The info in this book was always very high-level. If you are like my husband and I, you may find youself visiting websites weekly to read about fetal development. If so, don't bother to buy this book. It NEVER had any more info than I got online!! Even on specific issues such as gestational diabetes screening, the info was never more than the few paragraphs you find on every pregnancy website. So I found it to be a total waste of money & I rarely opened it.

Furthermore, DO NOT TAKE ADVICE ON LABOR & BIRTH from this book. It states, "There is nothing you can do to prevent a C-section." THIS IS TOTALLY FALSE! First, right off-the-bat, the rate of c-section varies wildly among practicioners. Picking a health care provider with a lower c/s rate will lower your risk. Secondly, getting an epidural doubles your risk of c/s - so there is PLENTY you can do to lower your risk. (Sure, you can't 100% prevent it, but you CAN substantially lower your risk.) I highly recommend "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" to find out the REAL FACTS on OB procedures. You do not want to just blindly trust your practicioner.

I recently found out that I was 6-weeks pregnant, and my first thought was, "What's the most informative book I can have to guide me through these 9 months?" I blindly stumbled on this book, and I am so relieved! Considering I forgot to ask my friends and family on advice for which books I should purchase and use as my bible, I (thank GOD) didn't buy What to Expect When Expecting, and instead, bought Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy. I guess my primary reason of choosing this book is because its written by medical professionals. The last thing I wanted to do was choose a guide that was not written by medical professionals. I want to feel as though I have something to refer to when I can't call my OB at 3am!! Its very well organized, and although I'm only in my first trimester, it helps to view what is to come in my 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The information provided is very clear and for being a first-time mom, I want to know what I should be alarmed and/or concerned about, but I definitely don't want to feel as though I'm becoming completely paranoid about every little thing (I don't need extra help in that category!). I highly recommend this book to anyone who is experiencing their first pregnancy, or even for those who have traveled down this road before.

This book is fantastic, and the best of its kind in the genre. Very thorough and updated. I would recommend this a hundred times over What to Expect when you're expecting.

I love, love, love this book! I am currently 11 weeks pregnant and I don't know what I'd do without it. I bought this book and began reading it even before conceiving and I was amazed with the wealth of information it contains. The organization of the book is perfect; instead of just breaking down the baby's development by month (like "What to Expect When You're Expecting"), this book breaks it down by week. Every week, I look forward to reading about my baby's progress (and seeing what he/she looks like!). Also, this book not only tells me about my baby's development, but the changes in my own body as well. "What to to Expect When You're Expecting" seems to focus on Mom's changing body and not baby's as much.

The Pregnancy reference guide in this book is also awesome; I have used it so many times already. I've also started reading some of the postpartum info the book contains, just to educate myself, and I know it will definitely come in handy when the baby arrives. Overall, I feel I can trust this book, not only because of who the authors are, but also because the advice and information it contains have ALWAYS been right in line with what my doctor has told me. I would definitely recommend purchasing "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy" if you're even thinking about having a baby and then if you still want "What to Expect When You're Expecting," (which I did just out of curiosity), buy it as a supplement just in case this book doesn't answer a specific question.

I am very glad that I purchased this book at the beginning of my pregnancy. I am now 18 weeks and it has been great following along week by week as to the development of the baby! There are also helpful notes and information as to my own changes in health on a week by week basis. Very practical and informative.

This book was the most helpful pregnancy book I found. I have since purchased a copy of it for every friend/relative who is expecting and they have all found it a valuable resource as well. I highly suggest it. The information is laid out in a user-friendly manner and the real-life questions/answers are most helpful. I think that this book is a must-have for every pregnant woman, especially for first-time mothers!

The book is a must have for first time mom-to-bes. I carried it with me everywhere, learning all I could about what to expect from my pregnancy & the birth of my son. It is full of wonderful information. I highly recommend it. Who better to learn from than the Mayo Clinic.

My wife and I really enjoy this book. It is plainly written in a relaxing and sometimes mildly comical way. The book is basically comprised of two pieces. The part we find most helpful is the survey of what is happening to the mothers body through the duration of the pregnancy. In this regard, the book is a blessing. My wife simply felt weird on many days - and it was great to know that she should be feeling weird, and that there was an explanation for why she felt weird. I suppose one can assume it is because of the pregnancy, but it seems satisfying to know exactly what is going on. Similarly, there is a large glossary that details specific side effects expectant mothers may endure (with explanations as to why) along with many tips for remedying or limiting the effects.

