The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy: Or Everything Your Doctor Won't Tell You

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Summary: A good way to keep your sense of humor!!
Review: I feel that this book gave me a good view of how humorous the human body can be during pregnancy. Reading some of the situations made me feel better about what I was feeling and that it was normal to feel a little crazy at times. Don't loose your sense of humor with the experience and pamper yourself now by reading a book like this. If you want medical advice, get a medical book. It doesn't take a genius to figure that one out! I really enjoyed loosing myself in this book and getting some tidbits of info that i'm sure will be helpful... if you're not sure, read the excerpt. that's why it's there! ;)

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Summary: Get a sense of humor!!!
Review: I read the sample pages online and immediatly purchased this book. I was disappointed to read all of the negative reviews written by women who obviously have no sense of humor. It's a very down-to-earth book, that isn't afraid to tell you like it is. Something I couldn't get from "What To Expect..." I'm glad to know that some people don't have to look at pregnancy so seriously, if you eat a piece of choclate, it won't kill you. I promise.

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Summary: Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy
Review: This was actually the first pregancy book that I read and I enjoyed it! I laughed thru several sections and liked the fact that Iovine shared the nitty gritty details that so many books won't discuss. Yes, her statements about weight gain and fashion are a little depressing but these are her views on her pregnancy. Every reader will have a different view point on their impending expansions and some will be upset while others are just thrilled, so take the authors opinions with a grain of salt. There really is not a lot of medical advice but she does clearly state that you shouldn't depend on this book for such advice anyway, that is what your doctor is for. For a humourous look at pregnancy, a must read!

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Summary: I LOVED THIS BOOK!
Review: I generally do not write reviews, but after reading this book and the negative reviews by other readers, I thought another opinion should be stated. This was one of the funniest things I have ever read. It covered all of the questions about how you "feel" while you are pregnant, and talked about them as only girlfriends would. It is very descriptive and at times can be down right raunchy. But the birthing process isn't squeeky clean now is it? I have told everyone I know to buy this for gifts, and now that my girlfriends are having babies I'm getting it for them. It is not meant to be taken seriously and the author Vicky Iovine doesn't want you to. Several times throughout this book she states that this is only her opinion based on her own experiences as well as her girlfriends, and to consult your doctor for any concerns you may have. Don't get this if you want a medical opinion on your pregnancy. Get this if you want a real "laugh out loud" experience. By the way, my husband also found some of the chapters amusing.

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Summary: BEST BOOK EVER!!!!
Review: Vicki's book was the funniest pregnancy book I've EVER read. Everyone gets the "What to Expect...." book, and if you're looking for boring medical mumbo-jumbo, What to Expect is fine. But if you want a light-hearted look at pregnancy, that is TOTALLY on the money, this is the book for you. I buy it for all my girlfriends. I was pregnant with twins, and going through major physical changes. I loved reading this book, because Vicki went through the exact same things I did. And she wasn't shy about hitting the nail right on the head. I would laugh so hard when reading this I'd have to run for the bathroom! The reviewers who wrote in and said it was an awful book obviously have no sense of humor, and take themselves way too seriously. Being pregnant is a wonderful, magical experience, but it's also funny as hell. Your body is taken over by a "parasite" and watch out! If you can't laugh at your sagging boobs, hemrhoids, and stretch marks, then you shouldn't be pregnant in the first place. All pregnant women are beautiful, but you won't feel beautiful every day. Vicki made me feel like finally someone "got it." AWESOME! A MUST READ!!!!

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Summary: Crude, lude and very disappointing
Review: I regret buying this book. It is so crude that I am embarrassed to still have it in the house. Not what I expected at all. I have no idea how this book is a best seller.

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Summary: Not for the First Time Mom To Be
Review: I would definitely not recommend this book for a first time Mom. I read this before I got pregnant and ended up in tears. I have a great self image, but by the time I finished this book, I was sure that I would end up fat, lumpy and unlovable. I was sure that my husband would never want to touch me again. I have told all of my friends who are trying to conceive to leave this one on the shelf!

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Summary: Great book to own while pregnant!
Review: This certainly isn't the only book you should purchase when having your first child, but it is ESSENTIAL to have! It is enlightening and light hearted - especially when talking about dreaded side effects of pregnancy (from stretchmarks, to puking, to talking to your doctor about personal problems 'down there'). I highly recommend this if you are having your first!!!

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Summary: Good counter to the medical books
Review: Too many pregnancy books focus only on the ins and outs (pardon the pun) and the shoulds and shouldn'ts of pregnancy, and some of them are written by male doctors - no offense, but to quote my favorite Friend: "no uterus: no opinion". While Vicki Iovine seems to think all women start out pretty, petite and rich (SO not true for most of us) she does give a lot of the details and nitty gritty stuff we wanted to know but were afraid to ask. If you have plenty of open and honest friends and family-members who have RECENTLY had children (because believe me the memory does fade after awhile) you may not need this book. Otherwise it's pretty much an essential for your "pregnancy library".

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Summary: Not the book for the sensitive person...
Review: From the Foreword to the end it clearly states, " It is the compilation of the experiences, opinions, concerns, complaints and remedies that my Girlfriends and I had when we were pregnant. If any real medical information is passed along in this book, it largely accidental, for I leave that domain to the doctors." So clearly, some other reviewers have failed to read this page. This book is not going tell you the medical info regarding tests that are performed, what scientifically causes mood swings, etc. but what the author will tell you about is how some things seem scarier then they really are, and how they really feel unlike the doctors who always say "it will only hurt a little," and so forth. She is not an advocate of natural childbirth but does go into the experiences of her friends that are. This is an opinioned book with advice that may not apply to everyone but in no way makes, you feel pressured for disagreeing. If you have been reading all those books with the medical information like myself and find that you wake up every morning scared that something is wrong then maybe a good laugh is really, what you need. I find this book hysterical, and it has really made me realize that some of the feelings I have been experiencing are not outrageous and to be expected.