The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy

Jun 11, 2008 Deborah rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Princesses and total idiots.

I loathe, loathe, loathe this book. I have no idea why books about pregnancy fall into either of two categories: A) motherly reassurance which makes all kinds of conservative assumptions about your life and circumstances and B) chatty, conspiratorial crap that does the same but in an even meaner more degrading manner. To whit, Ms. Iovine sees it as her duty to warn your husband (assuming you have one) that diamonds are the very best way to reward you for pushing that baby out. Her tips about bir...more

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Jan 10, 2008 Bethany rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book gets one star for humor. Other than that, this book is really degrading to women who strive to have a natural childbirth. The author tries to relate to all moms but it's kind of hard to relate to her when she starts whining about her nanny not showing up one day (she's a stay at home mom).

Overall this book just rubbed me the wrong way.

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Sep 01, 2008 Dianne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: people who think that doctors are god

Recommended to Dianne by: sadly, my primary care physician

Or, as my husband aptly dubbed it, "The Girlfriends' Guide to Being a Self-Indulgent Twit."

Let me start by saying that there are a couple of good things about this one.

First, it is full of the kind of anecdotes about what pregnancy is like - swollen boobs, swollen feet, hemorrhoids, how to buy maternity clothes, when to expect morning sickness to end - that previous generations got from their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, and childhood friends. In a world where many of us live hundreds...more Or, as my husband aptly dubbed it, "The Girlfriends' Guide to Being a Self-Indulgent Twit."

Let me start by saying that there are a couple of good things about this one.

First, it is full of the kind of anecdotes about what pregnancy is like - swollen boobs, swollen feet, hemorrhoids, how to buy maternity clothes, when to expect morning sickness to end - that previous generations got from their mothers, aunts, grandmothers, sisters, and childhood friends. In a world where many of us live hundreds or thousands of miles from the most important women in our lives, it's nice to have a reassuring compendium of all the stuff that happens, and to learn that it is completely normal.

Second, the list of what to take with you to the hospital when you go into labor looks to me to be useful and includes items I wouldn't have thought of but plan to add to my suitcase.

So why do I rate the book so low?

Well, first of all, the constant theme of "x symptom is very common and normal in pregnancy, but we don't know why - ask your doctor" is irksome. With apologies to my doctor friends, who learns anything useful from a doctor in a fifteen-minute appointment? I have learned at least nine-tenths of everything I know about my health and my body from reading books and trolling the internet, and frankly I was hoping Iovine would add to my store of knowledge instead of brushing me off. Had I bought the book instead of borrowing it from the library, I'd feel cheated out of 20 clams.

But more important, I was alarmed, rather than reassured, by Iovine's insistence that interventions like caesarians, continuous fetal heart monitors, episiotomies, and the other, frequently unnecessary torture and mutilation that obstetricians inflict on women during labor and delivery are normal and somehow OK. She seems to have confused "frequent" with normal, largely because so many of her Girlfriends (the capital G is hers) suffered these procedures. This review is not the place to go into the alarmingly high 30% caesarian rate in the US, and how appallingly it exceeds the World Health Organization's recommendation of 10% or less. (Yes, folks, that is almost 1 in 3 pregnant American women who will go under the knife.) Suffice it to say that I couldn't help wondering if Iovine's insistence that it is no big deal for a pregnant woman to gain substantially more weight than the current recommendations, or her bizarre, completely unsubstantiated opinion that pregnancy is a great excuse to avoid exercise (she seriously says this), had anything to do with the fact that apparently none of her Girlfriends-with-a-Capital-G managed to have a perfectly normal, natural delivery.

Give this one a pass - go for an informative, truly reassuring book like the classic What to Expect When You're Expecting.(less)

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Mar 02, 2008 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: women who are scheduling their c-sections 6 months in advance

I'd heard nothing but wonderful things about this book, and since I'd been disappointed with several other "traditional," medically-focused pregnancy books out there, I thought I'd give this one a try.

One thing is for sure -- the book is hilarious. Laugh-out-loud funny! That's its biggest advantage.

It's not a medical book, and doesn't pretend to be. Vicki Iovine pulls no punches, which is part of the book's humor, but also what I found very off-putting about the book.

