[.ca] Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn, Revised and ... (ISBN 074321241X)

The best pregnancy book I've seen:
I collected a number of pregnancy books during those long nine months, and read and re-read each one. My friend gave me "Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn," and it was the most thorough, straightforward, and informative - particularly the chapters on labor and deliver. And, unlike "What to Expect When You're Expecting," it didn't fill me with guilt and fear, just useful information.

Very thorough but too dry and politically correct:
This book is very comprehensive and contains a lot of useful charts and checklists, but it makes for a fairly dry read. It also is written in a very politically correct tone so you're left feeling like there's only one right way to have your baby, the authors' way. I can't recommend this book to other moms.

The best pregnancy reference book:
After buying a bunch of books, this turned out to be the one I kept referring to over and over again throughout my pregnancy. There was practically no question that I had that wasn't answered in this book. It's clear, thorough, and very straightforward. It's NOT really chatty or super-friendly like some of the others, but it is perfect if you're looking for a solid and complete source of information (rather than a humorous voice about pregnancy).

Great general reference:
An excellent alternative to "What to Expect . . . " Early in my pregnancy, I checked out almost every book in my local library on pregnancy. "What to Expect" went back in a week, and I now own this book, among others. This book is very thorough and is an excellent reference to the physiological and emotional aspects of pregnancy and birth. I only gave it 4 stars, though, because it doesn't have enough information on natural childbirth, completely unmedicated. If you're planning a natural birth (rather than a managed delivery), you'll need and want additional resources. I did find the tables listing various interventions with their benefits and risks very helpful. Penny Simpkin is extremely knowledgeable about pregnancy and birth. You should check out her other books as well, especially "The Birth Partner." My husband is totally engrossed with that book.

Disappointed:
I was expecting a lot more detail on the pregnancy. There was a lot of things that I had to look up online because the information was not in the book.