Customer Reviews

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books: The Ultimate Guide to Conception, Birth, and Everything In Between (U.S. Edition)

5 star:		(115)
4 star:		(28)
3 star:		(23)
2 star:		(14)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

All you have to do is visit your local bookstore to see how many books are devoted to pregnancy, infertility, and post-partum, etc. This is the ONLY book that successfully covers them ALL. Ann Douglas has given us the COMPLETE guide to having a baby- the first 4 chapters alone are devoted to preparing the body for pregnancy, along with the feelings that go along with "Are we really ready to have a baby?". This book is chock full of charts, statistics, and best of all, advice and testimonies from 100 couples Douglas interviewed. Not as clinical and stringent as "What to Expect"...., yet a little more serious than the "Girlfriend's Guide...", "Mother of All Pregnancy Books" is the be all end all of pregnancy books. Topics covered are as follows:
*What does it really cost to raise children?
*Watch your weight- but not too carefully
*Create a "sperm-friendly" vaginal environment
*The major causes of infertility
*Finding Dr. Right
*The pregnancy nutrient check
*The top-ten 1st/2nd and 3rd trimester worries
*What's normal and what's not
*Pregnancy complaints from A-Z
*What pre-natal testing can- and can't- tell you
*Husband coached birth, or doula (a gir's best friend!)
*What labor is REALLY like
*When pregnancy isn't perfect (e.g. preemies, stillbirth, ectopic pregnancy, intrapartum death, molar pregnancy, etc.)
*Your post-partum body- what to expect
*The post-partum survival guide

Did I lie? This book covers it all. The biggest complaint my friend had regarding Vicki Iovine's "Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" (which I loved) was how casually the topic of miscarriage was handled (my friend, who is now due the same week as me, has experienced 2 miscarriages). Ann Douglas, however, has experienced infertility, miscarriage, AND stillbirth (and has 4 kids). The caring and frank way she deals with grieving over the loss of a baby (even suggesting spending time with your baby's body, dressing it and taking your picture with it to cry and grieve over later) was touching and impressive all at once. WARNING: If you're particularly emotional, or can't handle one more added worry at this point in your pregnancy, you might want to skip this chapter, for fear of adding to the ever-growing bag of morbid worries to may already have. But, it's nice to know the subject is covered if, God forbid, the worst happens. If you are considering having a baby, or even if you're already pregnant, YOU NEED THIS BOOK. Browse through it once and you'll be impressed, I guarantee.

I read this book after several others, so didn't inhale it like I did the earlier pregnancy books I'd purchased -- but I have found it very helpful and interesting (I must admit I haven't even read the 'conception' sections though, as that was a 'done deal' when I got the book).

The information is practical and doesn't use medical jargon. Charts etc. are used to lay information out in an easily-scanned and readable format.

The book is not arranged so much in a month-by-month format (although that does underlie the organization). It is *NOT* What to Expect When You're Expecting -- it's its own book, to be evaluated on its own terms.

I particularly appreciated the practical medical and nutrition advice and explanations, as I work in the nutrition field - it was nice to see things explained so reasonably (I have read other books which can be frightening in their approach to the 'nutrition' question). There are practical tips, such as the best ways to take iron supplements (with a meal, and/or with citrus, for better absorption and less of the sometime side effects) .... And good descriptions of some of the common complaints of pregnancy, as well as their causes (and whether there's anything a woman can do to avoid them).

I also appreciated the information in the back, about potential problems with pregnancy. Let's face it - none of us want to have a difficult pregnancy, and we all want to have healthy babies. But the fact remains that sometimes that's not going to happen. I'd far rather have some idea what the complications might be, than lie panic-stricken on the exam table several months into a 'blissful' pregnancy, completely blind-sided by something that's come up.

People who don't want to read or know about that information, can simply skip that section. But I think it's a great section to have on hand, because if something troubling does come up - you'll have an extra resource to explain in layman's terms what you and your partner (and child) may be facing.

I probably bought 15 pregnancy books while pregnant with my first baby last year and this was by far the best one. Concise (even though long), organized, well indexed and all around well rounded. I recommend the mother of all baby books as well and will be buying the mother of all toddler books when the time comes.

