The Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth sets out to offer "the soundest, sanest, wittiest advice you'll ever get" about life as an expectant mum. Covering "the scary parts, the funny parts and your private parts" Australian author Kaz Cooke counts down to motherhood using a week-by-week format, at each stage explaining what's going on to you and baby, exploring common health complaints, suggesting remedies and looking at what will happen at antenatal visits. She also includes a semi-fictitious weekly diary account that provides a friendly and very funny voice to reassure you that you're not alone.

Overall, this format works well, particularly if you're a reader who dips in and out. Not least, it means you can check up on whether you're growing out of your clothes at a normal rate! It's also good to sneak a peak at a couple of weeks in the future and suss out what's in store. Its readable, illustrated layout lends itself to perusal when symptoms are getting you down, not just because it makes you laugh about morning sickness, constant weeing and leaking breasts, but also as it make you realise that actually things could be worse! Having sneaked a peak at week 41 you could be disappointed that the diary birth is eventually by Caesarean. Obviously this prepares you for the worst case scenario but it results in skipping over the protracted labour stages which, for most new mums, makes required reading, not matter how scary they sound.

On the whole this book is funny, frank and perfect to dip in and out of but it's not one you'd really use as a reference guide, particularly if you were genuinely worried about an aspect of your pregnancy. Being the work of one sole author it's obviously a rather subjective view of what is for everyone, a uniquely personal experience. It complements the likes of Miriam Stoppard and Sheila Kitzinger but (despite being much more entertaining) really couldn't begin to replace them. Pregnant women are notorious for reading every book they can get their hands on, and despite The Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth presenting itself as a definitive guide, it's not going to change that habit any time soon.--Shona Campbell

I read this book cover to cover during my first pregnancy 4 years ago, and now that I am in my second pregnancy I'm reading it again. It kept me sane the first time round and I'm hoping for the same result!!!! It's funny how you can pick up the book at any point during your pregnancy and she mentions something in her diary entry that you can really relate to - almost like I had a question I was just starting to mull over in my mind and then here's Kaz with not just the answer but a hilarious account of her's or someone else's experience!!! The only book I actively reccommend to all my pregnant friends!!

I had been given numerous books on pregnancy, all of which I found were quite patronising really, or do this, don't do this etc.

This is NOT like those other books - it is brilliant and funny, and is my week by week bible/bedtime read! Written by a real person talking about real things in a real language that we can understand and relate to.

I'm now here to buy her next book, which I can only imagine will be just as good! The what to do with it/what to expect when it arrives part!

I love the week by week layout of the book, it is easy to read and not full of technical jargon, unlike some books. It is not patronising and I feel is an extremely comprehensive guide to the good, the bad and the ugly parts of pregnancy, without scaring you, it makes you feel normal and not at all out of your depth and is full of great advice.

I absolutely loved this book! It works in 2 parts - there is a weekly diary written by the author so you feel that you have a really good pal right there with you week in, week out - she is very witty and matter of fact about her pregnancy and her tales had me laughing out loud - knowing exactly what she meant. Surrounding the diary is lots of important, useful information covering all aspects of pregnancy - from the mental side of things, the physical side of things and the external stuff that we all have to cope with such as work, relatives etc.

I am so glad I bought this book as I really feel calm about the last week of pregnancy and what's to follow - I had a really good friend with me every step of the way with this book and when I got to the end of her diary I felt a little sad that I had to say goodbye to her.

The book is so user friendly that my husband has read it cover to cover - unprompted. He saw how much I enjoyed it and figured he'd have a go. This can only be a good thing for me, for him and for the baby.

Highly, Highly recommended. You won't want to lend it to anybody once you've finished it!

Why do so many people and authors want to make pregnancy soo very boring and serious!! This book tells it as it is, a laugh and something to be happy about, not label, worry and fret.

I would recommend that all other pregnancy books are burned at the bottom of the garden and this can then become your nine month bible!!