Your Pregnancy Week by Week: What to Expect from Conception to Birth

I looked at other books, e.g. What to Expect, but I'm so glad I spent the extra couple of quid on this. Lesley Regan is one of the foremost experts on pregnancy and childbirth in the UK, but she's also a mum. Her advice is sound, sensible, balanced and expert. It really helps to have a British book - looking at What to Expect it seemed to say the staggeringly obvious and the same time does not prepare you for the British system. Don't expect to have something new to read every week, but then there isn't really a lot to say in the second trimester other than 'your baby is getting bigger and so are you'. I'm looking at all kinds of week-by-week stuff on the internet and not only are they unreliable (the size of my baby varies widely from one to another, sometimes within the same site), but they struggle for things to say after a certain point and I've got bored with them in the end. I saw a senior house officer (i.e. qualified for about 2 years) at my hospital who seemed to know less than I did and was very sceptical that I had a stuffy nose due to the pregnancy (Regan gives a scientific explanation of this). To be fair to the girl, you have to train somehow and in 10 years time she'll know better, but I wish she'd read this book.

In a perfect condition. Big book with illustrations. A lot of information.

A friend let me borrow this book from her when I was pregnant with my first child. It sure was a lot of reading, given the shock of the tiredness the first time around, so I found myself skipping to the bits that I was most interested in and going from there. Both my husband and I like to understand not just 'this hormone does that', but 'why and how this hormone does that' - and this book was perfect for answering such questions in far more detail than any other I have read. As an example, when it came to making choices about what sort of pain relief I might be interested in this book provided all the information I needed to make confident decisions on the spot. I would not suggest this is a replacement to antenatal classes - there is no replacement for talking to someone about such a big event in one's life! But I found it very good reading for the finer details that no one else seems to tell you, and also for some background information such that when the midwife starts talking to you, you understand the terms she is using and why certain things happen as a certain time in a certain way... I would highly recommend this book.

this book has been really helpful during my wife's pregnancy the language used is simple and it avoids too much jargon, while also explaining terms you will hear from midwives etc throughout your visits. not quite "week by week" but more "month by month" as the chapters are set out that way, but it gives more to read in each sitting that way. would definitely recommend to first-time parents as a guide of what to expect and when

Unlike other pregnancy books I've read, this is very well organised into clear sections. The advice is practical, down to earth, sympathetic and not patronising. I'm someone who wants to know the reason behind things, so I like all the medical explanations that are included. And I like the fact that more serious complications are at the back of the book so you can avoid reading about them if you choose. The author understands how the NHS works and so this book is a good guide to what will actually happen - unlike some other books, which were written in America and then adapted for the UK, often incorrectly. There are only two areas where this book could be better. The heading - 'week by week' - is misleading. Some pregnancy books do tell you what's happening with your baby and your body on a week-by-week basis, and this isn't one of them. It lumps several weeks together at a time. Also, I didn't agree with the advice on maternity clothing....wear your boyfriend's clothes?? I don't think so! These two things aside, it's a very sensible book that I've found very useful and reassuring.

This is a wonderful book in every way. If you are getting just one book on pregnancy, this is the one you need because it covers everything you can imagine in a scientific, yet easy to understand way. After reading some truly awful books written from a vegetarian perspective (I'm a vegetarian) that made me feel like my IQ is deteriorating, I needed something that is simply factual. This book is unbiased and reliable and tailored for UK women, even going into details on things like maternity allowance and maternity leave. My husband and I thoroughly enjoy reading it together and browsing through it again and again every week to get more familiar with what's happening to our little bean week by week. It's also invaluable for giving you an insight on what you should ask your doctor and midwife. I can't recommend this book enough.

If you are only going to buy one pregnancy book it has to be this one, it was clear and explained things extremely well and even though it was written by a doctor (a fact i loved) she didn't use too many technical terms. I loved her style of using some of her personal experiences too. I'm a worrier and it was great that she lumped all the problems and things that could go wrong in the same part of the book (near the back!) so when you were reading about the next stage of your pregnancy you didn't have to look at them and then be tempted to read them. I couldn't wait to get to each new stage to see what had happened to my baby. She also had a section on immediately after birth, the tests they do and why and the first few weeks at home. Now my baby is a lively toddler and the pregnancy seems another life time ago. The next of my friends to get pregnant, this book will be my gift to them.

My wife and I are expecting our first child so we bought this title and another (more common) book. I find this one much more factual, informative and with better images. The language used is clear, descriptive but concise. the images are very clear and I think it is definitely the better of the two we bought by far! the structure of the book by Trimesters and months is so clear and easy to follow and provides a great reference point for you when you want to go back and find something. I could not recommend this book more!

This book is very thorough... sometimes a little too much, but it is better to know about the risks at every stage of pregnancy than wading blindly through. Includes things to do and not to do. Includes everything from what to expect during the pregnancy, and even what to expect from friends and family and how to handle them. Top notch stuff, highly recommended!

Good one... Informative.. Very useful for those who are expecting..

My daughter loved this book. She said she learned heaps from it.

As a first time mother I'm nervous about being pregnant. There is so much out there and so many experts telling you what to do or not to do. I would rather make my own decisions after learning all the info there is about pregnancy and what I can expect. This book does that! The Author did a fantastic job of covering all the info you would need and then some! And does it at a neutral standpoint! I love this book and will highly recommend it to any of my friends!

Really good book which helped me through my journey with the pregnancy. Detailed and full of information with interesting pictures and descriptions. Perfect for new mums to be!