Iovine is just as opinionate...more

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Mar 14, 2011 Eastofoz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

Hilarious! When you feel like crap and you're fed up with reading the "serious" books that have you out of your mind with worry because you feel like you have every pregnancy ailment/nightmare under the sun this book helps put things in perspective and gives you a few laughs during what could be a very hellish time in your life.

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Aug 08, 2007 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: parenting, ha-ha-ha

Vicki Iovine rather revels in her status as a princess type, with the money, the manicures, the jewelry, etc., but even if you can't quite relate, this book is a refreshing change from the bulk of pregnancy advice books that tend to the natural-granola-woo-woo-power of womanhood vibe (and don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of getting all woo-woo with your pregnancy and baby). It's funny, and it speaks to you if you're the kind of person who, while cooing over your new baby in the hospital, mig...more

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Jul 01, 2008 Jaimee rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: pregnancy-parenting

I loved the idea of a book written from the experienced point of view of "girlfriends." For those of us not surrounded by friends who are also mothers, someone has to fill us in on all the little details of pregnancy. Vicki Iovine writes well and sprinkles in a good dose of humor, which is always appreciated when you're pregnant. However, I disagreed with so many of her opinions that I had a difficult time really liking the book.

1. Exercise: while she doesn't outright say you shouldn't exercise...more I loved the idea of a book written from the experienced point of view of "girlfriends." For those of us not surrounded by friends who are also mothers, someone has to fill us in on all the little details of pregnancy. Vicki Iovine writes well and sprinkles in a good dose of humor, which is always appreciated when you're pregnant. However, I disagreed with so many of her opinions that I had a difficult time really liking the book.

1. Exercise: while she doesn't outright say you shouldn't exercise, she goes into such detail about why you shouldn't worry about exercising that she could easily convince you that exercising is not a good idea during pregnancy.

2. Outdated: her section on maternity clothes really cracked me up because she couldn't stop talking about stirrup pants and raiding your husband's closet for vests. She also mentions buying as much of your baby's layette used as possible, but most modern books agree that you should not buy a crib used if you can help it.

3. Losing your Body: in an attempt to really tell it like it is, I think that Vicki goes overboard when detailing the bad changes that will occur to your body. This is the first pregnancy book that actually scared me that I would forever lose my body. She basically tells you to get over the fact that you're going to lose your waist, your abs, your thighs, your bladder control, and your breasts- forever. She throws in one token sentence that says your post-pregnancy body MIGHT be better, but never the same. Instead of finding this helpful or insightful, I find it discouraging.

4. Breast Feeding: again, she didn't outright say don't breast feed, but her sarcasm regarding the subject was very negative. She even details stories of her girlfriends not breast feeding in an attempt to save their breasts, which she just goes on to say won't help since you're doomed to smaller, saggier breasts anyway.

5. Natural Birth: while I fully support every woman's right to choose which birthing plan is right for her, Vicki is clearly against woman trying the natural route. She doesn't see the merit in making it through delivery medication free and states that an epideral can't come early enough. Her attitude is, if you can do it with less pain why wouldn't you? She even supports the planned C-section for no other reason than convenience. I can't get on board with that.

6. Husbands/Partners: I feel sorry for Vicki because she portrays her husband as unhelpful, unsupportive, and unsympathetic throughout her pregnancies and deliveries. But she's quick to add not to worry if your husband/partner is unsupportive because he can still make a great father. Great. She goes on to talk about how her husband was down the hall talking with friends while she was alone in her hospital room contracting. Or my personal favorite, how he may need to be taking pictures instead of helping you through the pushing stage of delivery. I understand that there are plenty of husbands/partners out there that have trouble knowing how to support their pregnant women, but honestly, we should expect a little more out of them than Vicki does! I feel insulted on behalf of women with understanding partners and I think a lot of husbands/partners would be insulted, too.

Overall, if you really want another pregnancy book to read (and believe me, I know what it's like to want to devour every piece of writing out there on the subject) go ahead and read this one, too. But, be forewarned that you may not agree with many of her opinions and might be frightened by some of her comments. I highly recommend Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy instead! (less)

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Apr 21, 2008 Erin rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't like this book at all. Well, to be fair, I am sure there were a few little sections that were readable....but for the most part, the author was totally unrelatable to me (not that I have to be BFF’s with all of the author’s that I read – but with a book about motherhood and pregnancy, you want to feel some connection with the author). I was hoping GF’s Guide was going to be a hipper and more personal version of What to Expect When You Are Expecting. Vicki Iovine came across as very shal...more

