Rating: 
Summary: A cute book, but NOT a Guide
Review: Vicki Iovine went through 4 pregnancies in 6 years and didn't have a lot of fun with it, but I don't think that makes her an expert. Other than her own Beverly Hills experience and the experience of her super-model friends, she seems to have no expertise in the matter and it shows. The "advice" is very suspect and has no basis outside her own experience. A lot of it contradicts our own doctors advice, and some of it is nothing more or less than Vicki's own point of view. The one thing every doctor and book told us time and time again was that "Every Pregnancy Is Different." Don't be fooled by the "Everything Your Doctor Won't Tell You" tagline. Your doctor isn't going to help you with your record producer husband, either. If you're looking for funny stories about gas or stretch marks, you can pick it up, (though I didn't find it funny). Besides being pregnant and American, Vicki and I have absolutely nothing in common, making this book a complete waste for me (Hollywood moms may think otherwise). If you want a real guide, stick to ones written by real experts.
Rating: 
Summary: A Classic
Review: Got to love Vicki Iovine. This is the best gift for expectant friends and her guide to "Surviving the First Year of Motherhood" is the best shower gift.
Rating:
Summary: Still laughing.......
Review: This book is a must read for first time mommies looking for a comical relief in all the heavy reading we make ourselves go through in preparation for our first born and the experience. I can see how some mothers wouldn't bite on this book because Vicki tells you very bluntly what "you" are thinking. I am a person who can handle just about any kind of conversation and this was right up my ally. If you and your husband/partner are looking for a book that tells you in lay-mans terms what to expect without the doctor lingo, then buy this. Remember, she is not a doctor and she will constantly remind you of this. If you are looking for that personal connection to what you are going through, buy this book. Yes she may have come from a more wealthy environment, but her life is real and her experiences, and her girlfriends, are very real too. It will take a little of the edge and weight off your shoulders and add some fun laughing thats good for the soul and mind at this time.
Rating:
Summary: Laughed out loud
Review: I got this book as a Christmas gift while I was pregnant last year. I had horrible morning sickness but this book actually got me laughing. So, so true! I highly recommend it. When so much of what you're reading is serious, this is great. And the information is helpful as well. It's a great buy for yourself and an even better gift for any pregnant woman (try to get it to her early in her pregnancy so she can follow it through each stage).
Rating: 
Summary: Very opinionated
Review: I put this book down on my third week of pregnancy. After reading a few pages, I noticed that most of the information did not relate to how I was experiencing my pregnancy. I tried to be objective and began to read it five weeks later and still could not relate to the information Ms. Iovine was telling women. Some of her statements are silly, childish and not reflective of what an adult would or should say to another adult. I would not even share her information with a teenager who is pregnant. Her recommendations can be found in other books that speak to its readers in a more intellectual voice. Others may rave about this book but I am not.
Rating: 
Summary: I got this for her...
Review: ...and "Breathe A Guy's Guide to Pregnancy" for him, and they both loved the books. Or so they said. Maybe they were just being polite. Anyway, I liked both books. But I could only give this book 4 start, because ever since Ricki Lake went on the air, I've hated the term "girlfriend."
Rating:
Summary: Lame, Lame, Lame
Review: I am a young mom-to-be, as well as a "former" teen mom. A previous reviewer mentioned that this book seemed geared towards a younger audience, well let me tell you, not a chance! Any intelligent woman who cares about her body and knows she's damn beautiful and amazing pregnant would be insulted by this book. Another young, first time mom in my office raved about this book, so I was motivated by my curiosity to see why so many people seemed to love it. I was completely disgusted by this woman's laissez-faire, "princess"-like attitude. I managed to slog through most of this book just because I like to finish what I start, but this woman tries way too hard to be hip and ends up just sounding snotty. For some WAY better light-hearted reading about pregnancy and parenting, read anything by Hip Mama's Ariel Gore, such as "The Hip Mama Survival Guide", "Breeder" and "The Mother Trip". Happy reading!
Rating:
Summary: The author gives the straight facts?
Review: Please. In what universe? I have yet to see her write a book that gives facts. It's "The World According To Vicky," which, to my knowledge, is not yet the accepted world view of the World Health Organization -- which, by the way, would find most of her views on pregnancy and childbirth pretty darn UNHEALTHY.
Rating:
Summary: Not a medical reference, just a lot of fun
Review: This is a fun book to have to balance all those dry, medical references. It's like chatting with a sister or girlfriend about being pregnant - the good stuff and the bad. It's got lots of accurate data, but its presented in a conversational way. I wouldn't use this as your only guide, but more like fun reading. Another thing your Doctor Won't Tell You is that your baby won't sleep for the first few months, so be prepared and get a book about newborn sleep so you don't start off with bad habits. Try a book called The No-Cry Sleep Solution by another Mom-author who writes in a friendly, less scientific tone. This is a fun time in life, so enjoy some fun books along the way.
Rating:
Summary: Reassures,Helps you giggle, although sometimes a bit bleak
Review: I have enjoyed reading parts of this book. Some parts can be intimidating to first time Moms like myself. I have put off reading parts specific to labor since she was so pessimistic (or honest, depending on your point of view I suppose) about things like beauty during pregnancy, hemorrhoids, painful postpartum sex etc. The book did have me laughing out loud at times but some of its messages have also haunted me such as her mention of how small her prepregnancy clothes are (size 4) and how she has multiple wardrobes (which I have no space for) to accomodate her changing body. That left me utterly confused on what to expect for myself since my prepregnancy body was much larger than her's to start with (as I presume most American women's are), I am "showing" startlingly early and have expanded to look (I think) about 4 or 5 months when I am only about 3 months along, even though my weight has increased by only 3 to 5 pounds! There is a light side and a dark side to this book. Many of her comments on appearance can be harmful to some women with low self-esteem or poor self-image who berate themselves for not looking like fashion models (or playboy playmates)even before pregnancy since her philosophy seems to be that pregnancy equals horrible-looking. She instills her beleifs that the more pregnnat you are, the larger you look, the more undesirable you are perceived by others.I think this is obviusly more a reflection of her personal body image as a woman going from being a playboy centerfold (which she is obviously proud of as she lists it right after her "law degrees" credentials in the book's "about the author" section) to being a "huge" "unsexy" (in her mind), pregnant woman. Having argued that, I have to say some of the info., and opinions presented in the book were very affirming of my experiences so far; being convinced that I was going to menstrate any minute before finding out I was indeed pregnant, wanting to tell the whole world after finding out, procuring maternity care before telling your husband (who is at work) etc., You cannot underestimate the feeling of being understood and normal with regards to your pregnancy, during your pregnancy. The book strives to be helpful and honest in ways that straight birth and pregnancy books are not-frankly and in a friendly kind of "I'm just warning and preparing you" way. There seems to be great moral assertions in the book as well,that most of us would stand behind, such as that it is wrong to deprive your unborn child of food because you want to avoid weight gain. When I first decided to review this book I wanted to temper the glowing reviews that were posted when I purchased it over a month ago. Now I want to be sure to temper the berating comments that have posted more recently. It is meant to be, and is, humorous. It is also reassuring, for example-she tells us that we all worry about our unborn children during pregnacy only to discover after they are born perfectly fine that there is a whole new world of things to preoccupy our concerns for them with. You can control your exposure to her scary revelations by not forcing yourself to read the book in one sitting.
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