The second (smaller) piece to the book is a detail of the developing fetus/embryo. This could be satisfying to some. Those interested in specifics of prenatal development should look elsewhere. My suggestion would be to watch PBS "Lifes greatest miracle" for an excellent and beautiful account of the developing organism in the womb.

Overall, the Mayo clinic book is a great resource for mothers and fathers who want to know how to prepare and what to expect from a pregnancy.

I got this book when I was pregnant with my daughter. I also got Your Pregnancy Week By Week. Both were fabulous. I could read about what was going on and understand, with out the fear of What to expect, which I thought was a crappy book. I have talked with many friends and they too were frieghtened by what to expect, so I loaned out this book, and information without the fear. It is easy to understand, easy to find answers, and reassuring. Definitely worth your money! This is one that I want back for my second pregnancy!!

As a nursing student, I wanted a pregnancy book that went into a little more detail that what I could read about online or in my textbooks. I learned a lot in school, but I wanted a bit more detail about what my body would go through, not just how the baby should develop and this book was the perfect answer. It may seem like heavy reading, but if you read along with your pregnancy & symptoms, it's not at all boring. The 1st part of the book describes each week of pregnancy and includes actual size pics of how the baby should be progressing. It also goes into childbirth & postpartum care. The 2nd section of the book explores various decisions you may face during pregnancy & after the baby is born. The last section discusses common pregnancy problems, everywhere from diabetes to preterm labor to preeclampsia. Overall, the book is very straight forward, informative, and a great source for pregnancy (& after) information.

we like this book very much. We do have other books we look at but this is a good one to have

I read this entire book cover to cover just because it had so much interesting information! Far superior to the other pregnancy reference guides available, this book answered all of my questions and is very well organized. I found the sections at the end of the chapters especially useful that identify all of the warning signs and normal symptoms to expect during each part of your pregnancy. All of the advice in the book was consistent with my OB/GYN recommendations and even accurately predicted the premature delivery of my baby. This book was an essential element of my preparation for a new baby and I would have been lost during pregnancy without it. It answered all of the questions I didn't know I had!

My mother gave me this book when I found out I was pregnant and I am eternally grateful to her. Being a late starter (in my thirties) I have had concerns that younger women likely don't face. This book is well written and goes into detail on each topic, giving you valuable information that is easy to understand. Each month of pregnancy is covered in detail and gives the reader knowledge of what to expect when the time comes. This is so valuable, helping to alleviate fears that tend to crop up from time to time. The book covers breast feeding and circumcision, although those topics weren't covered in as much detail as I would have liked. I realize I will need to purchase a breast-feeding book for more details and also join the group my doctor has recommended to prepare for the hurdles I may encounter. Even my husband has read several of the topics of interest to him and commented on how precise everything is written in this book. I highly recommend this book to every woman who is expecting, it is as some others have commented, "like having a doctor at your fingertips".

Why is this book so good? Because all of the scary stuff that makes pregnant women paranoid is not included in the first part of the book. So, don't read it it you know you will get worked up over it.

This book is the best preganancy book yet. I won't ever read the 'What to Expect' books ever again (never liked them anyway). The reference information is useful only when you need it.

The Mayo Clinic Guide identifies and provides easy-to-find answers to many pregnancy FAQ's. It does not "speak down" to the reader. The information is rational and thorough so if you're experiencing a problem and are uncertain whether or not to call your ob provider, by the time you've read the section on your topic you'll at least have a clear idea of whether you need to be concerned enough to seek immediate medical attention, or if you can save your topic for your next prenatal visit.

In a pinch this book is a reasonable stand-in for a licensed obstetric provider such as a doctor or certified nurse midwife. It is written as a reference book and is not something to be tackled at one sitting. In fact, the information is so comprehensive, to first-time parents it could be overwhelming.

After fifteen years of delivering babies, I felt the existing pregnancy books could be enhanced by a different kind of book. My book, DIY Baby! Do It Yourself Baby!: Your Essential Pregnancy Handbook is an entertaining readable handbook that fills in the gaps between the pregnancy lay-person's "textbooks" such as the Mayo Guide.

This is a reliable resource that is well organized and the charts for when to call your doctor are helpful...but it is really dry reading. The book is mostly text with very few basic illustrations and no photos. I used in conjunction with The Pregnancy Bible. If you are looking to purchase just one book, I would recommend the Bible over this one.

