Are you expecting... mystery, sensuality, wonder, and delight? If you are pregnant, you should be! Pregnancy isn't all about nausea and medical tests; it's also a time of excitement, anticipation, and above all, joy. You don t need to adopt a strict diet, adhere to a demanding exercise regimen, or spend your time worrying about planning the perfect birth. Rather, you can trust your instincts and your body to guide you through the amazing, magical process of pregnancy and childbirth. That's the wise, expert counsel of Tori Kropp, perinatal nurse and founder of both a popular childbirth-education program and a website for new parents. In The Joy of Pregnancy, Tori tells you what you need to know how the baby is developing, how your body is changing, and how to prepare for the birth and baby without overwhelming you. She has organized the book month by month, so you can learn at your leisure as you progress through pregnancy. Also included are Q&As, fun facts, and sections just for Dad. With Tori's help, both of you can enjoy and celebrate this very special season of your lives.

A different kind of gift... (5.0)

I gave this book as a gift to my step-brother's girlfriend when she announced her pregnancy. Both of them have commented that the book was exactly what they were looking for- a positive view of this unexpected surprise! The book was informative without being frightening and joyful without being unrealistic. A delightful book!

Wish I had this book when I had my babies! (5.0)

Although I had my babies over 12 years ago, I loved looking through this book and wish it was around back then. Tori writes the book so that you feel that you are getting realistic, helpful advice that you can really use. I love to give this to new moms and second time moms alike. It is so much more relevant to today's moms than those other outdated books that make you feel guilty for eating a bagel. Well done Tori!

all it says, I love (4.0)

I got this book for my first pregnancy and loved all it has to say. Nothing scary, no unnecessary gory details about what 'might happen,' just encouragement to help you enjoy your pregnancy.

Unfortunately, my pregnancy ended early in a first trimester (9 weeks) miscarriage. When it began, I didn't feel that the book was there for me anymore. The section on miscarriage focused more on how to cope emotionally than on explaining what was going on.

Regardless, I plan to use this book (and no other) for my next pregnancy. I like the calm, reassuring tone that's neither frightening nor silly. I don't want to spend each moment of my next pregnancy worrying about what might go wrong, so I certainly don't need a book that spends a lot of time giving me reason to fret about it.

Overall, I recommend this book - not just as a book to go alongside your pregnancy, but as the one and only book. Anything else, you can get from an emailed week-by-week newsletter from someone like babycenter.com or the American Pregnancy Association.

Pregnancy Book (4.0)

This item shipped quickly and was a pretty good read. It did have some information not included in some of the more popular pregnancy books and was an easy read.

Surprising! (4.0)

Tori Kropp, The Joy of Pregnancy (Harvard Common, 2008)

When a rep from Harvard Common contacted me about reviewing The Joy of Pregnancy, I was initially ambivalent. After all, I don't really have the right plumbing, so to speak. Still, the rep seemed confident that I'd be able to review it, and sent me a copy along anyway. Well, it turns out he was right; I may never actually get pregnant, but I still found the book a very enjoyable guide to the experience, whether I can do it or not.

The Joy of Pregnancy is a fun and witty, if slightly repetitive, month-by-month guide to bodily (and emotional) changes that come with being in the family way. The book is written in an easy-to-read style, with Kropp offering up a plethora of options for all the choices moms-to-be-will face. (Take note that while in most cases she seems to be trying to be as neutral as possible in presenting choices, she doesn't always succeed; for example, while she's not one of the anti-formula wackos, at least not on the surface, she does rather consistently stress the idea that formula is second-best. As long as you're cognizant of the bias, you can take it into account while reading.) There's also a quick section at the end of each chapter for prospective dads (this is where the repetition comes into play), so the whole family can get involved. Quite enjoyable, this. ****