Rating: 
Summary: Great Read!!
Review: As a first time expectant mother I could definitely relate to much in this book. The author is hilarious at times!
My advice to any expectant mother is to relax and read this book. Very informative, too.
Rating: 
Summary: Do your girlfriend a favor. Don't buy her this book!
Review: While this book may be fun to read, as countless other reviewers have pointed out, it's medically inaccurate, unaccepting of anything but a traditional hospital birth attended by an obstetrician, and extremely superficial. For me, pregnancy was all about celebrating the miracle within, not lamenting the fact that I was gaining weight, acquiring stretch marks, and -- major tragedy -- letting my roots show. You don't do another pregnant woman a favor by giving her this book. In fact, you do her a huge disservice. Instead of buying this book because you think it's the one your girlfriend should read, buy her one of the many excellent, empowering, and inspiring pregnancy books on the market today instead -- basically anything by Pam England, Penny Simkins, William Sears, Ann Douglas, Sheila Kitzinger, or Miriam Stoppard -- books that will leave her feeling good about her pregnancy and her body. That's what being a great girlfriend is all about!
Rating:
Summary: A limited viewpoint presented
Review: I was really disappointed by this book. It was given to me as a Christmas gift and I have heard other pregnant moms recommend it. The author says "I have always thought of pregnancy as divine permission not to exercise." She even lists her top 8 reasons why you shouldn't exercise during pregnancy. The author also gives misleading information like that if it is your first baby, chances are you will have an episiotomy. Episiotomies are rarely given these days. She also seems to equate midwives with home deliveries. While some do deliver at home, most midwives deliver at hospitals or birthing centers and have 24 hour physician back-up. The author also described a girlfriend who chose natural childbirth as a cavewoman who had something to prove. Really disappointing viewpoints expressed in this book
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I had high expectations regarding this book! However, I was totally turned off by it. Most women I have talked to at least liked being pregnant (some even LOVED it), but obviously this woman was not one of them. If you like to complain or listen to people complain, this book is for you! I appreciated the lists of things to bring to the hospital and suggestions regarding what products were helpful, but found the negative comments tiresome (such as the one suggesting exercise outside where there aren't any mirrors). I received WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING from my OB/GYN. It was a breath of fresh air after this book. As it turns out, my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage, but WHAT TO EXPECT had an entire section on when things go wrong, unlike the Girlfriends' Guide. I tossed the Girlfriends' Guide and have What to Expect in my bookshelf for future reference. Once you are on a hormonal roller coaster, the Girlfriends' Guide loses its charm rather quickly.
Rating:
Summary: The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy
Review: Good overview of what to expect during pregnancy, childbirth and first week, from a non-health educated person. But don't rely on it for medical facts of any sort because she gets the terms mixed up at times.
Rating:
Summary: Don't mistake this for pregnancy advice!!!
Review: Yes, this book is funny in parts, if somewhat offensive. But DON'T mistake this for actual pregnancy advice. It's both narrowminded and dangerously off the mark in some areas and shouldn't be considered anything other than a sometimes humorous opinion on pregnancy.
Every other page ridicules anyone who is not a perfect size 4 to start with or is enjoying the changes in her pregnant body. It assumes that your husband, like hers, will be revolted and strangers on the street will running screaming if they see your natural hair color growing back in, and that everyone (including yourself) will find you bloated and disgusting. And while she encourages you to eat to your heart's content since you don't have anything else to enjoy (BAD advice!!!) she also condemns anyone who is considered "overweight" and assumes you got that way sitting on the couch eating junk food all the time (naughty girl, that'll get you kicked out of her appearance-obsessed clique of "girlfriends"!). The notion of taking any route other than going to a male obstetrician, giving birth in a hospital, and having an epidural is ridiculed, never mind that there are a lot of options out there that will help you have the safe and comfortable birth you want.
Personally, I think pregnancy is about a lot more than how you look and having screaming fits at your husband, and I'm offended by the notion that I should dress up and flirt with my (presumably male) obstetrician as one of the highlights of late pregnancy, since no-one else could possibly find me interesting at that point. Pregnancy is full of enough challenges without this shallow and superficial view touted as "the new pregnancy bible." Give me a break!
Rating: 
Summary: Can't Stop Laughing Out Loud!
Review: While reading this book, I'm constantly worried that I'll wake up my husband sleeping in the bed next to me, either from my out loud laughing, or from shaking the bed! Pregnant with my first child, I'm reading this book as a supplement to the many medical and technical pregnancy books available. I'm so glad I bought this book!
Author Vicki Iovine constantly inserts the disclaimer that she is not a medical professional, and her advice should never take the place of that of your doctor. However, for someone like me, who is living far from friends and family, it's wonderful to have a "buddy" point of view. Keep in mind that this book's purpose is to ease your fears about being crazy ("pregnancy insanity") and help you deal with the fact that your body and life will change forever.
Iovine uses the same language as your best girlfriend, and while this book shouldn't be taken too seriously, there is tons of great information available. For example, how to dress when your body goes from your pre-pregnancy size to the lovely "upholstered" look. Or explanations in perfect detail of every single pre-natal test that you may be administered. All while telling you that it's perfectly normal for you to want to kill your husband.
Morning sickness is referred to as "progesterone poisoning", and each chapter is titled with very descriptive names, such as "Pregnancy is a Total Body Experience" and "Postpartum Dementia".
"The Girlfriends Guide" is a wonderful break in the serious and dry pregnancy literature available. Just enjoy it for what it is, and always consider your doctor's advice to be tantamount to everything else. Read it for a laugh!
Rating:
Summary: SO FUNNY!
Review: I found this book absolutely hilarious. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was that is doesnt recommend exercise, and I find that rediculous!! But the book was great and definately lifted my spirits!!
Rating:
Summary: Pure enjoyment!
Review: While I wouldn't count on this book to answer all the questions you may have about pregnancy, you can count on it to give you some hard realities and also TONS OF LAUGHS! Great book - would recommend to anyone - not just pregnant women.
Rating:
Summary: WARNING!!!
Review: If you are overweight, or even sensitive about your weight, don't read this book! Iovine can't resist saying "fat" without adding "and ugly" and she states in the beginning that overweight couch potatoes are not welcome in her circle of "girlfriends." Towards the end of the book, she discusses the pregnant waddle, and reasons that all fat people waddle a bit anyway. She sympathizes with her husband for not being attracted to her. After all, you wouldn't want to sleep with someone as fat as you, right? And she confides that her maternity wardrobe ran all the way up to a (gasp) size ten! The horror!
Although this book was very entertaining and had some good information, I got tired of being slapped every couple of pages. The author simply can't resist seperating her temporarily round self from those of us who struggle with our weight all the time. Does she not realize that the average American woman is a size 14? I really felt like I was reading this book as an outsider, so I waited until a skinny friend got pregnant and gave it to her.
And by the way, Ms. Iovine, I am a size 16 and my husband can't keep his hands off me. It would take a lot more than pregnancy and dark roots to push him away. If your husband is that picky about your looks, I feel sorry for you.
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