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Sep 12, 2007 Ruby rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: maternal-health

this is one of the books i merely screened. i only read a few pages of the intro before knowing it wasn't for me. i am guessing i may turn out to be one of those fringe people who are willing to face delivery without a neonatal unit next door and a full-time anesthesiologist in residence she so easily dismisses, and though it is helpful to read various viewpoints, such an attitude is so out of line with my interests, that i think it would prove fairly useless to me.

however, it may be great for o...more

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Apr 17, 2008 Amy rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction, pregnancy-babies

I received this dubious book from a well-meaning relative. It is precisely the sort of dreck I would steer every would-be mom away from. Some highlights: what to do when you have a crush and more on your obgyn (want to know why you have one? because lady doctors inspire heroic fantasies in vulnerable women) and how to get the baby daddy to buy you a push gift. Read only if you want to feel demeaned.

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Oct 01, 2007 Idahogirl rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone even THINKING about a baby!

Shelves: pregnancy

This was honestly the BEST pregnancy book I've read. I've done the "what to expect when you're expecting" week by week review - and that's great, but I can get that information on the internet. This one was an honest to goodness conversation with a girlfriend on what it is *really* like. I loved it, I'll buy it so I have it when I do get pregnant.

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Jan 26, 2012 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction, humor, from-library, 2011, reference

I'm reading all the traditional pregnancy books, and wanted something lighter. After a recommendation from a goodreads friend, I hunted this down at the library. I read more than half of it the first day, and laughed so hard that I cried (not to mention couldn't stop for ten minutes). It just doesn't matter to me that Vicki Iovine is in a different "set" than me; or that at times she climbs on her soapbox a little. No other book I've read has been as frank about the trials and tribulations, and...more

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Jun 03, 2008 Kessie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is hilarious. It's different from the rest of the pregnancy books I've read because it isn't just a lot of facts but speaks in a way women think, especially pregnant women. I sat in my room reading it, laughing out loud, by myself, and then also groaning out loud when I read some of the things the author is very frank about but that I don't want to be true. At least I'll know what's actually going to happen to my body! I would highly recommend it to anyone pregnant. There's even a sect...more

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Dec 07, 2007 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-from-public-library

This was probably one of the best books to read right away. What to Expect scared me and bored me, at the same time. While this book uses the term "girlfriend" excessively, and though I hate the term, it's worth reading. There are quite a few things in here that aren't mentioned in other pregnancy books, and some of them are gross enough that I'm secretly hoping they just won't happen to me. If (when) they do, at least I'll know that it's normal. I'm not sure I like that the author encourages pr...more

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Oct 27, 2007 Julianne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: absolute-favorites

I love this book. It is organized much better than "what to expect when you're expecting" and it reads like someone who is telling you intimate (and not-so-intimate) details of what really happened to them.

I found I picked this book up more often than "what to expect..."

NOTE: Do not read this until you're pregnant. My sister started reading the L&D portion before I had my son, and she was a bit freaked out. It's easier to take those "less than glamorous" parts of delivery when there's nothin...more

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Jan 05, 2009 Rachel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

First off, I am not pregnant! I wanted to read this book because I had read an excerpt of it in a magazine (the first chapter) and had found it really hilarious. It is an interesting read for someone like me who is not pregnant, but would like to be in the future, and has no idea what it is like or the kind of things pregnant women go through. I'd personally like to know what I am getting myself into. It would've been a little bit more effective if she was a "normal-sized woman" to begin with an...more

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May 26, 2013 Klaudyna Z. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-books

I was disappointed with this book. I thought that this book would be a bit different in terms of pregnancy books because it seemed like it was honest and gave you all the nitty gritty about pregnancy and childbirth, the stuff that normal books don't tell you about. Which it did, and I did learn some things but I really didn't like reading some of the author's opinions about certain things, which I think she felt really strongly about and it showed through her writing.

I didn't like that she made...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Ciara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: baby-pregnancy-infertility-parentin, read-in-2012

for years, this has been my go-to example when i describe the often terrible genre of pregnancy guides. i read this years & years ago & i don't know what compelled me to pick up the (newer, expanded, updated) version, aside from boredom & the fact that i was pregnant, so the topic seemed particularly relevant to me. i wondered what i would think of the book now that i had some personal experience in the area of pregnancy.

well, i don't know if iovine's edits were so extensive as to cr...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was lent this book by a friend and read it in snippets over the course of a couple months. Most of the advice in this was anecdotal rather than medical (i.e. "I found this, my friend found that") but I did find a few useful bits of info in here. I really liked the writer's quirky sense of humour, her way of putting things had me giggling a fair bit throughout. HOWEVER.

