Amazon.com Review
Pregnancy should be a time of wonder and hope, but these days, it's associated more often with paranoia. Dr. Glade Curtis is keenly aware of the anxieties heaped upon expectant women: he has written
several pregnancy-related books. So while he covers pretty much any topic that an expectant mom might be concerned about, he does not overload the reader with extraneous information or horror stories that can be found in that
other best-selling pregnancy guide. In this completely revised and updated edition, Curtis describes the physical developments from weeks 1 through 40--or 41 or 42!--such as the size and weight of the baby, emotional changes in the mother, typical medical tests offered, and nutritional requirements. (The iron found in prenatal vitamins may exacerbate morning sickness, he writes, because iron supplementation is usually not needed until the final trimester.) It is too bad that Dr. Curtis does not recommend more alternative-medicine approaches for treating common pregnancy discomforts. In the chapter covering Week 8, he rightly describes sciatic-nerve pain as excruciating, but does not advise yoga or chiropractic treatments for its relief. However, he *is* hip to the use of doulas, or labor coaches, he encourages breastfeeding, and includes numerous tips for making your partner feel included in what should be a thrilling experience for you both.
--Erica Jorgensen
From Library Journal
This book is a worthy addition in this subject area. Its format, information, and language are both highly accessible and current. As the title states, pregnancy is followed week by week. A chapter is devoted to each week, covering six basic areas: baby size; mother's size; baby's growth and development; changes in the mother; how the mother's behavior affects development; and things "you should also know." A vast range of material is included, making this a bargain for the price. Similar to but more comprehensive (and up to date) than When You're Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg & others (Workman, 1984), this would be an excellent complement to the more recent The Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons Complete Guide to Pregnancy ( LJ 4/15/89).
- Kathleen L. Atwood, Pomfret Sch. Lib., Ct.Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.