Product Description

We're expecting again! Announcing the COMPLETELY REVISED AND UPDATED THIRD EDITION of this bestselling pregnancy book, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING. Two years in the making, it's a cover-to-cover, chapter-by-chapter, line-by-line revision and update. Everything that the original did - and did extraordinarily well with ten million copies in print - the THIRD EDITION does better. Incorporating the most recent developments in medicine and responding to the many queries and letters received from readers, the book contains both the most accurate information available and, even more importantly, is the most reader-friendly. The THIRD EDITION includes more information on working while pregnant, more in-depth coverage of complementary and alternative birthing techniques and greater attention is paid to pre-conception, alternative families, second pregnancies, the role of the father and lifestyle. There's a completely new look at the Best-Odds diet, which is better suited to the needs of busier women with less time. All-new black and white illustrations give this classic a fresh, new look.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #47676 in Books
• Published on: 2002-08-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 624 pages

About the Author
Heidi E. Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee E. Hathaway are the authors of the bestselling WHAT TO EXPECT series. Arlene Eisenberg is also co-author of THE RECOVERY BOOK. Heidi Murkoff is also author of the WHAT TO EXPECT KIDS series.

Customer Reviews

Not a useful book for a UK reader
I was astounded at how badly edited this book was for its so-called UK edition. I have read other American pregnancy books which weren't re-written for a British audience, and which turned out to be far more helpful and easier to read.
Apart from the constant focus on what can potentially go wrong, the assumption is very much that you will choose your obstetrician (on the NHS?!), and that midwife care is the exception, rather than the norm, which really doesn't fit in with the typical British pregnancy experience. Add to that the many references to American institutions, drug names etc, and the whole thing just starts to become irritating after a while. So I'm sorry to say that I would not recommend this book to anyone. Unless they were having their baby in the USA, and medicalised scaremongering was what they were looking for in a pregnancy book...

This it not like other pregnancy books!
If you want to be reassured during your pregnancy - don't buy this book. It is alarmist and frightening and designed to make you feel guilty and inadequate. If you do want to hear about worst case scenarios and want to worry about things which hadn't occured to you (ie. how oral sex during pregnancy can be fatal) then DO buy this book. Moreover, if you are buying from the UK you will find that all information about hospitals and ante-natal care is US based and not helpful.

Everything you want to know
I am very aware of the baby book etc cash-in syndrome, so I was sceptical when a friend lent me this book (amongst many others). Turned out to be THE pregnancy book - especially if you are interested in details. Being utterly paranoid about being pregnant, their wealth of accumulated knowledge allayed most of my niggles. There is so much that obviously I couldn't read every word, but the question headings are a great guide to pick and choose from on a monthly basis. I only read a couple of months ahead at a time so as to not freak myself out.

I followed their Best Odds Diet almost religiously (found it useful to map it out on paper/spreadsheet to plan for the day), and the result: babies in perfect health scoring 10 on Agpar. Could be genetic (doubt it considering the state of my parents, bless 'em), but I did take on practically ALL their advice.

Additionally, even though I had twins I found this book more informative than many of the specialised twins books (these tended to be more useful on how to raise them).

I'm now using the next book in the series as my main guide for looking after the little 'uns...