What to Expect When You're Expecting

Summary (from the publisher): Announcing a brand new, cover-to-cover revision of America's pregnancy bible. What to Expect When You're Expecting is a perennial New York Times bestseller and one of USA Today's 25 most influential books of the past 25 years. It's read by more than 90% of pregnant women who read a pregnancy book—the most iconic, must-have book for parents-to-be, with over 14.5 million copies in print.

Now comes the Fourth Edition, a new book for a new generation of expectant moms—featuring a new look, a fresh perspective, and a friendlier-than-ever voice. It's filled with the most up-to-date information reflecting not only what's new in pregnancy, but what's relevant to pregnant women. Heidi Murkoff has rewritten every section of the book, answering dozens of new questions and including loads of new asked-for material, such as a detailed week-by-week fetal development section in each of the monthly chapters, an expanded chapter on pre-conception, and a brand new one on carrying multiples. More comprehensive, reassuring, and empathetic than ever, the Fourth Edition incorporates the most recent developments in obstetrics and addresses the most current lifestyle trends (from tattooing and belly piercing to Botox and aromatherapy). There's more than ever on pregnancy matters practical (including an expanded section on workplace concerns), physical (with more symptoms, more solutions), emotional (more advice on riding the mood roller coaster), nutritional (from low-carb to vegan, from junk food–dependent to caffeine-addicted), and sexual (what's hot and what's not in pregnant lovemaking), as well as much more support for that very important partner in parenting, the dad-to-be.

Overflowing with tips, helpful hints, and humor (a pregnant woman's best friend), this new edition is more accessible and easier to use than ever before. It's everything parents-to-be have come to expect from What to Expect...only better?

Review: This is the classic, best selling book read by countless parents to be over the last 25 years. True to its fame and summary, it gives a comprehensive month by month overview of what to expect from each stage of pregnancy as well as featuring question and answer sections that cover a multitude of topics that first time parents frequently may have. Topics covered include common symptoms, diet suggestions, explanation of what to expect from each month's doctor appointments, warning signs to be on the look out for, and possible complications. 

This was a great resource for me and gave fairly comprehensive overview of every stage from before conception to the first months after birth. Of course, in the digital age, pregnant women can look most of the questions and symptoms up instantly online or even message their doctor on the spot, but it was still great to have a full, well researched resource to browse through. 

In an attempt to inject the book with humor, this book did come across as relatively corny at times. For instance, the section responding to concerns over a baby's potential nut allergies is entitled "no peanuts for your little peanut?" (205). However, my biggest complaint was the condescending tone taken in the chapter written specifically for expectant fathers. Although some of the advice was good, it also instructed men to help out around the house and not tease their expectant partners about changes in their bodies or pregnancy symptoms, all of which seem obvious. In short, the book assumes that all future dads are oblivious and insensitive types who rely on their wives to do all the housework and thus may be inconvenienced by their wife having a baby. (And of course it assumes only heterosexual, married couples have children and that dads will only read the chapter written specifically for fathers...)

Corny jokes and outdated gender norms aside, if you only read one book during pregnancy, this would be a great choice.

Stars: 4

Related Title: 

• Baby & Me: The Essential Guide to Pregnancy and Newborn Care by Deborah D. Stewart & Jenny B. Harvey