This is such a great book to keep you calm when worried, informed when ignorant, and practical when overwhelmed. It is divided into four sections a month by month look at pregnancy, a decision guide to all the main thing you need to worry about health wise, a general reference guide for any doubts that might arise from dyeing your hair to headaches and the last is about complications. It's nice to have a book that includes possible complications, but that leaves it at the end so you don't worry more than you need to.

This was my main resource book throughout my entire pregnancy and I highly recommend it.

I am a first time mom and also a family practitioner and this book has been better than my medical school and residency training combined for practical knowledge! It is especially helpful for the "constant worrier" in its algorithms for telling you when to act on your concerns. It is also a great resource for someone who is just curious about what is developing in your baby week by week. I plan on recommending this to my pregnant patients!

After consulting with girlfriends and getting the books they recommended, I still didn't feel like I had enough information. I purchased the Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy, and haven't consulted another book since. I appreciate the clinical approach to pregnancy, especially when describing fetal development, body changes and procedures such as prenatal testing. It is an excellent reference book for pregnancy and the early months of life with baby. I only wish they would revise it to keep up with changes such as new protocols for prenatal screening. For example, it mentions nuchal translucency measurement as somewhat experimental, though when combined with maternal blood tests for free Beta hcg and PAPP-A, along with nasal bone measurement (none of which are mentioned), it is an excellent screening tool. I highly recommend this to prospective parents who want the medical low-down, presented with tenderness when appropriate but without the irrelevant fluff.

This book is fantastic. It is well organized and easy to reference. It's also well written with a professional tone that never veers toward alarmist or condescending. The book does a great job of telling you what is normal and what is not and has an easy to read charts. I found everything in this book to be relatively unbiased and normal pregnancy, as well as complications are explained in full. The only drawback for me is that I personally would like more of an emphasis on natural childbirth rather than seeing it be presented on par with interventionist procedures. That being said, it is an excellent book and I am thrilled to have it to guide me through my first pregnancy.

My boyfriend bought me this book, and i have been using it as a reference for a lot of issues i never thought i would eperience. i am expecting my first baby, and didnt know what to make of the changes in my body. this book explains in very good detail the changes you and your baby are making during each stage of your pregnancy, as well as helpful tips on easing some of the discomforts that you amy eperience while pregnant.

Another feature i loved aboutthis book is the fact that it dosent end when you have the baby, but goes on into the symptomes of different illnesses that are common in newborn and young babies. as well as what to do in case of whatever emergency. Basicly i have been reading it and telling my boyfriend how great it is...i would definatly recommend this book, and will probably give it to a pregnant friend when the time comes.

This book is the most thorough book that I have found but at the same time it is not overwhelming. It is broken down into sections which makes it easy to get through. All of my questions were answered by this book.

This book is perfect - it allows you to follow along week by week, it has clear and concise decision guides for each trimester, the information is accurate and is NOT dumbed down for the reader like a lot of books will do. I hated "What to Expect.." and found this book is the perfect antidote. It tells you exactly what the medical research says about each subject without judgement or condescension. I would recommend to anyone.

This is a good book having all the basic info you are looking for as a new parent. This book helped us in knowing a lot of new things which helped us prepare for the times ahead and consult the doctor at the right time.

This is my second pregnancy, and I really wanted a good reference book that didn't insult my intelligence. The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is it. I had my first child 6 years ago, so I'm a little rusty on the pregnancy thing. I didn't need all the warm, fuzzy hand-holding that a lot of pregnancy books out there offer, so I decided on this book based on the rave reviews. I haven't been disappointed. It provides concise, objective information, and it is very easy to navigate through. I found the information to be very well laid out and with just the right amount of detail that any lay person, or even healthcare provider, could comprehend. I think this book is a must have for any pregnant woman.

This is a very informative book that explains week by week what is happening to your body and your baby. It is organized in a manner that makes it easy to refer back to when you have a specific question. I like this better than What to Expect When You're Expecting.

This is the best pregnancy reference guide! Far superior to "What to Expect When You're Expecting", it gives you the straightforward facts in logically organized sections. I didn't have to waste my time thumbing through pages of questions/problems that don't apply to me, I just got the facts on my baby's development each week (which is what I most wanted in a pregnancy guide). It also gives you a useful decision guide and tells you when you should call your doctor with questions/problems. It really is the perfect book for any pregnant woman.

