The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy: Fresh and Practical Advice for Navigating the Next Nine Months

by Erika Lenkert

An upbeat and up-to-date resource furnishes essential information and practical advice for pregnant women in the twenty-first century, answering frequently asked questions about health, fetal development, safety issues, diet, and more, all based on the latest medical research and highlighted by fact boxes, more than one hundred full-color illustrations, and personal anecdotes. 40,000 first printing.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 2008

Reviews

[Angelyn Vaughan · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you're more interested in what common or popular rather than what's recommended, this is the book for you.
Pros: well-organized, easy to read, occasional interesting facts and trends, and a more laid-back and girly-girl perspective than most pregnancy books. If you like reading about other people's very personal experiences (mostly the author's), you'll probably enjoy this.
Cons: practically no info about the baby's development, occasional redundancy and cutesy phrasing, no expert input aside from some guidance on the medication section, a general attitude of "do whatever you feel like" - in which case, why would I read a book?
This lady was an editor for InStyle before she wrote the book. For that reason, it shines in the frilly and fun stuff. And certain sections that she apparently had more interest or experience in have way more information than others. For instance, she's very pro exercise and strongly encourages it, although points out that some moms forgo extra activity altogether. But the nutrition section is a total joke. As a Registered Dietitian, I have no clue where some of her very general recommendations came from, but she missed an opportunity to give practical, non-overwhelming advice had she consulted a professional. She admits that she far exceeded weight gain recommendations, which she sees as pointless, and enjoyed wine and sushi while pregnant. I get that she's trying to win laid-back points, but pregnant women don't need to be encouraged to indulge in things they know could be harmful to them. And most women reading her book aren't as fit as she was to begin with.
I won't even get started on the self-gratifying pity parties, husband abuse, and impulse spending that she endorses any time hormones get the best of you.
All in all, it's a fun read, but maybe more silly than helpful.

[Jackie O · Rating 2 out of 5]

First of all, I AM NOT PREGNANT! I can read a pregnancy book without being pregnant...I just find it interesting.

The book was fun to read, but I wanted to hear more about the actual development of the kid rather than all the cutesy things that go along with it (maternity wear, pampering yourself, etc.).

I also asked my mom questions while reading it, and she usually replied with: "...I don't think that ever happened to me." And trust me, there were quite a few questions I asked. The author made it sound like her experiences will happen to everyone, but obviously that is not the case.

[la · Rating 4 out of 5]

listen - not everyone has siblings who are good resources for uncomfortable questions. not everyone wants to talk to their friends about anal sex. not every woman wants to cop to not following every single "pregnancy rule" and thus risk being shamed by The Perfect Moms. so, this book exists for those folks.

this is a great book to help ground pregnant women and also to amuse them. the reality is that women have done this since the dawn of humanity, and you'll be ok, and you're not a bad person or a bad mom if you don't do it all perfectly (whatever that means), or have questions that might raise an eyebrow.

if you're a woman, its ok to continue to care about yourself while gestating another human. this book is a reminder of that.

[Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give The Real Deal Guide to Pregnancy a solid "meh." It was full of anecdotal advice and stories, which can be reassuring and even entertaining, but it wasn't very full of actual factual advice. I read both this one and the classic What to Expect to When You're Expecting, and found the combo to be good. This book is definitely much lighter, and more concerned with what's happening to the mother-to-be's body; What to Expect... is much more dry and more concerned with the health of the mom and unborn child together.

There were a few pages in here that I totally laughed out loud at. There were a few pages that scared me a little. It did feel very much like talking to a girlfriend rather than talking to a doctor.

Erika Lenkert peppers the text with stories from her own pregnancies, as well as having done the legwork to collect extensive survey answers from hundreds of other moms. I did like that. I also liked how the book "gave permission" to me to feel a little lousy, or tired, or bleh. I'm working full time, and I do hold it all together at work (only one sick day, despite "morning" (all day) sickness the whole first trimester!) but sometimes I don't feel it on the inside. So I did appreciate Lenkert's tips for relieving aches, and suggestions on how to perk yourself up.

I wouldn't say this is "required reading" for pregnant women, but I would say that it's a pretty good lighthearted companion to the heavier reading.

