What to Expect When You're Expecting
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| What to Expect When You're Expecting | |
| Author | Arlene Eisenberg & Heidi Murkoff |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject(s) | pregnancy |
| Genre(s) | advice (non-fiction) |
| Publisher | Workman Publishing Company |
| Publication date | 1984 |
| Media type | paperback |
| Pages | 351 (1st ed.) 597 (3rd ed.) 616 (4th ed.) |
| ISBN | 0894807692 |
What to Expect When You're Expecting is a pregnancy guide, now in its fourth edition, written by Arlene Eisenberg and Heidi Murkoff and published by Workman Publishing. Originally published in 1984, the book consistently tops the New York Times Best Seller list in the paperback advice category[1] and has been described as "the bible of American pregnancy".[2] As of 2005, over 13 million copies were in print.[2]
Contents |
[edit] Format
The book presents advice in a question-and-answer format. It proceeds chronologically from the time a woman first begins to suspect pregnancy, through each of the nine months (with one chapter devoted to each), and into the postpartum period. The beginning of each chapter succinctly lists normal physical and emotional changes and symptoms a woman may be experiencing, and gives information on what a woman can expect when visiting her doctor or nurse midwife during that month.
Following these chapters is a section on nutrition during pregnancy, called the "Best Odds Diet" in the first two editions. The second and third editions also include information on potential complications of pregnancy.[2]
[edit] Controversy
What to Expect When You're Expecting has been criticized for promoting paranoia and fear among pregnant women for focusing on complications and for its extremely strict dietary guidelines. Murkoff also has no medical training and has been further criticized for stating she asks obstetricians to comment on manuscripts only late in the writing and editing processes.[2] With the first publishing of the book being in 1984, one reason it is considered problematic is due to the many old and unrevised printings in public circulation. Although wording is revised with each new edition to respond to critiques, older copies are passed down by women to their pregnant peers.[2]
[edit] Related titles
A number of follow-up titles have been published, including the following:
- What to Eat When You're Expecting (1986)
- What to Expect: The First Year (1989)
- What to Expect: The Toddler Years (1994)
- What to Expect: Eating Well When You're Expecting (2005; follow-up to What to Eat When You're Expecting)
[edit] References
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