Stop Lecturing, Stoppard! (The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth - Dr Miriam Stoppard)

Member Name: elbar1

Product:	The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth - Dr Miriam Stoppard
Date:	18/08/08 (50 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good fertility section

Disadvantages: Very patronising

I was leant this book by a friend of mine when I first started trying for a baby. It was great in the early days, as it was my only pregnancy book and it was all new and exciting. I knew nothing and wanted to read everything. Back then, I thought that it was quite a good book. Now I have changed my mind and it is one of many pregnancy books in the bedroom. I haven't dipped into it for weeks. It just isn't up to the standards of the others I have.

POSITIVES
It covers most things that you will need to know and the earlier sections on pre-pregnancy are good. Often this is neglected by books that assume the reader is already pregnancy when buying it. However, there are a lot of us around who get so excited at the thought of having a baby that we want to read about it before it has actually happened. This book is good from that point of view.

The fertility section is pretty comprehensive. Though it convinced me I couldn't have children before we had even started trying! But if you are genuinely having problems conceiving, this will cover the main areas and offer advice and guidance.

NEGATIVES
VERY out of date. The advice that a pregnant woman should invest is stretch leggings and a baggy t-shirt for "both style and comfort throughout pregnancy" was a little scary!

I know Miriam Stoppard has brought out books since this one was published but reading The Complete Guide to Pregnancy and Birth has put me off buying any of her other titles. I find her tone patronising. There are too many rights and wrongs listed, where women should be encouraged to do what is best for them and their baby. After all, if a pregnant woman is reading a pregnancy book, she obviously wants to do the best for her baby. She doesn't need a lecture to scare her into doing what Stoppard thinks is best.

OVERALL
Pretty good for pre-pregnancy but as soon as you know you are pregnant, invest in something less patronising and more modern.

Summary: Not a great book. I would avoid.