This book is wonderful! And since it's written by a woman and a mother, that immediately makes it more reliable to me than if it were written by a man. (Not that men don't write good books, but clearly they aren't writing from personal experience. Not for this topic.)

What I find particularly useful is the list of common pregnancy complaints listed alphabetically, rather than by month. Since no two pregnancies are exactly alike, it's reassuring to just be able to read about what you're experiencing, without the worry that something is wrong because it is ocurring either too early or too late.

The book is neither bossy nor condescending. It's like having good advice from a friend handy, that you can refer to at any time. I find myself reading things in other books, or in magazines and looking it up in The Mother of All Pregnancy Books, thinking, "What does Ann say about this?"

If you are only going to buy one pregnancy book, this is the one to get. Seriously. It really does have it all: miscarriage, birth plans, home birth, maximizing your chances of conception, ways to cope with common complaints, ways to make your dollar stretch when outfitting the nursery, etc. etc.

I see that The Mother of All Baby Books will soon be published. I can hardly wait!

I would recommend "The Mother of All Pregnancy Books" over any other general pregnancy book on the shelf due to its thoroughness on the subject. The only reason I would not give it five stars is because of the typos in the first half of the book. I did not notice any editing problems in the second half of the book, but I saw more typos than one would normally see in a supposedly edited book, including a mixed-up chart. While these are distracting, they still do not prevent me from recommending this book.

While most other pregnancy books start chapter one with, "Congratulations, you're pregnant," Douglas does not assume all readers have already had a positive pregnancy test. As a matter of fact, the first four chapters explore whether the reader is really ready to have a baby, a pre-conception wellness plan, fertility awareness methods and what steps to take when facing infertility.

Douglas covers a lot of information but does so in a way that is not overwhelming. This book is actually enjoyable to read. Instead of bombarding the reader with a lot of information, Douglas uses charts and examples. She also follows the "Dummies" books' example by having callouts such as "Mom's the Word," featuring advice and insights from real moms, and "From Here to Maternity," featuring resources for more information. I found these helpful.

The book covers every worry a mom can face during pregnancy, labor and delivery. Chapter 11 even covers problems during pregnancy, from how to survive doctor-ordered bedrest to grieving the loss of a baby.

The appendix includes many web sites where readers can get more information on a variety of topics relating to conception, pregnancy and babies.

Mothers-to-be and hopeful mothers-to-be (and fathers, too) will not be disappointed in this book.

The Mother of All Pregnancy Books is a comprehensive guide to preconception, pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum. The book is divided into 12 chapters plus a series of appendices, which are as follows:

Chapter 1: Are You Ready to Have a Baby?
This chapter discusses the costs of raising a child, how having a baby may impact on the rest of your life (your relationship with your partner, your working life, etc.), and how your age impacts on your fertility.

Chapter 2: Your Pre-Game Plan

This chapter talks about what you can do to get your body in the best possible condition for becoming pregnant (e.g, dietary and lifestyle changes you and your baby's father may want to consider making). It also talks about what you can expect from your preconception checkup.

Chapter 3: Sperm, Meet Egg
This chapter discusses the science of conception and what is involved in becoming pregnant.

Chapter 4: Missed Conceptions
This chapter is about fertility problems and both high-tech and low-tech methods of treating infertility.

Chapter 5: Winning at Baby Roulette
This chapter talks about pregnancy tests, choosing a doctor or midwife, what your due date really means, and how your baby will develop during the months ahead.

Chapter 6: Operation Healthy Baby
This chapter talks about important lifestyle modifications you will want to make during pregnancy: e.g., diet, exercise, avoiding cigarettes and alcohol, getting off any medications that could be harmful to your baby, finding out whether you are exposed to toxins on the job that could be harmful and so on.

Chapter 7: The Worry Zone
This chapter covers the top worries for each trimester of pregnancy and includes detailed information on shopping for baby gear and your rights as a pregnant worker.

Chapter 8: The Complaint Department
This chapter provides helpful advice on troubleshooting common pregnancy complaints like breathlessness and cravings.

Chapter 9: To Test or Not to Test
This chapter is all about prenatal genetic tests such as amniocentesis, CVS, and the quad screening test.

