- What to Expect When You're Expecting
Infobox Book
name = What to Expect When You're Expecting
author = Arlene Eisenberg &Heidi Murkoff
country =United States
language = English
subject =pregnancy
genre = advice (non-fiction)
publisher =Workman Publishing Company
pub_date = 1984
media_type = paperback
pages = 351 (1st ed.)
480 (2nd ed.)
597 (3rd ed.)
616 (4th ed.)
isbn = 0894807692, 089480829X"What to Expect When You're Expecting" is a
pregnancy guide, now in its fourth edition, written by Arlene Eisenberg andHeidi Murkoff and published byWorkman Publishing . Originally published in 1984, the book consistently tops the "New York Times" Best Seller list in the paperback advice category [cite news |title=Inside the List |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/27/books/review/27tbr.html?ex=1184558400&en=fcf63c4e393d1ed2&ei=5070 |publisher=The New York Times |last=Donadio |first=Rachel |date=2006-08-27 |accessdate=2007-07-15] and has been described as "the bible of American pregnancy".cite news |title=Expecting Trouble: The Book They Love to Hate |publisher=The New York Times |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/15/fashion/thursdaystyles/15EXPECT.html?ex=1184558400&en=d80f4606b4051ece&ei=5070 |last=Kantor |first=Jodi |date=2005-09-17 |accessdate=2007-07-15] As of 2005, over 13 million copies were in print.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 andsymptom s a woman may be experiencing, and gives information on what a woman can expect when visiting her doctor ornurse 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 .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. 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.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")References
External links
* [http://www.whattoexpect.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/fy036/2001043523.html Table of contents] from theLibrary of Congress
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