This book was a great guide. It was a first pregnancy for both my wife and I. The week by week development section was fascinating to follow. The strongest part of this book was the not dumded downed nature you find in many books. This book treats the reader as an intelligent person who is able to understand the intraricies of pregnancy

This is my first pregnancy, and I purchased "What to Expect..." because that is what everyone else has. It was so very unorganized, constantly flipping to this page or that! I was extremely frustrated and searching for a different book.

Thank you Mayo for creating such a wonderful book! It is so organized, all in order, and very informative. Not to mention the fact that it has such a reputable name behind it! Once I got this book, I never even touched any other pregnancy book! I will forever recommend this book to every pregnant woman I come across!!

When we found out that we are expecting a baby, my husband and I immediately got two books - "What to Expect when You are Expecting" and the "Mayo Clinic Guide to Healthy Pregnancy." We decided to divide and conquer and he read "What to Expect..." and I read the Mayo Clinic guide on a weekend. Our conclusion is that a lot of the information in the two books is repetitive but the Mayo Clinic guide is a better choice if you are interested mostly in the physiological and medicinal side of pregnancy. Here are some of my reasons for liking it so much.

First, as a woman who is incredibly busy and frequently on the road, I need a reference guide which immediately provides me with relevant, reliable, and concise medical information. During the first trimester I am experiencing a multitude of symptoms which are unfamiliar to me as this is my first pregnancy. With the help of the Mayo Clinic guide, I can evaluate every sign in less than a minute (literally) and can make a quick decision whether I need to run to the nearest emergency room, call my doctor or just relax because I am experiencing something normal. Also, since the book is written by MDs, I trust the information 100%.

I also recommend for pregnant women who are traveling often to check out the book from the local library in PDF format. This way you can discreetly open up the file on your laptop and refer to the information without lugging around the actual book which is quite heavy. Hopefully, with the help of new technology, we soon will be able to get this book on our Blackberries. That would be neat.

Second, since the pregnancy is an internal process, I always wonder how far the little peanut inside of me has grown. Does he/she have eyes, ears, legs, arms? Each chapter of the book includes a detailed description of the development of the baby for that week and a little drawing showing his/her actual size. Of course, the drawings are not as good as seeing my baby on ultrasound which always puts tears in my eyes but it is an "acceptable" amount of information to pass the time from one doctor's appointment to the next.

Some readers may find the book a little bit hardhearted and too medical. There are no cute baby and pregnancy stories. Everything is very concrete and factual. I actually prefer that and then I get my supplemental daily dose of pregnancy compassion and baby excitement from family and friends.

This book is far superior to "What to Expect". It answers almost every question you might have and will have. It has helpful illustrations and is well organized. Its a month by month detail of what you should expect and what is to come.

I found the Mayo book easy to read and well organized. My wife, whose second language is English, found the book easy to read as well. The book is organized around the trimesters of your pregnancy. In each trimester, the authors describes the changes you will encounter to give you a sense of what you should expect. Following these chapters, are sections which dive into decisions you need to make during your pregnancy. This organization makes sense to me, and if it does for you too, I highly recommend this book.

Just about any question I can think of, I can find a thorough clear answer in this book. Very well organized and very complete. I'm planning my first pregnancy and I was looking for a book to answer all my questions. I have several pregnancy reference style books, but this one is exactly what I was looking for!

I loved this book. It is somewhat technical and it focuses on the medical issues involved with pregnancy. There are sections that tell you what is happening with your baby each week and what to expect with your body during each month. There is a guide about when to call/see your doctor if you have specific experiences at the end of each month's section. The guide for decision making is objective and gives scientific evidence to support each choice. This is a thick book, but I'm currently 7 months along and I've managed to read most of it because it is interesting to me and well written. It is exactly what I was looking for, but it isn't for those of you who are wanting an emotional guide for pregnancy.

I would recommend "The girlfriend's guide to pregnancy" by Vicki Iovine if you're looking for a personal account of pregnancy with several good laughs. I had a great time reading this book and even my husband found it entertaining when we read parts of it together. I didn't agree completely with the exercise chapter or the clothing chapter, but Iovine is simply documenting the experiences of herself and her girlfriends. It is a cute book for the pregnancy obsessed first-timers.

This is a great book which is full of factual information concerning pregnancy and fetus development. It is easy to read and understand. I'm VERY pleased!

This is the best pregancy guide! I bought it when I first found out I was pregnant, mostly to follow along with baby's development, which is well explained, informative and well organized. In addition to explaining what happens with baby week by week, it also covers what happens in your body, when to call the doctor and what to expect.

