Rating: 
Summary: Don't waste your time!
Review: This book was the worst out of all the ones I read...the author had a negative view on everything.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Disappointing
Review: I was so excited to become a mom, I started reading this book right before I was even pregnant. I have to be completely honest, and say I was a bit disappointed in the book. She actually had me nervous about being pregnant- I found the book to concentrate too much on negatives. I know changes in a mother during pregnancy are inevitable, but I feel that she exaggerated them so much. I was also infuriated during the chapter on nutrition in which she said that women with eating disorders should be banished from the planet entirely. Yes, women with eating disorders should try to deal with their problem before getting pregnant, as not to jeapordize their baby. But banished from the planet? Give me a break, how insensitive can you be? An eating disorder is not something one wants, or creates in themselves. It is a disease that takes over ones mind. After reading that sentence I put the book down, and have not returned to it since. (that was 3 months ago)
It must be nice to live in Vicki Iovine's world where no one suffers from eating disorders.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book when I was pregnant!
Review: I pulled this book out to give to one of my friends who is just now pregnant for the first time, and I was reminded of how much I loved it when I was pregnant. Granted, I was reading it and reviewing it as if it were my pregnancy bible 8 years ago, and I have no idea what has come out since that time, but my pregnancy would not have been the same without it.Yes, Vicki Iovine is extremely tongue-in-cheek. Yes, her husband is a mega-millionaire record producer. No, she is not a huge proponent of natural childbirths (although she does not begrudge people who are). Yes, she gets into the nitty-gritty-less-than-glowing-details about being pregnant. But let's face it, that is information that we need! Whether you are rich or poor, PREGNANCY IS PREGNANCY! Sure, all of us have different experiences, but reading this book was like sitting down with my girlfriends and getting the REAL SCOOP. It was extremely reassuring, and reminded me that although we sometimes feel (and many of us act) like your baby is the first child ever being born, that there are plenty of women out there who have BEEN THERE, DONE THAT and want to share with you their advice. Those of us who think we know everything would be fools not to take the advice of our more experienced girlfriends. I felt, as I read this book, like I was welcoming a new circle of girlfriends to my life. Clearly, that is what Vicki intended. I found that many pregnancy books did not give you all of the info you needed to know (for instance, what does a mucus plug really look like when it falls out), but Vicki and her girlfriends were right there to share all of the details. She will be the first to admit that she is NOT a doctor, and that if you have medical questions, you should consult your doctor, not her book. Sometimes I would go to my doctor and ask him about things written in this book, and most of the time he agreed with it. Overall, I loved this book so much, that I was startled to see so many negative reviews... maybe it's NOT for everybody, but it certainly was my pregnancy bible, as it was for all of my friends.
Rating: 
Summary: It's not all about glowing skin and peas in a pod
Review: I can see where some of the author's opinions might be taken offensively but for the most part this book is simply comic relief. Get "What to Expect When You're Expecting" first, which is wonderfully informative but dry and when that one starts to wear on you get his one and just giggle a little at how much reality can be less than perfect. Hardly anyone has a pregnancy and delivery without some anxiety and this can be a chance to laugh instead of fret. It's just one woman's opinion so I didn't take it too seriously or personally but the book is written well and with a light hearted look at the other side of being pregnant. I could not help but get a kick out of her honesty.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST for any pregnant gal
Review: I am more than 6 months pregnant and had heard a lot of my friends mentioning this book so I decided to give it a read. I read half the book in one sitting, most of the while laughing at it, at myself, and at the illusions I had previously about pregancy. This is a no-nonsense-here-are-some-of-the-stark-truths-about-what-your-body-is-and-will-continue-to-go-through-book. I can't tell you how relieved I was to find out that some of the "body issues" I was wrestling with were universal and NORMAL. She covers myths, insecurities we all got through, she offers helpful hints, and all with a dash of humor. It's like having a best friend there to walk you through this...one whose been there done that and won't judge you if all you had for dinner that night was a bowl of hagan daaz.
Rating:
Summary: Do NOT read this book
Review: I bought this book for myself when I was about 4 months pregnant, and thought that it was the worst book in the world for a pregnant woman to read!! I really hated the part where she said that when my husband told me that I was still beautiful that he was lying and when my friends said that they couldn't tell that I was pregnant, that they were just being nice. From what I understand, this woman is not a doctor, and I certainly wouldn't want her as a 'girlfriend'. There are MUCH better books to be read of there.
Rating:
Summary: Greeat break from the others
Review: This book was a welcome break from the technical doctor written books, which while they contain some very helpful information, can be rather dry. The Girlfriend's Guide made me laugh at myself, and it was reassuring to know that I was not the only one thinking the things that were written here in the book like "What? a pint of Ben and jerry's ice cream is not what they meant by calcium??". Humorous, as long as you realize that this is not meant to be medical advice, that's why the subtitle is "what your doctor won't tell you". Even my doctor found it amusing. A must have for a tired mom to be.
Rating:
Summary: What a blessing
Review: This book was a blessing. Within the first couple of pages the author allowed me to clearly understand my husband's reaction (or absence of a suitable one) to the news and progress of our first baby. Not only do I see that I'm not alone, but also in some cases I'm not sooo badly off AND there is hope in the future. If only to get a 'Aha' moment as it relates to men and their reactions - buy this book.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me laughing the entire time
Review: I read this book when I was pregnant with my first child (I'm on #2 now). I loved it. Every other book I read either gushed about the wonders of pregnancy or scared the heck out of me. And let's be honest, pregnancy CAN be wonderful but is ALL of it wonderful? I don't remember anything mentioning that she was a qualified expert so those of you who complained about that makes me wonder if you really expected to get medical advice from a book titled "Girlfriend's Guide........" As for her "negativity", I suppose it depends on your sense of humor. I don't remember if it supported breastfeeding or natual birth but hey, if you're that strong in your belief then one book shouldn't change your mind or make you feel "unsupported". There's plenty of books that encourage both and just because she chose a different method doesn't make her wrong any more than it would make a breastfeeding/natural method mom wrong. (FYI-I breastfed and her lack of not doing so was never a part of my decision) All in all I think it's a great book but if you can't laugh at yourself then this book is not for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Not a Substitute for "real" pregnancy books
Review: This book is very funny, and when you get into that stage of pregnancy where you are getting too serious and obsessive, this book is a welcome break from all the hard-core, more reference-type pregnancy books you may have been reading. This book is NOT a replacement for other books like "What to Expect When You're Expecting," but is a fun read when you are bored and need to smile or laugh about the whole experience. The only thing I could not identitfy with were Iovine's complaints about her husband. She writes as though all men are football-watching, beer-swilling fools who are simply waiting for your pregnancy to be over so they can have sex with you again. But other than that silly characterization of husbands, I found her book to be funny and fun to read. This is a book to "take a break" with, and by NO MEANS is meant to be the sole book on pregnancy that you own or refer to.
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