It Could Happen To You: Diary Of A Pregnancy and Beyond (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A few weeks before Adam and I got married, his cat started barfing..." (more)
Key Phrases: chicken baby food, epidural block, Martha Stewart, Diaper Club, New York

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Martha Brockenbrough's It Could Happen To You is a delightfully funny diary of the author's own pregnancy through the first year of her daughter's life. It is the perfect antidote to all of the patronizing, horribly dull pregnancy books, which are long on advice and short on laughs. It Could Happen To You began as a column Brockenbrough wrote for the Microsoft Network while she was pregnant. During its tenure on MSN, it was the most widely read column about pregnancy and motherhood on the Internet. It's easy to see why. Brockenbrough's amusing approach to pregnancy and motherhood will strike a chord with experienced moms and the newly pregnant alike, who may wonder, as the author did, "Do I really have to wear maternity clothes?" Throughout the book, Brockenbrough shares her joys and her fears, and asks the questions every new mom wants to know, such as, "Why do old ladies keep telling me my baby is cold?" and share the realization that 'When you're a mother, your guilt light goes off the second you start doing something for you, instead of something for your child." A few not-to-be-missed chapters written by her husband, Adam, such as "A Guy's Guide to Baby Holding," provide a comical male perspective on the whole experience. Refreshingly honest and funny, It Could Happen To You is just right for bolstering the most important tool a new parent has - a sense of humor.

About the Author

Martha Brockenbrough graduated from Stanford University with degrees in classics and English. At various times, she has worked as a high school teacher, a journalist, and a Web producer.She also writes an educational humor column for the on-line encyclopedia Encarta. Martha lives in Seattle with her husband, Adam Berliant; daughter, Lucy; dog, Misty; and cats, Spot and Lily.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (September 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740726854
• ISBN-13: 978-0740726859
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #639,783 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thinking of getting pregnant? Buy this book., December 22, 2002

By	Jen Singer "Author, You're a Good Mom (and Yo... (Kinnelon, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

It's been more than four years since I've been pregnant, and yet, Martha's book brought it all back to me. "It Could Happen to You" is a sweet, funny book about pregnancy and the first year of motherhood. I laughed out loud when I read it. I recommend it for anyone thinking about getting pregnant. In fact, I sent a copy to a friend who had asked me "What is it really like?" I'll let Martha tell her.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what the doctor (or midwife) ordered...., January 26, 2004

By	Ann Douglas "pregnancy/parenting author" (Peterborough, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If the hormonal swings of pregnancy are getting you down, a dose of Martha Brockenbrough could be just what the doctor (or midwife) ordered. It Could Happen to You: Diary of a Pregnancy and Beyond makes the perfect companion to some of the more serious pregnancy reference books - the kind that may be causing you to toss and turn at night. Brockenbrough has the gift of being able to see the humor in everything from morning sickness to labor to mother guilt - and, trust me, that really is a gift. A lot of mamas-to-be lose their sense of humor long before delivery day....

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You'll need Kleenex...and not for the usual reason., October 28, 2002

By	Brenda Noland (Salem, OR United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

During both of my pregnanices, I read several books on parenting and pregnancy, and this is the only one that made me laugh so hard I ran the risk of snorting pop up my nose.

Most of the books pregnant women read contain about seventeen thousand facts. None of these facts are funny, unless you count sentences such as "You need four servings of dairy and an extra serving of protein every day, along with plenty of fruits and vegetables." This is VERY funny when you can't keep anything down besides Idaho Spuds brand mashed potatoes. Martha Brockenbrough gets the joke, and it's that brand of rueful humor that makes this book so delightful.

Martha has captured the vernacular of pregnancy, sounding more like a very funny best friend than like your 10th-grade health teacher (the usual tone of pregnancy reference books). The humor is beautifully balanced with touching reminders that parenting is wonderful, mysterious, and a wildly unpredictable experience that will change you forever.

Buy this one, but keep a Kleenex handy--you don't want to get diet Coke all over your nice new book.