The Holy Grail of Pregnancy. (Your Pregnancy Bible - Anne Deans)

Member Name: fergusa

Product:	Your Pregnancy Bible - Anne Deans
Date:	16/07/09 (83 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Helpful and interesting. Well laid out.

Disadvantages: Didn't use the last "Post natal" chapter.

Last year, I was pregnant with my first child (it's his first birthday next week, can't believe it's gone so fast). While pregnant I developed an almost obsessive desire to understand excactly what was happening to me and baby. Generally, I like to understand how things work so I suppose going through such an amazing transformation was always going to be a new fact finding mission. I think most women go through this as they see so much happening to their once "predictable" body.

I was given this book by a friend and I had already bought a different one (which I will review soon). Your Pregnancy Bible is written by Dr Anne Deans who is a consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (and Mum).

It's a hardcover, largeish book of approx 400 pages. It's a good thing it is hardcover with all the use it got from me! The RRP is £22.99. It is split into 5 parts with 16 chapters. So, quite a lot to read!!

The first part is all about how conception takes place with some guidance on the best time/way to conceive and the first signs that you may be pregnant. I was already pregnant when I started reading this book, but I will probably start reading this bit again when we decide we want to start for number 2.

Also in the first section is the best bit of the book. Three fold out sections (1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester) which give you an overview of each week - what to expect, if you should be having any appointments/tests, how baby and you are developing etc...

The second part is the biggest part of the book and covers the pregnancy itself. Eleven chapters discuss things such as Antenatal care, Hazards to avoid in pregnancy, Eating a healthy diet and Keeping fit, Pregnancy for Dads, Getting everything ready for a baby, Choices for labour and the labour itself (no book will ever be able to cover that in enough detail!!!??>>>!!)

Part three is a directory of all sorts of things that can happen during the pregnancy, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes etc. Not really a bit of the book to read from beginning to end (you'll scare yourself unnecesarily) but a reference tool for anything that you particularly want to know about.

Part four is 4 chapters long and covers all things postnatal. The basics of what to expect and do in those first few days after birth to make sure both you and baby are happy and well.

Part five is another reference tool covering lots of post natal areas. For example, common newborn medical problems and post natal depression.

I found this book extremely useful and interesting, it gave me lots of advice and ideas during my pregnancy although I didn't really use the post-natal chapter (who has time to read?)

It is well laid out and is written in an easy to understand way but is not patronising. It dealt with pretty much every query I had while pregnant and was a relief to have at hand at times (why do I keep needing to pee?, are they meant to be leaking? etc...)

Overall, a great buy for a first (or second/third) time mum.

Summary: Very, very useful pregnancy book.