What To Expect When You're Expecting (2002) - Plot & Excerpts
Preachy, harping, self-righteous. I hated this book. Every other page has some guilt-tripping admonishment not to eat white flour ("Push the bread basket away at a restaurant if the bread isn't whole wheat," it said once, and oh, count the calories in the butter you do spread on your whole wheat bread). And avoid white sugar like the plauge - in favor of "juice-sweetened" cookies or desserts, which the authors seem to think is the ticket to health in every occasion. News flash: sugar is sugar, whether it comes from fruit or sugar cane, and the human body physiologically can't tell a difference. As a hypoglycemic, I'll get just as nauseated if I eat grapes or a candy bar on an empty stomach.Give me a break. I'm as healthy as they come. I make my own whole wheat bread and yogurt and eat very little sugar, but to tell a hungry pregnant woman to "push the bread basket away" at a restaurant just because the bread isn't whole-wheat? Even licensed nutritionists will tell you that the overall fiber count in a meal is what is important - not necessarily the fiber count in a particular food. And I don't need to hear about it every other page, ad infinitum. I started to think that if I heard the term "juice-sweetened cookie" one more time, I'd throw the book out the window.The rest of the book is spread thickly with admonishments not to gain too much weight, not to eat dessert except "fresh fruit," and on and on and on. One "question" (which was probably self-written and planted in order for the author to do more harping) said, "I've gained 13 pounds in my first trimester. What can I do now?" The author's harsh and judgmental answer, in a nutshell: "It is TOO LATE. You've done what you've done, and it can't be fixed now." And then they goes on to guilt-trip the supposed "questioner" and rant about "healthy" weight gain (according to their own limited views of "healthy" eating).What a ridiculous answer! Is the author a doctor who knows this particular patient and is licensed to dispense medical advice to her and all other readers? Of course not! A suitable and appropriate answer would have been something along these lines: "IT DEPENDS. Each woman is different, and your ob/gyn can tell you more about what's healthy for you and what's out of range." Guess what? I HAVE gained 13 pounds, and I'm not even done with my first trimester! AND my doc says I'm totally healthy! Before my pregnancy I was very underweight, barely 95 or 96 pounds, and my metabolism has always been through the roof. Getting myself up to 109 pounds - on, yes, a very healthy diet - was a wonderful victory, and I'm not sorry in the least.Oh, and the "raid your husband's closet" clothing advice didn't help much, either. Maybe that's because the author thinks we're all whales who eat too much and can't fit into anything else?If you want a book that talks about real issues and gets off a soapbox for five minutes, this is not the one. By the way, here's a shocking revelation - I occasionally eat dessert and white bread, and I don't count the calories in my butter. Shh!!
Well, some of my goodreads friends may think (and I wouldn't blame them) that pregnancy has made me completely illiterate, so it's about time I caught up with my updates. It's true, between doing baby registry research, diaper research, birth research, and driving to work for the past three months instead of taking public transit, I've had much less time to read than before, but I suppose that's just preparation for the busy time to come. In any case, on to the reviews...Starting with this one, which my friend Caitlin refers to as "the one everyone loves to hate." I couldn't agree more. This book is a fear-mongering nightmare - please do yourself a favor and skip it. Every chapter is made up of hysterical pregnant women's questions about all of the stuff that can go wrong. And the advice is all about how to be the absolutely perfect mother, so that you don't f-up your baby by taking one wrong step. The best example of this is their "best bite for your baby" approach to eating - before every bite you take, you're supposed to ask yourself whether it's the most nutritious thing you could be eating. Well, no, the riotous amounts of milkshakes and Kraft Singles that I've consumed in the past few months were probably not the most nutritious things I could have put in my body, but, man, were they satisfying! And a happy mommy = a happy baby, so the authors can shove it. If anyone wants to give you this book, just refuse politely. You'll be happier as a result, and far less paranoid.
What do You think about What To Expect When You're Expecting (2002)?
This book has a mixed reaction from moms--some feel that it can be too strict at times in terms of diet and exercise. However, I really enjoyed the book and took the pregnancy diet tips as tips, not ultimatiums. As a first-time mom, this book had helpful question and answer sections for each month that encouraged me. What to Expect answers questions such as what to watch out for when you are pregnant, tips for buying a layette set and how to help you and your husband bond with the newborn. In a way, it's like your mom, doctor and pastor are answering all of your questions without the phone call! Great read. I highly recommend What to Expect the First Year after this. It starts right at month one of the newborn, which is the most nerve-wracking month of their life! I probably used this book every day for the first 2 months!
—Erin
I was back and forth on rating this for a rating, but I'd generally give it 3.5 stars. I rounded up due to agitation over a few of the hyper-negative reviews, to be quite honest. I don't feel that a book this valuable ought to be given a bad name because certain people didn't get out of it whatever it was they were expecting. (Please excuse the pun.) This is an extensive reference guidebook covering the stages of pre-conception, pregnancy, childbirth, and post-postpartum--not something I'd recommend anyone read cover-to-cover. And coming from the standpoint of a less-than-squeamish Labor & Delivery nurse, I found the medical aspects to be accurate, well stated, and thoughtfully presented. Thankfully, it offers a bit more personality and compassion than a text book. (Sort of a Dear Abby meets Lippincott's) Is it the foremost authority on the subject of procreation and all of the variables therein? Not at all. But I do recommend it as a level-headed companion to satisfy one's random curiosities/concerns--which internet searches can often give conflicting results on. (I'm only speaking for the Revised & Expanded 2nd edition. I'm sure there were a number of kinks worked out from earlier versions, and more modifications made on the two most recent editions.) I did try to come up with a quick list of people who would be better off avoiding this up front, just to save time and griping later on. Do not read this book if you are: *Looking for a fun Chick-Lit read. *Easily intimidated by a thorough collection of information on a deeply complex topic. *Neurotic, or likely to become neurotic during pregnancy.*Generally resentful of those 'crazies' who respect the idea of natural childbirth.*Have difficulty taking responsibility for your own actions/reactions to knowledge. *Would rather jam your fingers in your ears and hum than be medically informed.
—Angela Blount
When I was pregnant with my first child, I picked up nearly every book on the bookstore shelves having to do with pregnancy and childbirth. I wanted comfort, a friend in the form of a book, a companion to hold my hand and let me know everything was going to be okay. This book was not that friend. Instead, everytime I read this book, I found myself getting more and more agitated. It exposed me to almost TOO much information, verging on the point of overload. You know how medical students become convinced they have every wacky and rare disease they learn about in med school? That's how I felt when I read this book. After each chapter, I became convinced my child had Downs Syndrome, that I had placenta previa, that I was suffering from gestational diabetes, etc., etc. Now that I have three children, I feel like I'm in the position to make a recommendation -- get this book if you must, but don't read it cover to cover. Use it as a resource if one of the other books you read (I suggest "The Mother of All Pregnancy Books" by Ann Douglas) leaves you wanting more information. By the way, I didn't follow the "Best Odds Diet" and my kids still turned out fine. :)
—Lain
