Your New Pregnancy Bible: The Experts' Guide to Pregnancy and Early Parenthood Hardcover – 8 Feb. 2018

Thorough...This book answered every question a first time expectant mum could want answers to-- it has advice and information from preconception to the early days of caring for your newborn. It gave matter-of-fact information that did not speak down to the reader, but rather put things into simple, concrete terms which made this book a straight forward and enjoyable read. The book does not read like a magazine with 'real life stories from the trenches', but is more medical and clinical in tone so it is not for someone looking for a flowery book of 'feel good stories' about the joy of pregnancy.Concise...First off, to be as specific as possible, this book utilises the reference guide approach, breaking pregnancy down into the three major stages. There is a good mix of graphs, charts and practical, plain language information based on recent and ongoing research.Second, the sections which focused not just on the physical changes a pregnant woman's body goes through, but also the emotional changes due to being pregnant, as well as whilst giving birth and then being a new Mum were well written and very helpful. The Pregnancy Bible does not just mention the psychological elements, but gives a very thoughtful and in-depth overview which I found interesting and hugely helpful in navigating my less than rational moments whilst being pregnant. It gave me a sort of permission to laugh at myself by reassuring me that what I was feeling was really very normal. I have found other pregnancy books lack this sort of anthropological insight into pregnancy (why it is that we do some seemingly very crazy things whilst pregnant), and when other books do attempt to discuss the psychological side of pregnancy, it is the same old song and dance about it being 'just down to hormones' written in multiple, albeit very creative ways.Third and finally, the writing is clear and to the point, making this a good reference book if you have a specific question and works equally well as a general read for those who just want to know as much as humanly possible about (pre)conception, pregnancy and what to expect in those early days of Mummy-hood.Reassuring...One might describe this book as a sort of coach for the mum-to-be, explaining just about every pregnancy 'niggle' imaginable, all the while remaining positive and practical if you should find yourself experiencing an issue. For example, for those who are nauseous and vomiting all day long in their first trimester, The Pregnancy Bible explains that there is no need to worry that baby is suffering (A common worry by any mum-to-be) due to lack of nutrients. In short concise language, the book describes the nutritional demands of a foetus in the first trimester as being quite minimal and goes on to explain how recent research shows that the pregnant body is exceptionally clever and compensates for this very common first trimester problem. It goes into depth of explanation, but not overly so which I found to be excellent in quelling any fears I had.Furthermore, I used this book tirelessly throughout my pregnancy, reading and re-reading vast sections of it and what is abundantly clear is that a great deal of care has gone into the writing of this book-- it uses very supportive, reassuring language which helps a woman to feel confident in her body's ability to successfully grow and nurture the growing life inside her.Authoritative...This is the definitive book of pregnancy and if I am being perfectly honest, after purchasing this book I really didn't need any other books or magazines to 'fill in the gaps' of this book's scope because there simply were not any gaps. It is a well rounded and concise reference, general and in depth look at (pre)conception, pregnancy and early days after the birth. I cannot recommend this book highly enough-- it is truly the definitive book on the subject and a must have for anyone thinking of having a baby.Finally...The Pregnancy Bible truly stands out as one of the very best amongst the books of its kind, demonstrating that the Pregnancy Bible doesn't disappoint and delivery on its promise, becoming any pregnant woman's bible for 9 months +!

I've read a couple of reviews that say the book doesn't contain much information, which astounded me, the book is huge! and i don't see how it could contain much more info without being a medical text. Which pregnant women do not need, sometimes i think you can know too much. However i read this book cover to cover during my first pregnancy. There's a really in depth look into labour, when i got to the hospital i actually surprised my midwives by how much i knew. There's a lovely part with a week by week look at the development of the baby, (in another review a lady mentioned she wanted a day by day record of development --why?? surely it wouldn't have changed much in 24 hours, and all babies develop slightly differently, so how would you know your baby did what on what day. it just seems a bit ludicrous to me) It actually began a nice ritual for me and my husband every friday night (the day a changed weeks) we would lay in bed and read the weekly development. (id obviously read the whole 40 weeks about three times already, but it was nice to share it with him lol) There's loads of tips about eating, dress, exercise etc etc.i read another review that said the pictures were cringy. Why does that matter?? I quite liked the cheesy images! I don't want a book full of serious pictures and diagrams, it would feel to clinical. It's nice to find a balance between the comical and the serious. The pictures are a bit like throw backs to the 90s, but the information isnt outdated. I lent this book to someone after my son was born and i never got it back, when i get pregnant for the second time this is the book that ill buy, i wont even look for anything else.

I only bought this book at 30 wks, but I am really glad that I did. It pitches the topics at a good level - not too low, but not over the head of most people either. Although most of the book is aimed at the mother or both parents, it has a couple of sections specifically for the dads as well. (However, the book does not assume the there are two of you - it refers to single parents as well). There is a section on choosing maternity clothes, which several of the other pregnancy books I have read have not mentioned. There is advice on exercise during the different stages of pregnancy, and some gentle strengthening moves to try to prepare you for labour (with photos to show you how to do them properly). Several pregnancy books I have read have relied on drawings as opposed to photographs, but this book is loaded with photographs to illustrate what is being written about, as well as diagrams. It even has fold out pages if a diagram needs the extra room to be shown more clearly/bigger, on one page. It starts from the beginning of pregnancy and carries on to the first few months after the baby has been born, in a good level of detail.In short, if you only buy one pregnancy reference book, I would recommend it is this one.