The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine
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Book Reviews of The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy
Book Review: Worth checking out
Summary: 4 Stars
Amusing book to read. This is my first pregnancy and this book was recommended to me. I don't necessarily agree with everything the author says, but it is still a very informative book.Book Review: great gift idea
Summary: 3 Stars
Good Book for a newly pregnant mom to be, but took way to long to recieve this item, didn'tget the book til weeks after ordering, but was billed immediatelyBook Review: Disappointing...
Summary: 2 Stars
This was really just 18 chapters worth of the author whining about how uncomfortable her four (!) pregnancies were, and giving all other pregnant women permission to whine and moan our way through our respective pregnancies, too. I was especially bothered by how the author goes on and on discouraging exercise and portion control, justifying this by saying that she gained "a lot" of weight and then lost it, blah, blah, blah. Later in the book, she reveals that she gained about 35 lbs with each pregnancy. The recommended weight gain for an average size (more on that later) woman is 25-35 lbs, last I checked. So this was within normal limits. So why is the author acting as though she packed on 70 lbs? Further, I think the author needs just ONE MORE reference to her dismay at not fitting into her size 4 clothes during pregnancy. Size 4? Seriously? Let's rub that into the faces of all of the average-sized women out there reading your book. I was very disappointed in this book and saw it as a combination of the granting of permission to whine, as well as making women feel even worse about themselves in a backhanded way, through the authors multiple references to her size-4 self.Book Review: INSULTING TO ANYONE WITH WEIGHT ISSUES
Summary: 1 Stars
I'll admit I have not finished reading this book yet but at this point I'm hesitant to continue. I was enjoying this book right up to the chapter on weight and how much to gain. There was a comment she made in the beginning along the lines of if you're reading this book and are anorexic or obese than it's a personal matter to discuss with your doctor. But in her opinion anyone who starves themselves or eats nothing but junk food should be exiled from the girlfriend's club and it sounded like she was shaming us. Like how dare anyone who is overweight even think about having a baby? That's how it came across to me and it really hurt my feelings. Then it went on to say something like "For all the rest of us" which sounded like it was code for "all the rest of us who are normal." Now, I've struggled with weight my whole life and it's not because I eat nothing but junk food. I wasn't blessed with a metabolism where I can eat whatever I want and barely gain a pound. I've been working out like crazy and doing Weight Watchers but it's hard for me to lose weight. And of course I'm worried about how this will affect my baby and I've been doing everything I can to eat healthy for myself and my child. My being overweight doesn't make me a bad person and it certainly doesn't make me an unfit pregnant woman. This was such a b*llsh*t comment and it really made me rethink even finishing this book. Not everything is so black and white. Not every person who's overweight is a disgusting slob who doesn't care about their health. Perhaps the next book she writes she should take a sensitivity class and realize that just because someone is overweight doesn't mean they are a terrible person. Not all of us were blessed with a great figure.Book Review: Not for mothers who are looking to give birth in a non-mainstream way
Summary: 1 Stars
I finally finished this book today. The first few chapters left me nauseated and depressed, but then I was going through my first trimester, so I'm not sure if it was just symptoms of the pregnancy. But I do believe, the negativity of the first few chapters were really not helpful, in fact when I finally decided to put down the book, I felt better. Reading Vicki complain about her husband made me feel like it was okay to be bitchy and self-absorbed. But it really isn't necessary in all situations. I feel better when I maintain a positive mood.
As for the last few chapters about episiotomies and c-sections and such traditional methods of birthing, I think is misleading. After watching "The business of being born" and reading books like Ina May Gaskin's, there are other methods to give birth, and even on video it doesn't look all that painful when giving birth sitting up. But then I have yet to reach the labor stage, so I really don't know yet. If you have a midwife and not a ob-gyn who's watching their watch, an episiotomy may not and is usually not necessary.
I think this book is good for the expecting mother that plans to do the mainstream birth that hospitals and ob-gyns prefer. But for others looking for different options, it might be best to read other books that are more hopeful.