Chapter 10: Lights, Camera, Action!
This chapter is all about giving birth: whether prenatal classes are worth it, the advantages of hiring a doula, how to tell if you're experiencing true or false labor, what labor is really like, how to cope if your baby is overdue, and what it's like when you finally get to meet your baby.

Chapter 11: When Pregnancy Isn't Perfect
This chapter explains why some pregnancies are classified as high risk and how to cope if yours ends up being a bit more complicated than usual. Multiple pregnancies and preterm birth are talked about. The chapter also offers some excellent resources on miscarriage and pregnancy after miscarriage.

Chapter 12: Life After Baby
This chapter talks about your postpartum body, how you may be feeling emotionally, and what you can do to make the weeks after the birth of your baby as stress-free as possible for yourself, your baby, and your partner.

The Appendices
The book includes a glossary, a birth plan, emergency childbirth procedures, a directory of organizations, a Web Site directory, Statistics (e.g., number of multiple births, place of birth, etc.), and a huge list of recommended readings.

The book features helpful charts and checklists which allow you to find information quickly. The book's key strength, however, is its warm narrative voice and the many voices of the mothers who were interviewed for the book. "I feel a bond with any woman who has ever given birth," says Lori, one of the moms in the book. "I feel as if I should become her friend. After all we went through the same things and have so much in common." That powerful mother bond jumps off every page, reassuring you that you're not in this thing alone: you're part of a universal club of mothers who understand the highs and lows of pregnancy and motherhood. That's what makes this such a fabulous book.

1. The author has a sense of humor, something that's refreshing in the deadly serious (and sometimes deadly boring) world of pregnancy books.

2. The book covers both the obvious pregnancy topics and the not-so-obvious pregnancy topics. Because the author is a mom of four, she understands what pregnant women want and need to know.

3. The book is modern and up-to-date and contains guidance on issues that are of concern to modern moms-to-be, like hiring a doula, negotiating the best possible maternity leave, etc.

4. The book is refreshingly honest. It doesn't assume you're going to be totally blissful and euphoric for every moment of your pregnancy. It's hard to be euphoric when you're throwing up or feeling totally exhausted.

5. The book is extremely well written. Once you start reading, you won't be able to put it down. I read it over a weekend and then re-read it over and over again during my pregnancy. If you're looking for a book that you'll get a lot of use out of over the next nine months, this is the one.

I bought the book based on the good reviews I had read and also on what the title promised. Unfortunately, I do not agree that this is the most comprehensive pregnancy book around. That is, I don't think just having this one book will provide sufficient information. For example, it doesn't have a week by week or by month-month account of what is happening to your body, what symptoms you may encounter, what the baby is doing etc. On some areas it's a bit vague as well, e.g. I had a fever at one point and wanted to see if it was dangerous to the foetus but there was nothing in there. A lot of the info is high-level and it's defintiely good for an overview, but I didn't feel it was comprehensive or detailed enough. 'What-to-expect...' might be the better choice (even though one could argue it goes abit overboard with all the info provided) but at least you can find just about anything you're looking for.Another book I (& my husband) really like is Dr. Miriam Stoppard: Conception, Pregnancy and Birth. It's a little bit more medical/scientific but has great pictures etc.

I tend to be slightly obsessive about everything I do, and getting pregnant was no exception. Once I decided I wanted to have a baby, I wanted to arm myself with the facts on what it would take to conceive quickly and increase my chances of giving birth to the healthiest baby possible. I also wanted a book that would get inside my head and know the kinds of things I would be obsessing about in the middle of the night -- like whether the particular type of cold cuts or soft cheese I'd eaten at lunch that day were going to be harmful to my baby, or whether it was safe for me to break down and take a painkiller for the headache that was driving me to distraction. This book delivered the goods on all fronts, anticipating all my obsessive mama questions from preconception through postpartum, and doing a particularly fine job of battling my labor jitters. Highly recommended for my fellow obsessive types!

I was recently given a review copy of this book so that I could evaluate it for use in a prenatal clinic I run for expectant mothers. I am highly impressed with the book and will be recommending it to all of my clients. Not only is the book highly readable: it's medically accurate and does an excellent job of pointing readers in the direction of other top-notch health resources.

I also highly recommend The Mother of All Baby Books, another terrific book by the same author.