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

Rating:
Summary: LOVED this book as a first-time mom
Review: I'm pregnant with my first child, and loved this book! It was the first one I bought, and I'm so glad. She really tells it like it is... doesn't gloss over things, like some other pregnancy books do. She talks pretty frankly about bodily functions, not fitting into your clothes, mood swings, and everything else a pregnant woman goes through. Throughout the book are stories about real women, real pregnancies. Parts of this book had me laughing out loud, to the point where my husband has even read parts of it just to see what I'm carrying on about.
If you're looking for something sappy about the glow of pregnancy, this isn't for you. If you're looking for a funny but candid look at what you're going through, this is a great book!

Rating:
Summary: Keeping things in perspective
Review: I read (most of) this book in my first trimester and was happily relieved. In my early 30s, I knew nothing about pregnancy and live far away from my mom and my good friends who have had children. This book took a bit of the edge off the apprehension and anxiety about my new condition. I appreciated her descriptions of the pregnant condition, and the practicality of her advice for the nonmedical aspects of pregnancy. It also made me laugh. I can't wait to get to the rest of the book in the next few months as the delivery date approaches.

Rating:
Summary: Nice Change of pace from the scary pregnancy books
Review: Would have given 5 stars, but thought the book could have been longer to cover some more issues. Great light look at this insane human condition, the only book that didn't really make me want to cry at one time or another. A great gift for a soon to be mom!

Rating:
Summary: Laugh-Out-Loud Hilarious!
Review: This is by far my favorite pregnancy book! As a first-time mom-to-be, I felt really overwhelmed with the enormity of what my husband & I are undertaking . . . Vicki not only put my mind at ease, but made me laugh out loud in the process. I cannot over-estimate the value of laughter in the midst of what can be a very frightening time. Vicki makes the whole experience of pregnancy feel NORMAL . . . something I don't know if I'll ever actually feel again! Highly, highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Informative, but not authoritative
Review: This book was refreshing in light of all the textbook-style pregnancy books I had been consulting previously. The author describes what happens to a woman's body in vivid detail- which is great if you want a laugh and a reality check at the same time. All my girlfriends agree that this book captures the "lighter side" of pregnancy very well & is a fun read. The thing to remember about this book is that it is not written by a health care professional, nor does it appear that one was consulted in great detail for this book. As a result, the author gives some unorthodox advice (e.g., it's okay to have an occasional alcoholic beverage, don't bother exercising). I consider this book to be one person's experience and outlook, and not as the book upon which to model every aspect of my pregnancy. Specifics aside, the main point of the book is that women need to live their lives as comfortably and normally as possible through their pregnancy. Enjoy this book, but don't abandon the expert medical advice found in the less-fun, more-sterile pregnancy books.

Rating:
Summary: Lots of laughter PLUS useful information
Review: There are plenty of medical-type books on pregnancy around. This book supplements the "pregnancy month-by-month" books and the technical info you can get from your doctor with the sort of thing only your best friend would tell you. I absolutely loved it! I know I'll be going back to it in future months for encouragement, empathy, and laughs as well as for the hints and tips that I haven't seen in any other preggy book. If you like honesty and a wry, sometimes earthy, sense of humor, pick up a copy.

Rating:
Summary: Finally...some humor
Review: Loved this book.....I read so many that give you the straight facts. In a time when everything is scary and new, this book was light and fun to read and actually gave great advice. I share it with all my pregnant friends - it is a great pregnancy gift.

Rating:
Summary: Dated
Review: I realize that the world was different ten years ago, but it's hard not to laugh out loud when the author regards single-income families as the norm, recommends stirrup pants with boots, bodysuits and large jackets as the perfect maternity fashion solution (and has evidently never heard of GAP.com, let alone the Internet), and name-checks Giorgiou perfume (yeccch!).

This book might be fun if you're looking for a good belly laugh, or one woman's perspective on the experience of pregnancy in the 1980's, but otherwise I'd leave it on the shelf.

Rating:
Summary: The Celebrity Mom's Guide to Pregnancy
Review: I agree with what a previous reviewer said: this book is more likely to be useful to the celebrity mom-to-be than your average pregnant woman on the street. While parts of the book are funny, I don't think that Vicki really understands what pregnancy is like for most women. I, for one, don't feel a need to impress my obstetrician. (Vicki writes: "For him, I looked like Miss Maternity USA when I went in for my checkups: legs and pits freshly shaved, perfume, high-heelded shoes, clean hair (curled even) and a tasteful amount of makeup.") Her comments about flirting with her obstetrician really creeped me out, actually.

Rating:
Summary: Fun reading for pregnant women
Review: For those pregnant women whose sense of humor has not been impaired by their raging hormones, this book is a relaxing read. If you are into the intricate medical details of pregnancy, pick another book. I enjoyed reading my "What to Expect.." book for the medical stuff, then turned to "The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy" for a more humorous approach. Some people find her sarcastic approach offensive, but I found her humor to be something I could relate to. As a nurse, I disagreed with some of her views on exercise and that sort of thing, but I don't feel that this book was written with the intention of being a primary source of information on pregnancy. You don't read this book with the expectation of gaining a wealth of pregnancy knowledge. Perhaps those folks who were offended never had morning sickness or swelled up like a watermelon, but I found myself relating to many of her experiences and appreciated her humorous approach to the many changes I found my own body going through.