Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A pregnancy bible, 20 April 2005
This wasn't the book I was originally looking for, but I'm delighted with it - it's the bible for my pregnancy. Written by an expert in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, it is both comprehensive and readable, with the personal touch of a woman who has experienced a twin pregnancy, and who understands the fears and concerns that many woman experience. It covers all aspects of your pregnancy, with beautiful pictures and information about your babies development, stage by stage, and information on how your body will be changing, and the emotional responses you may be experiencing. It also covers things you may be concerned about in a very reassuring way whilst highlighting things that you need to raise with a healthcare professional. Equally, it covers things you need to consider, such as your options for antenatal care, when to buy a pregnancy bra and what to look for, and telling other children about your pregnancy. It covers exercise, diet, antenatal tests, classes, your maternity rights, all the stages of labour, what to expect with a caesarean, premature birth, planning childcare and the first 6 weeks after birth. I've yet to have a question that this book doesn't cover. It's bang up to date (as of 2005), is formatted in such a way that you can dip in and out, and as a first time mum-to-be, I've found it a complete god-send.
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Written by an expert, 3 Jan 2007
This book is written by an expert obstetrician and as such, it gives a lot more information with reference to current medical knowledge than other books. It gives the facts plainly, which provides the best form of reassurance whilst still maintaining a sympathetic tone. As an example, on the subject of itching, Dr Miriam Stoppard's book "Conception, Pregnancy & Birth" has only one tiny paragraph effectively saying nothing beyond the blindingly obvious. Prof. Regan refers to the rare but potentially very serious condition of cholestasis together with an explanatory section at the back along with other preganancy related problems. If one were to rely on either book, which one would you rather have?
However the book remains easily readable for the averagely intelligent reader. I echo another reviewer that the facts given on miscarriage are reassuring, particularly as the author runs a leading clinic on recurrent miscarriage. It's also practical, dealing with the everyday as well as the more unusual/alarming issues.
As for the charge that the book doesn't live up to its title, I don't believe anyone would buy a book for its title alone. Baby's development isn't segregated into weeks (let's grow a leg one week and a lung the next!!) but rather, many aspects of development run side by side over many weeks, so it would be rather artificial and perhaps misleading to chop it up into a week by week analysis.
I've not been motivated to submit a review before, but for something as important and potentially fraught as pregnancy and birth, I really do want to recommend this book in preference to any other. No one wants or expects complications in pregnancy, but they happen despite that, and it's better to come from an informed position, particularly when discussing your options with your midwife/doctor. But even for the straightforward pregnancy, this book is a must.
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61 of 62 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent guide to pregnancy, 5 Sep 2005
Excited about the impending birth of my first child I have bought half a dozen pregnancy books and I have found this one to be the most useful. It is written clearly and concisely by an obstetrics professor and mother and is very well illustrated with detailed images, diagrams and tables. I prefer this book for four reasons:1. It focuses on pregnancy and the birth. Several other books have lengthy chapters dedicated to fertility and trying to get pregnant, or on how to care for a toddler, at the expense of information about pregnancy itself. 2. It is non judgemental. It presents the facts and options along with useful commentary without placing moral values on your decisions or preferences. 3. It is an intelligent, thoughful book. In the preface, Prof. Regan states that the book was written to provide information to help women make informed decisions and play an active part in their pregnancy and birth of their child. Since reading it (and returning to it again and again) I am much more comfortable not only about asking questions, but also about understanding the answers. 4. The information is detailed and progressive, with information about what is happening to you and your baby week by week. The book does not patronise, or gloss over the more difficult or controversial aspects of pregnancy, but at the same time it remains upbeat and reassuring. I have found it to be very useful and thanks to its no nonsense, practical and friendly approach, I am looking forward to the rest of my pregnancy and to my baby's birth.
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