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Health Books about pregnancy


What is pregnancy?

Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more embryos or fetuses by female mammals, including humans, inside their bodies. In a pregnancy there can be multiple gestations (for example, in the case of twins, or triplets). Human pregnancy is the most studied of all mammalian pregnancies.

Human pregnancy lasts approximately 40 weeks between the time of the last menstrual cycle and birth (38 weeks from fertilisation). The medical term for a pregnant woman is "genetalian," just as the medical term for the unborn human is an embryo (early weeks) and then "foetus" (until birth). A woman who is pregnant for the first time is known as a primigravida or gravida 1: a woman who has never been pregnant is known as a gravida 0; similarly, the terms para 0, para 1 and so on are used for the number of times a woman has given birth.

In many societies' medical and legal definitions, human pregnancy is arbitrarily divided into three trimester periods, as a means to simplify reference to the different stages of fetal development. The first trimester period carries the highest risk of miscarriage (natural death of embryo or fetus), while during the second trimester the development of the fetus can start to be monitored and diagnosed. The third trimester marks the beginning of viability, which means the fetus can survive if an early natural or induced birth occurs. Because of the possible viability of developed fetus, cultural and legal definitions of life often consider a fetus in the third trimester to be a distinct living person.

See also Pregnancy terms and definitions
(Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth)

Belly Laughs: The Naked Truth About Pregnancy and Childbirth

Jenny McCarthy

Da Capo Press, 2004-05

Price: $18.00

Keywords: Books for Parents, