EXPECTING BETTER: WHY THE CONVENTIONAL PREGNANCY WISDOM IS WRONG AND WHAT YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW

I am a maternal and child health researcher with a PhD in public health. This book guided me through my pregnancy and is the only pregnancy book I recommend to my friends. The author synthesizes the current state of research on all the major pregnancy and childbirth health-related topics and presents the evidence, leaving the reader to make decisions. Most pregnancy books give advice based on little more than the whims of authors and doctors (who are fallible like everyone else!), rather than actual research. Many books also take a somewhat paternalistic or infantilizing tone (I'm looking at you, What To Expect -- the worst pregnancy book ever). Expecting Better is readable, clear, and intelligent. I hope you read it. And good luck with your pregnancy!

A very very interesting book if you're a geek (I am). And a great go-to if you need information quickly, but reads like a fast-paced, chatty systematic review. Liked it for the most part but I would only recommend it for the numbers-oriented people out there. There is no interpretation offered (in all fairness the book does not claim it does), but if information is comforting and you can't calculate probabilities, this is probably not for you. Does not reflect on the possible effect of race - much research is done on white women while I am not.

As a chartered physiotherapist (that's physical therapist + respiratory therapist in the US) specialising in pelvic health and woman's health, it was obvious to me that her interpretation of the data regarding pelvic floor exercises (kegels) and exercise in general were lacking the understanding and deeper knowledge required to interpret this data safely. She generalises saying for example that exercises such as plank should be fine... While this is not the case for most or even many pregnant women in the later stages of pregnancy, as it negatively effects abdominal seperation (diastisis rectus). Close supervision by an expert is required to assess if this kind of exercise is safe for a pregnant individual and is not recommended or necessary as other approacges can achieve desired results much more safely. I had been highly impressed with the book up until reading these points... Then I lost faith in the rest of what I had read having seen how misinterpreted this particular topic had been. Admirable attempt at interpreting the data, though I wouldn't trust it for any important decision making.

After seeing positive reviews on amazon for this book i also bought it. The author has nothing conclusive on most of the things. Its like one google page says positive and one article says negative so inspite of her reading so many researches and theories she has not presented a clear picture for most of the do's and don't do's in pregnancy except twlling wine n coffee is ok. She is just blabbering about how much effort she has put into reading articles and research papers but just like those papers her book is also inconclusive In the end what you take from it is what you want to do and what you dont want to do because she presents no clarity on anything.

If you’re Indian … need not go for this book !! What to expect when you’re expecting also covers a lot of these topics ! The author in this book gets lost in stories… didn’t find it useful

This is a must read to dispel most of the common myths. The seller has listed it with an unfair markup though, hence a star less.

Not for me, feels like a novel, not concise.

Es el único libro que me he leído para embarazadas porque está completamente basado en datos. Esta bien para desmentir algunos mitos y ayudarte con consejos importantes

I really enjoyed reading this book. It's exactly what I was looking for, as so many people tell you so many similar, yet sometimes conflicting insights during the course of a pregnancy. This book takes a lot of anecdotal points back to evidence, and sharing where research is really dated but still being referenced for modern day advice. I found the presentation of this information to be exactly what I was looking for, and filled me with comfort and confidence. I will state that I think some of the references are starting to get dated themselves now though. Labour statistics in the US and UK have changed drastically in the past 15 years, whereby the book states the c-section rate in the UK was c.25%, and now this year we know that rate is over 50%. It would be great to see these current stats reflected in the book (and analysed if possible). I also found the chapter on home birthing to be too dated to draw any conclusions from. Home births in the UK are now attended by 2 professional midwives, with the hospital prescribing medications for the home birth (same as you'd get in the Birth Centre), and midwives bringing gas and air, etc. What was written from 10+ years ago is no longer an accurate reflection of the current UK home birthing landscape. It would be great to see this updated in line with the changing regulations and stats over the years. Otherwise, I still highly recommend this book to anyone who just wants to cut through the faff, be equipped with the data, and understand pregnancy/ labour recommendations and procedures more for themselves.

acquistato per la mia prima gravidanza da un sacco di informazioni basate su papers scientifici dandoti la possibilità di prendere le tue decisioni in modo informato. raccomandato ai genitori che ne sentono una più di mille da parte di tutti

Adorei esse livro - nos deixa muito mais seguras a respeito de várias decisões durante a gestação. Também é bem escrito, de fácil leitura.

I found this book to be invaluable as I made decisions in my pregnancy. I felt confident and informed in the choices I have made.