1. Constantly referred to her girlfriends as Girlfriends, as though being her friend was some sort of honorary title.
2. Kept pu...more

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Sep 28, 2012 Racie rated it 1 of 5 stars

This is exactly the kind of pregnancy advice I hate -all negative. Full of horror stories about every pregnancy symptom without any actual advice on how to not hate yourself during pregnancy.

But that isn't surprising when you realize the author is a raging narcissistic. "Don't cut your hair" she tells you, "because you aren't looking for 'new look' you're looking for a 'not-pregnant look' and it won't work." Was she really so vain that being pregnant made her search for ways to look not pregnant...more

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Jul 04, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

When I became pregnant, a good friend of mine gave me this book - and I really enjoyed reading it.
But now, as my pregnancy is progressing, and I heard a lot more opinions from different people around me about a lot of things, Vicky Iovine is writing about, I have to take some distance to her opinions.
One point, that was already obvious while I read it, was that Vicky Iovine is American, I am German - and I think the cultural differences are huge considering giving birth. But that was okay for m...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Erika rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this along side "What to Expect When You're Expecting" and I think that's really the way to read this book. This book is NOT going to explain the science behind what is going on in your pregnant body, so it shouldn't be the ONLY pregnancy book you read. But it DOES talk about the things you'll have to deal with day-to-day during pregnancy (like extra large boobs).

There are a lot of stories about women and their experiences with every aspect of pregnancy, so expect (usually funny) anecdote...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Stacey Miner rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The first eight chapters of this book made me laugh. I could relate to a lot of it. As a tomboy, however, once I reached chapters 9-12, I just groaned and rolled my eyes and wondered why the hell I was still reading. It's very clear that this is a book written for what I'd classify as "the typical woman," of which I am not. This book speaks to all women who enjoy shopping, slumber parties, martinis, make-overs, manicures and pedicures, lingerie, getting their hair done, frills and lace. However,...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Kathryn rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: nonfiction

The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy is one of those pregnancy books with a casual, friendly tone. It covers the sort of things you often wouldn’t want to ask an ob/gyn because they seem so silly, and also some things you wouldn’t even know to ask about if you hadn’t had a baby before. Overall, it’s a helpful book for first-time moms.

The book loses two stars from me (it started at four because of how I rate books) because the author is occasionally judgemental; for example, she is clearly strongl...more The Girlfriends’ Guide to Pregnancy is one of those pregnancy books with a casual, friendly tone. It covers the sort of things you often wouldn’t want to ask an ob/gyn because they seem so silly, and also some things you wouldn’t even know to ask about if you hadn’t had a baby before. Overall, it’s a helpful book for first-time moms.

The book loses two stars from me (it started at four because of how I rate books) because the author is occasionally judgemental; for example, she is clearly strongly in favor of epidurals, and is quite dismissive of women who want a natural birth. In my case, I'm 5'1" and 100 pounds, and my baby was 8 lb, 14 oz and 21 inches long, so it was epidural all the way. The author did help me by pointing out that giving birth isn’t a contest or a test – no one is going to expel me from motherhood because I “cheated”. For someone who is really set on natural birth, though, this section would be pretty offensive.

Another example occurs when the author talks about ob/gyns; she is quite emphatic in her explicit refusal to use a generic term rather than “he” or “him”, because to her, ob/gyns are male and that’s that. Now, I personally would never go to a female ob/gyn, but I recognize that this is a weird quirk of mine that isn’t remotely common. So while I was generally in sympathy with the author, I could readily guess that many women would be pretty irritated by that paragraph as well.

