Fearless Pregnancy: Wisdom and Reassurance from a Doctor, Midwife, and a Mom

When it comes to my wife and her health, the words "neurotic" and "obsessive" come to mind. She gets on WebMD every time she has so much as a sniffle, and has convinced herself that she has everything from cancer to SARS to a brain tumor. My wife and I found out we were pregnant for the first time just a few days ago. So, as soon as we were prepared to deal with it, we headed to the bookstore and found this title. Within the first three chapters, the authors had addressed fears ranging from the biggest general health issues, to the tests which are available and why you may or may not want them (answering the question for her, "I'm 34 years old, why won't they give me an amniocentesis?"), to how to tell a close friend who has been trying (hard) to get pregnant for some time that this "just sorta happened" for us. It's like the authors were inside her head. Every parent should be fully aware of the risks involved in pregnancy. Bad things do happen, and we all know someone (or know someone who knows someone) to whom the worst possible things have happened. But many of us need the encouragement of someone authoritative who can remind us that these things are rare exceptions, and that there are some things you can control and some things you can't. "Instead of obsessing about your pregnancy," the authors remind us, "consider obsessing over parenting. That situation lasts longer, and the payoff for being prepared will likely be greater." Many of the critics of this book seem to be response to the premise of the title. Of course there is no such thing as a "fearless pregnancy" -- if one were to read as far as the first page of the book, one would find that the authors agree: "The key is that the fear must be valid, and it must be used properly -- to inquire, explore, and act wisely." By no means do I believe that this book is intended to be a comprehensive reference. Perhaps the book's subtitle more accurately reflects its content: "Wisdom and Reassurance From a Doctor, a Midwife and a Mom." It's perfect for us because this is our first pregnancy, and it will not be the only pregnancy book on our shelves. It is true that this book does not address the devastating realities for those families who have experienced loss or complication (but by no means does it attempt to diminish or dismiss these experiences, either). If you have previously experienced a difficult pregnancy or loss, this book will most likely not address your fears about getting pregnant again. Nonetheless, for anyone simply trying to get a grip on what can be one of the scariest things to happen to you for the first time, we highly recommend this book.

This is my favorite pregnancy book that I've read so far--and I've read quite a few. So many of the other books frightened me with all the things that could go wrong, even though those things are very rare. There's so much fear-mongering in the media these days, and with other pregnancy books, that this book was a delight and a comfort! Thanks to the authors for a great, comforting pregnancy companion.

I found that this book was very helpful and it truly let you relax in the stages of pregnancy. In some of the reviews below the women obviously did not read the same book as I did. I felt that their reviews were ignorant based on the info. that was in the book. This is a book to help calm all new parents nerves and to let you know that some fears are ok and others aren't worth worrying about. This book was not written to discuss how to deal with the loss of a child during pregnancy or shortly after. If you want or need that type of information buy a different book. A great read and I would buy it for any of my friends that are expecting. A+

This book is an excellent addition to the list of titles currently available on pregnancy. It provides a much-needed balance to the view of pregnancy as a medical condition, and instead espouses the view that pregnancy is a time of health and normalcy. The book mainly focuses on the many fears that pregnant women, especially first-time mothers, have about what may be dangerous for their unborn babies. The overall message is, there is little you can do to harm a developing fetus so realx and enjoy your pregnancy. The book is well-organized and easy to read. The majority of the book is written in a colloquial style, with many non-scientific anecdotes from the primary author's own experiences and those of her friends and family. Interspersed throughout the book are sections written by the physician and midwife co-authors which provide more clinical and scientific information. Though the book does address some concerns that reflect its Southern California birthplace ("I'm worried I'll be a fashion 'don't'" "Can I use Botox in pregnancy?") it also addresses concerns that nearly all pregnant women have ("Can I have sex while I'm pregnant?"; "Did the drink I had before I knew I was pregnant harm my baby?"). The book will be most useful to women pregnant with their first babies, but even the most seasoned mother could probably find some useful new information in this book. -Carolyn Havens Niemann, MSN, CNM

Fearless Pregnancy is such a great source of positive reassuring sound advice. This was a very easy read. it takes out the mystery out of pregnancy and going to the Ob's office. Finally a book that calls pregnancy by it's name...a natural process..It lacked the "fear" factor and provided many options. I loved the summaries at the end of each chapter - so I can get to the point whenever I just wanted to review a topic. I wish I read this book before I was pregnant with my son. This book helped me get over the lingering guilt I had about my lifestyle before I foundout I was pregnant (sushi and sake dinners galore, coloring my hair and nails...). It even had fashion and vanity advice...something every pregnant woman thinks about (alot). This book is somewhere between a medical journal and the girlfriend's guide (Only better). I finished this book in a couple of days (which is fast for a busy working mom) and felt like I gained so much wisdom and positivity.