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The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy |  | Author: Vicki Iovine
Publisher: Pocket
List Price: $15.00
Buy Used: $2.00
as of 11/21/2009 23:47 CST details
You Save: $13.00 (87%)
New (41) Used (100) from $2.00
Seller: cejsotelo
Rating:  1094 reviews
Sales Rank: 1226
Media: Paperback
Edition: 2nd ed. Illustrated.
Pages: 288
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 0.9
ISBN: 141652472X
Dewey Decimal Number: 618.2
EAN: 9781416524724
ASIN: 141652472X
Publication Date: January 9, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com Review
Beginning with the "10 Greatest Lies About Pregnancy" (number 10: Lamaze works), and ending with postpartum dementia, Vicki Iovine's Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy has fast become the laywoman's mouthpiece for the American pregnancy experience. Iovine is irreverent, sassy, and incredibly reassuring as she exposes the "truths" of pregnancy and childbirth, from sex to cellulite to cesareans. Iovine birthed four kids in six years, none of them twins, which certainly qualifies her as an expert. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy does reveal Iovine's particular cultural biases (pregnant or not, most of us don't have record-producer husbands, hang out with supermodels, or wear size-four pants) and philosophical beliefs (she's not a particularly strong proponent of natural childbirth or nursing), but, taken with a grain or two of salt, she provides many hilarious moments, acres of advice, and honest reassurance readers will find nowhere else. --Ericka Lutz
Product Description
Your Girlfriends, of course -- at least, the ones who've been through the exhilaration and exhaustion, the agony and ecstasy of pregnancy. Four-time delivery room veteran Vicki Iovine, "the Carrie Bradshaw of pregnancy" (Wall Street Journal), talks to you the way only a best friend can -- in the book that will go the whole nine months for every mother-to-be. Now, in this newly revised and updated edition, get the lowdown on all those little things that are too strange or embarrassing to ask, practical tips, and hilarious takes on everything pregnant.What Really Happens to Your Body -- from morning sickness and gas to eating everything in sight -- and what it's like to go from being a babe to having one. The Many Moods of Pregnancy -- why you're so irritable/distracted/ tired/light-headed (or at least more than usual). Plus, the latest scoop on . . . Staying Stylish -- You may be pregnant, but you can still be the fashionista you've always been (or at least you don't have to look like a walking beach ball) -- wearing the hippest designers and proudly showing off your bump. Pregnancy Is Down to a Science -- from in vitro fertilization to scheduled C-section, the latest technology provides so many options, alternatives, and tests, it can all be downright confusing. . . . and much more! For a reassuring voice or just a few good belly laughs, turn to this straight-talking guide on what to really expect when you're expecting.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 1094
 This book is dated and ridiculous September 24, 2009
Pandme01
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This book is ridiculous. There are a few good one-liners but do you really want to waste your money for a couple funny lines? The author is obsessed about her weight (gasp! She got all the way up to a SIZE 10! The world is ending!) and silly things like pedicures and stretch marks. I don't get why people say this book "tells it like it is." Why, because she mentions gas and morning sickness? Or does everyone "capitulate" to their husbands' sexual demands so that he won't run out and have an affair? What planet is this woman living on? Oh, yeah, Planet Playboy Bunny and her Supermodel Friends! I wouldn't want to be friends with any of these people.
The chapter on exercise is downright false, saying don't exercise because you could a. cause a miscarriage and b. you'll get fat anyway. Oh, and you won't look cute in your leotard. I haven't worn a leotard since I took ballet around age 7. (Oh, but if you have a library copy or a used copy, do enjoy the chapter on maternity for it's unintended hilarity. It's so dated and so awful it's actually entertaining.) Anyway, in my first pregnancy exercise was a HUGE lifesaver, improving my back pain, fatigue, heartburn and general attitude. But according to this dimwit, it has no benefits unless you're doing it to get skinny. Again, Vicki, you're not my "girlfriend". You're a vapid moron.
We won't even get into her scorn about midwives and natural choices in childbirth. According to her, breastfeeding and formula feeding are basically the same thing. She has seriously got to be kidding me. There is absolutely nothing evidence-based at all in her book, just a lot of snarky rambling about stuff most of us wouldn't have even thought about. Oh, and Vicki, I was down to my prepreg weight and looking fabulous by 5 months postpartum and I really don;t notice any particular loss of "vaginal tone". Way to scare first-timers.
Bottom line? If you're going to read this book, know it mostly all [...]
Shallow. Sexist. Insulting. Tripe September 24, 2009
Muffy (Portland, OR, USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
My first impression was that this book needed to get its priorities straight.
