Rating: - Not required reading
This book is full of information unfortunately, it is all the scary information. For first time parents, it will scare the heck out of you and make you feel that your pregnancy is a sickness. Pregnancy is not a sickness, it is a natural biological process. I don't recommend this book especially if it is the only book you read about your pregnancy.

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Rating: - my review
this is my first pregnancy and this book has taught me so much
about pregnancy and different methods they use
i only had heard of lamaze but after reading i see their are different ways to do things and a safe anesthetic and a great guide for first time mothers.

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Rating: - Reading this one...again!
This is one of the must have books for your book shelf as an expecting mother. There is only one other book I will put ahead of it as my favorite (Your Pregnancy Week by Week). I am now reading this book again with my third pregnancy...amazing what you forget! Mommy's High Heel Shoes

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Rating: - UGH!!! This is a book to avoid
This is the WORST pregnancy book I have read during my 3 pregnancies. I am not generally an anxious person, but this book gives you lots to be anxious about. If you want to know every single thing that could go wrong during a pregnancy (regardless of how rare it is) then you might like this book.

I have also found the other books in this series to be of a similar tone and in some cases to contain inaccurate information.

The What to Expect Series of books should be on the list of books to avoid when you are pregnant or have a young child. I preferred Dr. Sears Books.

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Rating: - Less "feel good" & more substance
I read parts of this book after my wife got it when she began her pregnancy. I was disappointed.

Although there is some decent very basic information in the book, it seems to be a lot of fluff and a "feel good" manual for women. Some of the medical advice seems odd, for example the book's recommendation of pregnant women getting flu shots.

I laughed when I read the section on the beginning of the second trimester. As the pregnant woman's hormones change, it discusses ways to get her husband in her mood for "romance". The book says a husband may be afraid to hurt the baby, or perhaps his estrogen levels are elevated. Never mind a potential husband may be looking at an ever increasing waistline of his wife, acne, constipation & hair growing in "unattractive places" not to mention hormones that are causing "bi-polar" like symptoms. This book seems to like to blame the future father to be. Spare me...

While this book did have a good overview of pregnancy, I certainly wouldn't rely on it for making serious decisions. It reminded me of fluffy "Oprah" & "The View" stuff women like.

If your wife needs something to make her feel good and blame her husband for her hormonal changes then by all means buy this book. But if you are looking for good information for a healthy pregnancy and childbirth, then look elsewhere.