Mayo Clinic

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!… (altro)

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.… (altro)

This book is a good resource for those new to dieting, pre-diabetes and diabetes. It is written to be easily understood and has short chapters. People have different reading skills and desires. The way it is written would fit most reading levels. I enjoy reading so I have good comprehension skills. I had no issue with reading it but I do realize that some might find it simplistic. However I appreciate that I would be able to recommend this book to non-readers and teens. Unfortunately, in the US, obesity is a problem with children as well as adults. Obesity is a contributor to diabetes type 2. Many teens are body conscious. They have been dieting, sometimes in risky ways, since I was a teen, (and most likely before then). I like that this book focuses on a healthy lifestyle. It gives information on healthy portion size, choosing snacks with care and balancing screen time with exercise. I like that it encourages journaling to keep track of what you eat, how you are feeling when you eat and the times spent exercising, (and how you feel after making it easy to see your progress). There is a companion journal you can get that helps with tracking meter readings for those who are pre-diabetic or diagnosed with diabetes. There are only a few recipes included as it concentrates on lifestyle changes rather than being a cookbook. It does include a section about portion size and a small guide to help you familiarize how to break down main dishes that have several food groups in it. There is also a brief section on restaurant choices. For someone who knows these things already it might seem like there is nothing for them. I already knew those things but I wasn’t actively keeping track of it as well as I should have been. This book brought that to my attention. There are also strategies included that may be of use. I also found the approach of adding habits, breaking habits and adopting habits to be very helpful. Sometimes we fail at changing the way we eat and exercise by trying to do everything all at once, then find it too difficult to keep at it. I think if I look at it as small steps it is easier to stay on track.
I don’t believe any one diet book is perfect for everyone. We are all at different places in our health, our habits and even the foods we choose to eat. I would encourage anyone reading this to talk with their doctor and, if possible, get a referral to a dietician and discuss your goals realistically with them. I do believe this is a good book to read, writing down any questions you have about applying it to you. If you are uncertain about the book style fitting you, please remember that most likely your local library will have a copy you can borrow. If it fits you, you can buy it with no worries. I bought a copy to keep as a reference as it suited me, (for disclosure, I am newly diagnosed with diabetes 2). I found it encouraging and helpful. Good luck on your healthy lifestyle journey.… (altro)

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.… (altro)