[Kristen McBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatable conversation style. No scare tactics. A lot of information but sometimes overwhelming, which is probably unavoidable for a first-time mom book.

[Kim Z · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good information, advice, and anecdotes in a fun, easy-to-read package. The author shares her own experiences as well as those of women she surveyed, which allows the book to give a broad view of the various pregnancy experiences women have. The book also contained a lot of lists, which (since I borrowed the book from the library) I copied onto index cards for use later (i.e. key items for the hospital bag, key items for the nursery, overrated items for the nursery, etc.)

Plus, this book introduced me to the Snoogle pillow, which is awesome!

[Adrienne Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

The bright pink cover should have warned me. Unnatural colors are often nature's sign for poisons.

This book was almost- but not quite- laughably bad. If it were a bit more overt in its (unintentional) insults it might have won me over. Parody chapter titles could include "Pretty Yourself Up- It'll Make You (and Presumably everyone else) Happier."

When this book seriously suggested "retail therapy" for the pregnancy blues, I could go no further.

Dreadful. I may have to smuggle this book into the library sale and abandon it. I don't really want anyone assuming I purchased it.

[Shana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Now that I'm five months more pregnant than I was when I read this book I see what purpose it served. It was like a cliff notes, getting me ready for the real, meaningful reading that was to come. This book was helpful in that way, but it is focused on a style of birth that is more conventional than I prefer. I'm more of a do-it-yourself-er when it comes to matters of health and this book puts a little to much power into the hands of the medical model of care for pregnancy and labor than I like.

[Laila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Early on in my pregnancy, I really relied on this book, as it had a lot of good anecdotal info from real moms about morning sickness, exercise, and freaky symptoms. I have come to seek other books as my pregnancy has progressed, but this is a good resource to check out of the library or find used when you first learn you're pregnant and need some reassurance that you're normal. There is a lot of time spent on beauty and clothing, though, so if you're not really a diva-ish sort of mom-to-be, just skip those chapters.

[Chanae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an okay book. Nothing really "new" that I haven't already read before. The #1 reason I got the book to read, and the only thing that really stuck out to me as being different from all the other pregnancy books out there was what the book called - "The Mommy Menagerie".
Scattered throughout the book the Mommy Menagerie included different polls and quotes from other women on their experiences being pregnant. That's basically what I was looking for in this book - to get real experiences - not just another book written by doctors.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book. It was suppose to be a real life view of being preganant with practical applications. I learned a lot reading the book and appreciated the parts from real moms and the doctor imputs. The lists at the back of the book were great about what you needed for the baby and what to take to the hospital. I would recommend this book.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Upbeat, refreshing and very easy read. This is not a replacement for the encyclopedia-like books on pregnancy, but is a great read while pregnant anyway. When you feel bad about not choking down your 18 servings of fruits and veggies a day, this book will give you comfort. My only complaint is that the font is ridiculously small and hard to read. Otherwise very recommended.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my first pregnancy book, and possibly my last, I enjoyed this different approach to conveying knowledge about pregnancy. We sifted through many "froo-froo" books at Barnes and Noble before coming across this one. It's a just the facts, no-frills guide to what to expect.

[Tonya Jenusaitis]

Very witty and cute with good ideas. Great first time mom book.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fun book on pregnancy by women!
I enjoyed it immensely and would recommend it to anyone!

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the way this book is written! All the advice you would get from an honest girlfriend, without needing to call! Hysterical, honest, TRUE!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved this book - lots of checklists and personal antidotes

[Ashley Cadaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous - simple, easy to read, and so helpful!

[Brittany Dalomba · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very funny fun read when you are preg.

[Claudette · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was OK, a bit of informative information. But the book was based for US readers. I learnt some things that other baby books didn't have.

[Kim McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun approach to a pregnancy guide if you want something a little lighter than a thick medical textbook. I liked the author's real-life advice and humor.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun read. Lots of useful tips. Upbeat. calmed a lot of my concerns about being pregnant.

[Suzanne]

Helpful and often hilarious guide.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far one of the best books I've read on pregnancy. Covers all the basics with style.