Now I'm 7 months along and still amazed how comprehensively this book covers what seems like any and all topics you might want to educate yourself for pregnancy, birth and post partum: information on birth positions, medical/pain relief options, natural pain relief options during labor, breast feeding, bottle feeding etcetc - it's all there, well explained and presented in a completely balanced way. Truly a great resource no matter how many other books you might be reading (like I have).
PS: I also have "What to Expect", and never went back to look at it again after I got this one... They don't even compare.

If you want to buy a pregnancy book, this one is much better organized than the "What to expect...."

We have refered to this book for the last 3 months, and as first time parents to be, have found it to be extremely informative. Highly recommended

I bought this book after reading the reviews and it is a great book. Very comprehensive and full of information that is given objectively and in a balanced way. As a first time mom, sometimes the scariest thing is not knowing whether something is normal or not. This book was indispensible for me to be able to look up my symptoms and getting a comprehensive answer on what I could expect and what I was feeling, as well as the reasons why. Every pregnancy is different so while not everything in the book applied to me, it is a great reference guide for all your questions. The decision guides are great as well - they give you the information you need so that you can make an informed decision for yourself. I would highly recommend this book!

Of the six pregnancy books I read when my wife was pregnant, I felt this book had the best medical advice. [And I'm not saying this because the author was our ObGyn!]

I liked this book the most because I felt the medical advice was the most complete and accurate. I liked this book the most because it put *some* information into a month-by-month format, but put most of the information where it belongs, into their own chapters outside the month-by-month format. And I liked this book the most because the end of each chapter gave a "When to Call" table. Learning about symptoms is useful, learning about the fetus' development is fun, but knowing when to see a doctor because of a medial issue is absolutely critical, and this book gets that part right.

It also covers information on taking your baby home and post-partium care.

Note that this book is NOT the _Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year_. This book is a reasonably sized 600 page paperback that's comfortable to read in bed. The aforementioned _Mayo Clinic Complete Book of Pregnancy and Baby's First Year_ is a huge 800 page 8x11 HARDBACK that belongs in a doctor's office, not in your bedroom.

This isn't going to be an indepth review but I do want to say that this book is very informative and well organized and the index makes it easy to find key points quickly and easily. I absolutely recommend this book.

This book is filled with great information. It covers everything from conception to birth in detail. It provides a week by week description of your baby's growth, as well as the physical and emotional changes that can occur in you during that time. There is also a reference section where you can look up various symptoms you may be experiencing. This book will take you all the way to the day you give birth and beyond by telling you what you can expect to experience before and after you have the baby. There are so many helpful tips and a great amount of information for both moms and dads. I would highly recommend this book!

Great book. Complete and concise; can flip through sections so, you get the info. you need.

I enjoy this book and still continue to refer to it as I am in my 9th month. Although it does a good job describing all the changes in your body month by month, I wish the description of each week was a bit more thorough and descriptive. It even gives you information on Post partum care. I recommend this book over " what to expect when you are expecting"

I wanted a book that got straight to the point and this book did exsactly that. When it comes to all of the "normal" freak of nature things that happen to one in pregnancy I prefer getting information straight and to get information on if it is normal, when it's not normal, what to do, what not to do without it turning into a comedy. If you are looking for a book to lighten the subject and make jokes or make you ooh, ahh and laugh this is not the book for you. This book is perfect though as a reference book and I really have found it useful thought this pregnancy thus far. Especially for a first time parent!

This book is a great help. Better than the 'what to expect when expecting' ones.

This has been a great resource for me and my husband. I am 21 weeks along in my first pregnancy and so far there hasn't been a question this book couldn't answer or at least give me some info about. The set up is great and it is very easy to find the topic I need without having to search and search. I like the fact that it has a week by week description of the baby's development and the changes my body is going through. I also like that it doesn't have a lot of fluff and the info is easy to understand without being condescending. And I like it's straight forward approach and medical point of view. Plus, it's by the Mayo Clinic, so I feel I can trust the information. I highly recommend this book!

I am very happy that I had the book throughout my pregnancy. It's very detailed and well organized. With the book, I know what I should expect every month and it was exactly what I experienced. In some sense, it's even better than my OB, who is in a style of no-ask-no-tell.

I love this book, but more importantly my husband loves this book. He hates to read, but he still looks through it once or twice a week and asks me if I have any of the symptoms listed. He also likes to tell me each week how big the baby is now and what is going on with the development. This book has been a nice way for him to be more involved and also to understand the changes I'm going through. It's a good book and well organized - anything I think I could possibly have a question about, this book covers.