My copy is a first ed. from 2011, so there maybe be more modern safety recommendations out there but otherwise, this was very sound, factual information on not just the pregnancy period, but a good portion of it was on the post-partum period and what to expect for the first month or two for both the birthing parent and newborn! The most technical of the ones I've read so far, with a generally reassuring tone throughout. The week by week updates show what your embryo/fetus looks like through development.

Other reviewers note that it's probably not intended to be read cover-to-cover and I'd agree with that (the Complications chapter even notes that you shouldn't read it since most are extremely unlikely scenarios), but this is a very solid, thorough reference to have on hand! ( )

Of the pregnancy books I've read, this is most comparable to Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth. I'm not sure which I like better. The Mayo Clinic guide contains more details about pregnancy, including more information about the development of the fetus itself and useful information on gentle exercises to perform during pregnancy.

However, it is missing the key things I appreciated from the Our Bodies, Ourselves book: the sense of educating the reader about the various options available to her and empowering the reader to make the choices that are best for her situation. The Mayo Clinic guide is much more prescriptive, and it spends a lot less detail helping women decide why they might want to follow or deviate from standard practices.

I'm glad I read the Mayo Clinic guide; I did learn some things. But if I had to recommend just one or two books, I'd still go with Out Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth, and Expecting Better combined with an app like I'm Expecting (Android) to provide more details about the week by week development of the baby. ( )

Okay, so I didn't technically read this book cover to cover, but 1. that's not how reference books are generally supposed to be read, and 2. I think I've earned the right to count this as "read," since I went into preterm labor and basically skipped my third trimester, rendering much of the book irrelevant. This is probably the best pregnancy book available, as it gives you practical information without being fear-mongering (as many pregnancy books are wont to be). In fact, it mostly lumps all the scary stuff into one chapter on complications.

very good for pregnant moms. it has greatresources and advice and it gives you month by month info about you and your baby ( )

This was a great book for pregnancy. It was very informative. I found it focused more on the facts of pregnancy like what was typical at stage of pregnancy in regards to how your baby is growing, what your feeling and what your body is going through. I would recommend this book to anyone who is pregnant or trying to get pregnant. ( )