How useful did you find "What to expect when your expecting"?

Question

I actually had better pregnancy books that showed wonderful pictures and were a little more detailed.....I also bought "What to expect the first year" and that has proved to be somewhat helpful...so what do you ladies think....what to expect when your expecting-is it over rated?

Answer 1

I read "What to Expect When Your Expecting", mostly just to read the questions that other mother's had sent in. I found it interesting, and put my mind at ease at times when I was stressing.....

However, when I got to "What To Expect the First Year" I didn't like the "advice" it gave. Such as using the CIO method and putting baby on a strict routine. Unfortunately I followed the routine advice, but as soon as I saw that it wasn't working, I quit.

"What to Expect during the Toddler Years" is even worse. I am currently reading it each month, mostly because I spent 20 bucks on the d**n thing. For my daughter's 20 month, it said I should no longer kiss my daughter on the mouth because it's inappropriate....um, okay. I will kiss my daughter on the lips until she no longer wants me too.

Next time around I will spend my money on something a little better written, and with better advice/information.

Answer 2

I didn't really find it that helpful, i may have picked it up 2 or 3 times, out of boredom. I never got the other book once my son was born.

Answer 3

Waaaaaay over-rated. There are much better books out there.

Answer 4

i loved it. obsessed. I read it the first go round and am reading it again. I have when expecting, the first year, and the toddler years and they have been lifesavers many times. I would suggest that any pregnant woman read them. My family always asked me "is that what your BOOK told you to do?" I love it.  

Answer 5

I don't like this book. HUGELY overrated. The Q & A format bothers me. There's so much stuff that's just NOT covered in this series. When i was pregnant I loved "I'm Pregnant: A Week by Week Guide" -- it has such detailed information and amazing photos.  

Every once in awhile I refer to the "What to expect: the first year" book, but it usually doesn't even address whatever topic/issue is on my mind.  

Answer 6

The part I liked the most about it was the beginning of each month...it said the symptoms and how big approximately the baby was. I think I read all the questions but if they didn't interest me I didn't read it all. It was only an ok book. Someone gave us their copy of What to Expect the First Year. Briefly glanced at it but I think my husband and I are handling things just fine.

Answer 7

i loved it. it was my bible when i was pregnant with my second and third kid. my best friend even read it when she was pregnant its all worn out. we even took it to the hospital

Answer 8

It's research-free garbage. Wholly unscientific, wholly patronizing.

Answer 9

definitely  overrated. i didn't like the set up of the book, meaning it was set up as questions.  i found other books much more helpful.

i have a 19 month old son and haven't really looked at the 1st years book since he was 13 months.

Answer 10

I thought the male version of this book was very helpful, but it did NOT prepare me for everything!

But thank God I am a fast learner!

Answer 11

I think that it's a great basic book but I did find much more detailed books. What to Expect is a good book because it's pretty easy to get a copy . It's sort of the " go to " book. But for more knowledge hungry women ( like myself), I read a ton of books that gave more detail. It's a great " catch all" book. I really think that " WHat to Expect the first year" is a great book, though.  

Answer 12

I found it useful, but I found other books that were better. I really loved Jenny McCarthy's books...not so educational, but very entertaining to read and very relatable. What to expect in the first year has been somewhat helpful, but I've found more updated information online.

Answer 13

I didn't find it useful much at all because I was pregnant with twins and a lot of what you can expect when you're expecting one baby isn't really what you can expect when you're expecting TWO babies.

I liked: "Your pregnancy week-by-week" but the best one for me was a book simply titled:

"TWINS!"