It was primarily concerned with your appearance during pregnancy. Every woman worries at least a little about her appearance during pregnancy, but not to the lengths that this book describes. Pedicures were hardly on my short list of worries during pregnancy. Neither was using fake tanner to cover stretch marks.
But the big problem with pregnancy, according to the author, is the fact that your pregnant belly will inevitably grow. The book mentions one thousand times, in many different cutesy ways, that you will get fat and this is supposedly the worst thing possible. Ever! But no worries, this book has the solution: weigh yourself backwards at the doctor's office and tell them not to tell you your weight. If they lecture you on your body issues, then instead of considering that they may have a point, just make up a ridiculous lie to get them off your back and carry on with your hatred of your own pregnant self.
It also covers the emotional side of pregnancy, and in doing so it touches upon quite possibly every single sexist generalization out there and makes up some new ones along the way. Women are hysterical, screechy creatures at the mercy of their hormones. They get utterly confused about simple things while they're pregnant. They walk around in a sort of haze, fall asleep at work, weep uncontrollably at the drop of a hat during meetings, and sometimes become violently enraged with their husbands for no reason. It's not their fault: it's the hormones! How can they ever be expected to control themselves?
By this point in the book, I was only on Chapter 4, and I decided to put it down. Whatever offensive stereotypes the rest of the book contains, I am much better off not having read them, thanks.
"Guide" is a misnomer! September 22, 2009
A. Patel (New York, NY)
I just finished this book. I did not pick it up to glean knowledge, but as a fun read about pregnancy. But sorry, I didn't have much fun.
I scanned through a few other reviews and the opinion is divided on Vicki Iovine's wisdom. Clearly, there are enough people who think like her and have given her rave reviews. Perhaps this book serves them well.
For me, this book wasn't very entertaining (note how I'm not even touching upon "informative" - thankfully, I didn't expect that from this book in any case) because I live in a very different world from the likes of Vicki Iovine.
My real girlfriends are smart, mature, fun-loving yet sensible career women who would not only have a different set of opinions and advice, but also not be audacious enough to claim their experiences to be the "ultimate" guide. Just the fact that the author says that she got the contract for the book when having lunch with someone to whom she was describing her sex dream shows how easy things are for her. It was no biggie to get a writing contract, after which all she needed to do was sit down and type out some pages of her opinion.
This book aims to be sort of like "Sex and the City" - where it's fun to watch and at some level you can still relate with the characters even when you don't have their lifestyles, however, it fails miserably. I find it impossible to relate to Vicki or any of her girlfriends at most levels!
Good for those who enjoyed the book. I'm definitely not in that clique.
incredible but a bit off September 9, 2009
Andy Lane (Nevada USA)
I read this book during my first pregnancy and loved it. I learned a lot about being pregnant that I couldn't learn from What to Expect books, etc. It talks about real stuff that you go through when you're pregnant, and in a fun way. I give a copy to every friend I have that gets pregnant. I only gave it four stars though because I had three minor issues with it. 1-it's out of date. This is only really an issue during the clothing chapter though-maternity clothes are super cute these days. 2-You are NOT pregnant for 10 months, as she likes to tell you in almost every chapter. Doctors start counting your pregnancy at the first week of your last period and THEN they come up with 40 weeks. It's a tool for them, you're obviously not pregnant yet when you're on your period. 3-The author claims that using breathing techniques during labor are totally useless and that's not true either. They were the ONLY thing that got me through labor, I couldn't have done it without them. Of course the author makes it clear that only a fool doesn't get an epidural so I guess she wouldn't know that. I wasn't offended by her epidural soap box, lots of people think that way, I just wanted to make it clear to those who plan to deliver without one-the breathing techniques are essential and work wonders!
What to expect if you have no self esteem and view pregnancy as a burden August 30, 2009
Marian (USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
After reading this book as a newly-pregnant woman, I decided that I would view my pregnancy and body in the exact opposite terms of this author. So far, so good. The ten point list on the inner cover tells you everything you need to know. The idea is that pregnancy is painful, disgusting, depressing, fattening, sex-ruining, and uglifying both during and after. And that about covers the whole message of the book. One of the only blessings she says you have to glean is "a visit from the titty fairy". How crass! My boyfriend still jokingly says that to me now! If you are a thinking woman, do what I did and stay away from this book, and keep having sex and feeling beautiful. Don't take the lowest common denominator route and pay attention to drivel like this.
PS, I'm still pg, but I read another review in which the reviewer also ignored the book and has an awesome, fit body after pregnancy!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 1094
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