89 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than all the rest, January 6, 2002
This is my first pregnancy, so I had lots of questions. I went overboard on the books - I own 3. The other 2 are informative, and I am glad I had a chance to read them, but if a woman wants one book that will answer her pregnancy questions, "Your Pregnancy Week by Week" is the one I recommend. This book explains the stages of the pregnancy, both for the mom and baby, at a nice pace, weekly. I own "What to Expect When You Are Expecting", which goes month by month, but that seems too general because I want to know what is going on with my body and my baby now, not "sometime this month". "The Pregnancy Journal" goes day by day, which seems to be a bit much - nobody's pregnancy is going to follow the book exactly. With this book, I can read about what will be happening the following week and share the information with my husband, which makes him feel more involved. I love the fact that it explains how I am changing, how the baby is changing, and what I should be expecting (it's very reasuring when a book tells you that the crazy things you are doing and feeling are normal). I recommend this book over any of the others I have seen.
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
OK but it should not be your only pregnancy book, June 19, 2006
You can get this info on many pregnancy/ birth websites, like Baby Center, pregnancy.about.com, and sheknows.com (some have even more info and pictures than this book). Those sites all provide week by week information. Before the internet became so accessible this book probably made more sense and was more relevant. For the very best pictures of the developing baby, in book form, go with "A Child is Born" by Nilsson. It is beautiful and informative (though, again, not the only pregancy book you should buy).
I should note that I have the 4th edition. I hope that it has been updated, especially with regards to episiotomies. It erroneously states that an episiotomy heals better than a tear. The American College of OB/Gyns came out against routine episiotomies in May 2005. They now know that episiotomies increase the chances of bigger lacerations and that they do not heal faster or easier. (They may take a bit less work and time for them to sew up but I would rather them have to take longer to sew up a 1 degree tear that wouldn't be that hard to recover from!). So, if the episiotomy info has been updated just ignore this part of the review. I'll check out the new edition next time I am at the bookstore. (Updated, I checked and they have not revised their episiotomy info).
Like almost every pg/ birth book it touches on baby's size and birth but pays only a smidge of lip service to baby's position. If more moms knew about malpositioned babies (like posterior ones that can cause slow, back labors) then more c-sections could be prevented. Some c-sections that are done because baby is "too big" are really the result of a poorly positioned baby. However, there are things you can do during pregnancy to increase your odds of a well positioned baby (see www.motherspirit.net) as well as things you can do in labor to rotate baby to a better position (try all 4s for 10-15 minutes with periodic back arches towards the ceiling).
I think that this book tries to do too much. It has such short blurbs on important topics. These include labor induction, pain meds in labor, birthing options (as you can tell I am a birth junkie...I even have a Listmania list on good pg books). I worry that some moms only read this book and think they know all that they really need to know. So, this book can not be your only resource.
It also seems like sections of this book were written by several different people. In some parts they back track on earlier advice. For example, they say at one point that breech babies must be delivered by c-section but later they discuss it a bit further (though they leave out excellent tips that may help turn baby like the webster technique, heat pads, visualizations, certain positions...). This lack of consistency can be a bit confusing.
I feel this book is too one sided (medically oriented) in that it tells you things in shades of black and white only (like why you need to have X but not why or what all your other options are). I feel like this book does not help you make informed choices about aspects of pregnancy and especially not of birth. Informed consent should inlude being told the risks, benefits, reasons and options. Since this kind of information may not be passed on in easy to understand, unrushed ways by your care provider you need to know where to turn for the complete picture on your own. You need other books to do that. "Your Pregancy Week by Week" will not do that.
What books will do that? Number one pick is "The Pregnancy Book" by Dr. Sears. After that would be "Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn" by Penny Simkin. You can't go wrong with books by Sears, Simkin and Kitzinger. I would definetly choose one of those over "What to Expect...," "The Girlfriends' Guide...," or this book. You don't have to want a more naturally oriented pregnancy and birth to appreciate my recommendations. They still offer all the basics of the medical model but they do a better job considering all sides.
There are so many better pregnancy/ birth books out there than the standards (WTE...) but because they aren't as well known people don't buy them. I bet if more people got Sears' book instead of those it would catch on since it really is better!
For the ultimate informed consent birth books get "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer. Some people may think Goer is too radical but she backs up all her recommendations with great studies and explanations.
I did have this book and I did read it. But I found it pretty lacking in terms of pregnancy and birth info. I mainly read it for the week by week updates on me and baby rather than as a comprehensive guide. I did not find it scary. Maybe I entered into my pregnancy knowing a bit more about it than the average mom but I already knew what conditions were rare, odds of the others and all that stuff. It was nice to have the info on complications, imo. I think if you worry easily that you would be better off with one of the books I mentioned earlier.
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Paranoid Pregnancy, July 8, 1999
This review is from: Your Pregnancy: Week by Week (Your Pregnancy Series) (Paperback)
A friend gave me this book when I learned I was expecting. Being someone who wants to be well-informed of what I might expect, I welcomed it. However, when I'd sit down every week, counting week by week, and read what joys, yes, and risks, exist, I found this book HIGHLY unnecessarily negative and focused on what seems will probably go wrong. Glade Curtis, ending each weekly chapter (and reading each weekly chapter started out as a joyous ritual to me) with subjects like hydrocephalic babies, chlamydia, teratogens, whatever could POSSIBLY go wrong, has caused my husband to hide the book to keep me from reading what charming thoughts Dr. Curtis might have for me, in what should be a positive and hopeful experience. I am NO pollyanna, wanting only hugs & good news. BUT this author has created a book highlighting your worst nightmares about pregnancy, and particularly effective, he chooses to end each chapter with the most horrible news you could be looking forward to hearing each week.
Anyone who finds this book just "telling it like it is" must enjoy wallowing in her own paranoia. Find another book, written in an honest, truthful manner, but one that allows you to keep whatever positive thoughts and energies you might enjoy.
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