Reviews by Real Pregnant Women
“The first thing an expectant mother (or anyone else, really) should know about Frankly Pregnant, is that it is so funny and engaging one might be tempted to sit down and read it all at once, which is exactly what I did. This is not something I can say about the informative, but dry, clinical, and sometimes folksy alternatives I have sitting on my baby shelf.
Frankly Pregnant answered many of the questions that I had, and many I had not even considered, and did so without shying away from the painful, gross, and sometimes bizarre reality of pregnancy. Exactly what you would expect from a good friend. As wonderful as pregnancy is, I am not one of those "mother earthy" types and will willingly admit to moments painful, gross, and bizarre. Frankly Pregnant lets you know that not only is this okay, but totally normal. It's those women floating through pregnancy in floral prints and consistently glowing features that are weird.”
-Maya
“My full intention was to read only to my point of pregnancy (15 weeks). On the first page of the actual story Stacy used a word that I am constantly teased for- Egads! I knew right there that I was going to love the book. Needless to say, I was well into the 29th week before I even started dinner. Stacy’s wit and humor match my own in so many ways. The book just reads so easily. And even though it is a story of the pregnancy gore, I just could not tear myself away. Unfortunately I had to get sleep for work, so I had to put it down. I did completely finish by Friday night. Beautiful job on Stacy’s part!!!
Stacy answered quite a number of questions that were plaguing me. It's nice to know that a lot of the pains and nightmares are normal. I have told every woman I know that they should read this book, be they pregnant or not. I told my husband that it will help him fully understand.”
-Wanda
"The first thing I thought when I started reading this book was, 'MY GOD! I've never read anything written by anyone that reminded me so much of myself! Damn it, Gerah. Why didn't YOU think of this!?'
This book reads like a weekly journal by the author about her personal pregnancy experiences, interjected with factual stuff by a Dr. Miriam Greene, who happens to be MIRANDA'S DR. GREENE FROM SEX AND THE CITY. Dr. Greene on the show, Dr. Greene in real life. Cooooool.
What I love most about this book, is that the author tells the good, the bad, and the ugly. She doesn't hide the gross stuff - she talks about hemorrhoids, referring to them as 'Cauliflower Butt.' She discusses her fear of being spread eagle in the delivery room with un-manicured pubic hair.
Again, she reminds me so much of myself. Ahhhh.
When reading the book, I felt like I was having a conversation with a girlfriend. Usually, for me, this kind of candid 'crotch talk' only happens when I'm alone with a friend or two who is either pregnant or who has been through the pregnancy/childbirth experience. Throughout the book, Stacy Quarty mentions many of her friends' experiences with pregnancy, which again, gives the book this 'girl talk' vibe. I've read, re-read, and read again books like What To Expect When You're Expecting - which are nice and all - but seem to read more like manuals or reference guides to pregnancy than a real-life account of it.
I feel pretty confident to say that people who enjoy reading my blog would enjoy Frankly Pregnant. Because she organized the book into weekly chapters, I thought it was fun to be pregnant while reading the book each corresponding week at a time and giggle about all the stuff Stacy Quarty experiences and compare/relate it to my own experiences.
Frankly Pregnant would make a great gift for a friend who just found out she's expecting. Although, it'd have to be the right kind of friend. This book ain't for prissy girls who act like every bit of being pregnant is bliss and perfection. (Sorry, princesses. You must be able to admit you fart before you should read this book.)
So, if you're a gal who wants the REAL SCOOP on pregnancy, this book is for you. If you're pregnant, or considering becoming pregnant, and not sure what you're in for, go ahead and read this book along with What To Expect. It'll be like having a wise, matter-of-fact, experienced buddy giving you the lowdown on what to REALLY expect when you're expecting.
After my daughter was born, I glanced around the room and was horrified at the amount of blood everywhere. It looked like a chicken had been massacred in there. I ready fifty pregnancy books before giving birth, and NONE of them mentioned anything about a delivery room being covered in bloody spew. I was horrified. Shocked. Disgusted!
If only I had known Stacy Quarty. SHE would have prepared me."
-Gerah
Blog: Baby Poop and Business Suits
"I love your book!! When I had my daughter I was running around making sure to tell everyone who I could make listen to me ALL the gory details... There was so much nobody had told me and I felt it my duty to spread the word. So kudos to you for seeing the need and writing a hilarious and needed book!"
-Sarah
Blog: Sad and Beautiful World
“But this book? This book is great. I really wish I would have had it while I was pregnant with the little lady because I think I would have been a little less obsessive (now that I’m on my second pregancy, I am less freaky naturally). My only resource then was the What to Expect When You’re Expecting book — you know the one with the lady in the rocking chair that looks nothing like any mother you have seen since Little House on the Prairie. I was so worried I was not on the “Best Odds” diet (what a name — can you imagine that simply following this diet gives your child the “best odds?” Best Odds for what? Becoming a Rock Star??) or that I couldn’t color my hair or I was gaining too much weight or I had a blood clot or preeclampsia or you name it.
I love this book because it gives a week-by-week overview of Stacy’s second pregnancy (including birth and postpartum where the term “baby slavery” is coined!) and she talks about her symptoms and feelings in great detail — with no candy coating. It is supplemented with medical advice by Dr. Miriam Greene which helps you understand when many of the normal things going on with a pregnant body may become abnormal. It is like talking with your sister or best friend. Symptoms that are too weird to talk about with anyone else — hello… cheeseburger crotch? — are all fair game here. It instantly put my mind at ease because I had forgotten about some of the wackier symptoms like the silvery stars that you see when you get up from leaning over too quickly, the stabbing vaginal pains that feel like you may have been riding your old ten speed bike for a week or so, and the ever famous feeling that you have wet yourself.
My favorite part, though, is the section of questions and answers in the back of the book covering topics like belly issues, body odors, diet and exercise, harmful to the fetus?, pregnancy symptoms and concerns, sex, orgasms, and masturbation, vagina issues, and miscellaneous things such as fighting with your spouse and dealing with stressed out pregant women. The questions are great and the answers are better — they are reassuring, funny, and backed up with medical advice. Think of these questions as all the things you would ask your best friend if she were an obstetrician.
So, if you are pregnant, planning on becoming pregnant, or have an important woman in your life who is pregnant, buy this book!”
-Kristen
Blog: Imperfect Mommy
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