I also found the general tone and diction of the book occasionally irritating. A while back, a book about some trashy Southern women made the rounds. I can’t remember the name of it for the life of me, but it was about a group of, basically, tramps, who had decided that even though high school was 20 years ago, cliques were still totes awesome. So they formed an exclusive clique in their small town, which didn’t let in new members unless they went through lengthy hazing processes, and which got whatever it wanted (for example, a float in the town parade) by promising (but not actually delivering) sexual favors to men (in the parade case, I think it was the mayor?). Then, one of the original members of Clique Cheap decided to write a book about it. It was a terrible book – I can’t believe I actually finished it. I must have really been bored that day – and was notable primarily for its extreme vulgarity, familiarity, and general lack of class. There were times – not many, but a few – when Girlfriends’ Guide descended to a level of vulgarity or familiarity that reminded me strongly of this offensive book. So it lost some points with me simply for reminding me of that one.

Overall, though, I found Girlfriends’ Guide to have quite a bit of helpful information, particularly for first-time moms.(less)

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Jul 17, 2011 Asho rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-but-do-not-own

This was the first pregnancy book I've ever read. I picked it up primarily because I was browsing the pregnancy section of the library and this seemed like a quick and easy way to work my way into pregnancy books. I wasn't feeling quite up to tackling any of the big pregnancy tomes yet. I'm sure I'll get there in time.
Anyway, this book is complete crap for medical advice. Having said that, the author doesn't pretend that that's what it is going to be about, so I can't say that this is really a...more This was the first pregnancy book I've ever read. I picked it up primarily because I was browsing the pregnancy section of the library and this seemed like a quick and easy way to work my way into pregnancy books. I wasn't feeling quite up to tackling any of the big pregnancy tomes yet. I'm sure I'll get there in time.
Anyway, this book is complete crap for medical advice. Having said that, the author doesn't pretend that that's what it is going to be about, so I can't say that this is really a flaw. Just keep in mind that if you want to know about development or health care during pregnancy, this is not the book for you. It's also very flippant about the risks associated with c-sections. If you even remotely think you may want to attempt a natural birth, don't bother to pick this book up because it will just get you riled up. (I didn't have a major issue with it because the whole natural vs. medicated birth is not one of my personal soapbox issues, but just be forewarned.)
There were parts of this book that were humorous and entertaining. The section that seems the most useful was the section on what to bring to the hospital. There were several items on the list that I wouldn't think to bring. The section on what you need to have ready at home for a newborn baby was useful, too. Some of the sections in my library copy of this book were extremely dated, though. The chapter on maternity clothes was useless because it's so outdated already. Although perhaps there has been an update to this book since the one I read was published?
My other warning about this book is that I don't think it would be a good choice for women who have experienced infertility or suffered miscarriages. I don't think it would strike the right tone for someone who had legitimate reasons to be concerned about her pregnancy. Having said that, I'm a big worrier so for me it was kind of nice to see the subject treated so casually.
Overall, it was a light read and it was relatively entertaining, but it definitely needs to be supplemented with other comprehensive pregnancy guides.(less)

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May 28, 2011 Cyndy Aleo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

When I first found out that I was pregnant, I ran right out and bought myself a copy of What to Expect When You Are Expecting ("WTE"). By the end of my third month, I had pitched it into the corner of my bedroom in terror (come to think of it, I never did find that book when we moved...) and ran out and got The Girlfriends' Guide based on the recommendations of the women I had met at BabyCenter.com. I'm so glad I did.

Unlike most pregnancy books that you will find, Vicki Iovine comes to you with...more When I first found out that I was pregnant, I ran right out and bought myself a copy of What to Expect When You Are Expecting ("WTE"). By the end of my third month, I had pitched it into the corner of my bedroom in terror (come to think of it, I never did find that book when we moved...) and ran out and got The Girlfriends' Guide based on the recommendations of the women I had met at BabyCenter.com. I'm so glad I did.

Unlike most pregnancy books that you will find, Vicki Iovine comes to you with the style that is exactly what the title describes: it's just like a Girlfriend talking to you on the phone. In all my 29 years as a woman, only one friend ever told me what pregnancy was really like, and I had forgotten most of what she said! Vicki and her cast of Girlfriends are upfront and honest about everything from hemorrhoids to incontinence. Who knew that there was so much no one shared?

Narrated in a light-hearted tone, Vicki (and I call her that because I'm a Girlfriend now) seems to be whispering over a table at lunch in a conspiratorial, gossipy tone. From encouraging you to lie to your husband about when the ban on sexual relations is over to encouraging you to take advantage of your husband's amazement at the ordeal of childbirth, you really feel like you have your best friend with you while you are pregnant.

