RE: New Version of
I enjoy the "What to Expect" books myself (except for the part about the Best Odds Diet, very unrealistic). I thought they had a lot of good information in a good format. I, personally, didn't find them to be "fear based" and was somewhat surprised when I started reading pregnancy bulletin boards and heard them described that way. Oh well, to each his/her own. :-) I also greatly enjoyed the Girlfriend Guides and thought it was an invaluable companion to the other month by month guides to give you really gritty hands on advice. I also bought the Sears book after reading glowing reviews of it on the pregnancy bulletin boards, but it never really grabbed me. The 2 I kept going back to again and again were What to Expect and Girlfriend.
I ended up with an unexpected C section (water broke 3 weeks early, no contractions even after 12 hours of Pitocin, baby never dropped, after 24 hours had section). I hadn't packed my bag yet (I know, I know) so we pulled out WTE to pack for the hopsital at 2 am after my water broke! :-) I also had it with me in the hospital and my husband and I referred to it throughout labor, delivery & postpartum hospital stay for info.
My $.02,
Beth, mom to older DD (8/01) and younger DD (10/06) and always missing Leah (4/22 - 5/1/05)