expected when someone is expecting.Thanks a million.Rashmi Manish Pandey
I was hoping to read a book of valid, accurate information by an educated writer. Sadly, what I got was a book penned by an ill-informed, non-educated writer. I'd suggest picking up a book by someone with a medical degree (or even a degree of ANY kind).
It is a great book if you are having a common pregnancy. However, if you are a high risk pregnacy there isn't a lot of information in there for you.
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