There were many a day when I was scared of some new pregnancy development. Rather than consult the gloom and doom of WTE, which had me convinced from the get-go that I was doing it all wrong, I checked in with Vicki, who reassured me that what was happening happened to a LOT of pregnant women. I wouldn't recommend not calling your doctor if you have a real concern, but on subjects like what a hemorrhoid feels like, it's a lot less embarrassing having Vicki share than calling your doctor to ask.

Needless to say, I was so thrilled to have my new Girlfriend that I went out and got Vicki's book about baby's first year. And I'm hoping someone gets me the toddler book for Christmas. Now if she will just write one about pre-teens and teenagers, I'll be able to face the rest of this job as a parent. I'm looking forward to a Girlfriends Guide to Your Daughter Dating. Maybe my husband will even read it.

This review originally published on Epinions: http://www.epinions.com/review/The_Gi...(less)

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Apr 20, 2009 Emily rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Yes, I am pregnant. Due date: July 23rd. Little girl. I feel fine. Sure, I'm excited, whatever. Please don’t touch my belly. That pretty much answers pretty much every question that I have to answer 35 times a day.

So I have two main concerns about giving birth. Both involve my butt. You’d think that the actual birth canal would be a scarier thing to me, but I figure it was built for that stuff, so it’ll probably work ok.

Fear #1 Hemorrhoids. I love that the author just lays it all out. Other bo...more Yes, I am pregnant. Due date: July 23rd. Little girl. I feel fine. Sure, I'm excited, whatever. Please don’t touch my belly. That pretty much answers pretty much every question that I have to answer 35 times a day.

So I have two main concerns about giving birth. Both involve my butt. You’d think that the actual birth canal would be a scarier thing to me, but I figure it was built for that stuff, so it’ll probably work ok.

Fear #1 Hemorrhoids. I love that the author just lays it all out. Other books mention hemorrhoids and how you will likely get some and just talk to your doctor, but gives no actual details of what to expect. This lady tells what they feel like and how you know that you have them and other handy explicit details. Had she not explained it to me I swear I would have screamed and died in the bathroom first time I discovered them. For now I am enjoying my mostly hemorrhoid-free nether regions.

Fear #2. I will be trying to poop and accidentally poop out a baby while I am at work. Apparently pushing during labor feels like pushing out a bowel movement. I catch myself every once in a while doing a good push and then panicking mid-push. What if I poop my uterus right out?! I am not really worried about doing this at home, even if I am home alone. But the thought of it happening at work terrifies me. There are only 2 other women and 298 men where I work. So chances of someone finding me in the women’s bathroom are slim. I’d have to stuff my uterus and cantaloupe-sized (as of this writing) child back into my pants and hop back to my desk. Then, because everyone stops by my office to “see what I am doing” (usually ‘working’) I would have to explain it over and over. Hmmm…maybe that would get people to quick popping in to chat all the time. Oh! This has major potential!

So, I like the author of this book. She is way cooler than the other pregnancy book authors who are doctors or something official like that. She is an actual human who has carried babies and understands that sometimes you want to puke on people’s shoes or put your head right down on the keyboardddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd and take a little nap.

(less)

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Oct 09, 2012 Mandy rated it 2 of 5 stars

There were a couple tidbits of information in this that were things I hadn't yet heard (not putting your new baby in an over the head onesie for the take home outfit if you can find one that you can put over the body).

What I could not connect with and had a problem with was the tone in which she wrote. I was rubbed the wrong way when she told the flippant story about how she got an agent and a book deal as she sat down to dinner or lunch out with a friend. Then I flipped to the back cover of the...more

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Jan 12, 2013 kasifrass rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let me start off by saying that, if you've ever had even a passing notion that natural childbirth might be for you, you should skip this book. It's definitely not for the "crunchy" mama-to-be and that's why I'm rating it one star.

It was recommended that I read the Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by an older friend who had read it during her pregnancy 11 years ago and thought it "comforting" and "rolling on the floor funny." Unfortunately, I found it anything but.

Firstly, the author has no knowl...more

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May 01, 2008 Meredith M. rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read this book a long time ago, but what I remember the most about this book is the author telling you not to exercise because you will likey miscarriage like she did. I liked the frankness of this book, but I felt like it had a lot of misinformation and most of the things she was saying were really not in the best interest of the mother. It might be somewhat entertaining, but I wouldn't recommend it as an acutal source of factual pregnancy information.

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The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy

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