Pregnancy for Dummies [Paperback]

Joanne Stone (Author), Keith Eddleman (Author), Mary Murray (Author)

Book Description

Series: For Dummies (Computer/Tech) | Publication Date: April 30, 1999

Pregnancy is among life's greatest adventures, an experience that inspires prospective parents to seek out reliable resources to answer all their newfound questions. Preparing to host a baby for a full term begins with understanding the reproductive process and how the mother's body prepares for and then nurtures its guest. Getting from there through maternity involves looking forward to labor, delivery, and recovery – and taking care of baby as the newborn gets to know the world around him.

Written by two practicing obstetricians who have cared for thousands of women and their families Pregnancy For Dummies organizes information so that you can enjoy the unfolding drama one trimester at a time. The informative and easy-to-read guide not only speaks to traditional husband-wife couples who are considering parenthood but also

• Single parents
• Same-sex couples
• Adoptive parents
• Surrogate parents

Pregnancy For Dummies reassures readers with friendly – even fun – looks at fertility issues, signs and symptoms of pregnancy, and helpful advice on

• Choosing the right practitioner and birthing facility
• Preparing for physical changes and mood swings
• Taking a childbirth class that suits your delivery choice
• Having a baby from Dad's perspective
• Recognizing the differences between real and false labor
• Understanding the reasons for a cesarean delivery
• Dealing with complications before and after the birth
• Deciding between breast and bottle
• Coping with postpartum blues

Designed as a companion to regular medical care, Pregnancy For Dummies delivers the kind of insight that can help you stay fit, active, and informed during your pregnancy – and excited about taking on the joyful job of bringing up baby!

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This book's title sure sounds a little scary, but as its often-hilarious testimonials from first-time parents show, expectant parents frequently feel really stupid. Like the vast majority of For Dummies books, this one is supremely organized and indexed to help you find the answer to most any question, especially the embarrassing ones you may be reluctant to ask your doctor ("Is it okay to have sex in the last trimester?" "How long does it take the ugly conehead effect to go away after birth?") and the more serious ones ("Can I breast-feed while I'm on the Pill?").

Unlike many pregnancy books, this one has plenty of helpful information for the mother's partner, including ways to deal with vicious mood swings, helpful tips for preparing for childbirth class, and seven tricks for easing her labor pain--even if she's threatening that you'll never have sex again. Besides chapter after chapter of information about pregnancy's physical aspects and how to stay comfortable during the next 40 weeks, there's also plenty of advice on emotional issues--from learning how to say "hands off!" to the pesky people who want to rub your belly to coping with postpartum blues. Some readers may be offended by the book's slightly warped sense of humor (example: "breast engorgement really sucks"), but the authors never treat serious topics in an off-base way. The book's definitely geared toward first-time parents, but for moms and dads confused by the many new medical tests and modern options (such as the doula [pregnancy coach] dilemma or decision to freeze the baby's umbilical cord or not), there's a fine education to be had between this book's covers.

Review

“A new addition to this popular series, the book offers sound, practical advice for ever stage of pregnancy.” (Yoga & Health, May 2005) --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (April 30, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764550748
• ISBN-13: 978-0764550744
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (51 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #900,161 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extremely well organized and useful, June 3, 2001

By 

LisaFrag "lisafrag" (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pregnancy for Dummies (Paperback)

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.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Helpful at 3 AM, March 5, 2005

By 

suz13 (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pregnancy for Dummies (Paperback)

This book was recommended to me by my OB/GYN, and I found it to be very helpful when I would freak out in the middle of the night... I particularly appreciated the fact that all the scary-but-rare stuff was put in one chapter at the end, so you could look it up if you needed to, but you didn't have to encounter it when you were looking for more routine information. Too many other pregnancy books have the scary-but-rare information throughout, so you spend time worrying needlessly.

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Common sense approach to pregnancy, December 22, 2005

By 

Mrs. K "From the wilds of the Mojave" (Mojave Desert, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pregnancy for Dummies (Paperback)

I'm 36, overweight, hypertensive, and having my first baby. I wish Pregnancy for Dummies had been the first pregnancy book I had purchased. I purchased three others before I finally got this - in my third trimester - after I rented the DVDs. This book is very straightforward and has sense of humor. I took a childbirth class chock full of info on natural childbirth, breathing, relaxing, etc. This book was a great companion to the class - a basic primer. If you need additional information, go ahead and buy a couple more books (25 is probably overkill, though. It's a baby, not a thesis).
Two of the books I purchased prior -- What to Expect When You're Expecting and the Mother of All Pregnancy Books were loaded with every horrible thing that can happen at every stage of pregnancy. Loads more information on genetic problems than you need in a normal pregnancy. Heaven forbid if you eat a Twinkie at 22 weeks!! I thought they were both alarmist. My AFP test said I had a higher chance for Down's Syndrome. I went to my amniocentesis test convinced that even if the baby tested fine that the amnio itself would cause me to miscarry. Long story short - the baby is fine and the amnio wasn't a big deal (just don't look at the needle!).
I think today that most women understand they need to stop drinking and smoking, take prenatal vitamins, eat some vegetables, and see an OB. If they don't know already, then I can't imagine they'd be buying any pregnancy books anyway.