What to Expect When You're Expecting by Arlene Eisenberg (1991, Paperback)

When you are expecting your first baby...this is the book you will be recommended...by your Doctor, by other moms, by baby magazines, and it is easy to see why this is such a widely read and loved publication. It has sold over 10 million copies which in itself tells you that this book has something to offer the mom to be.
The first thing I liked about this book is the fact that it has individual chapters that correspond to each month of your pregnancy; which is ideal for easy reference. It allows you to understand what development stage your baby is going through as well as experiences you may be having. Also this is not a one size fits all book - it takes into account that we are all different and allows for this. It has questions and answers written into each chapter and it not afraid to address some of the more obscure or embarrassing questions that a mom may have and be afraid to ask her doctor.
Another useful feature of this book, is its guide to nutrition. Many moms to be get confused on this issue and the old adage -eat for two is still sadly a common myth. This addresses the fact that is reality, we only need add 300 calories a day to our diet and the book explores ways this can be done in a healthy and nutritious manner!
There is a section for the daddy to be - few books address this issue, and lets be honest, a first time dad is also likely to have many questions - about not only his baby, but his pregnant wife. This is all covered here in one book rather than the need to seek out different titles for each parent!
I found this a great book - no book on pregnancy can answer every question but this does come close in way that is well referenced and easy to understand! I would say however that this is a great book for first time moms to be - after which point , on subsequent pregnancies it may be something you flick to really quickly if you have a quick question!

I bought a copy of this book for my girlfriend, shortly after she told me she was expecting. It does a very thorough job of describing each prenatal month of development, including things that your doctor will be testing you for during your care. It also is a great resource for nutritional GUIDELINES, and things to avoid taking/using while you are pregnant. One word of caution though....after reading it myself, I found it to be very prescriptive...some of the advice offered made me feel like I HAD to follow it, otherwise I would not be doing what is best for my baby....I was a little offended by the overall tone of the book. However, I would not want that to discourage others from reading it. It is very informative overall...while you're at it, look for a copy of "The Girlfriends Guide to Pregnancy" by Vicki Iovine....it's written from an "everywoman's" perspective, and is very funny and still informative. Check them both out if you are expecting, or know someone who is!

Please buy the updated version of this book. While this edition is good, the field of obstetrics has changed over the last decade and some of the information is out of date, however the basics about pregnancy are the same.
This edition is good for second or third time mothers.

While this book is the bible of all bibles, it is a bit outdated with some of the information provided. Also, the detail provided for each step in development is not as impressive as the information received through free services on websites on the internet that provided week by week development & pregnancy information.

For my personal situation, the major problem I found with this book is it's lack of information on multiple pregnancies. The information was completely inaccurate when compared to another very reputable book specifically for multiples, When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets, Or Quads - by Tamara Eberlein, Barbara Luke. According to that book, if you followed the recommendations of What to Expect When You're Expecting, you would be putting your pregnancy and fetuses in danger.

Overall, I found this book to be dated, and the information not being as current and accurate as I would like. If you don't have any knowledge about pregnancies or what's happening to body during your pregnancy, I would say this book would be a great starting point to learn the "basics", but not one for those of us that are technically savy and have access to the information available on the Internet and are desiring information we don't already know. Also, I would not recommend the nutritional and weight gain information for women pregnant with multiples.

I called this one my 'pregnancy bible'. As a single, 18 year old mom, I was incredibly scared, and knew NOTHING about pregnancy or babies. This was recommended to me by my older sister, who has two children. This book addressed all my concerns, and helped me compile lists for doctors' appointments. It also addressed the one fact that no other book managed to - that all families are different. It addressed directly the use of the 'daddy section' as a section for your 'parenting partner'. I do recommend getting the most recent edition of the book. It has the most current information.

I have recommended this book to my friends who are expecting, and they love it too. Thank you, Mrs. Eisenberg, for this work of pregnancy art!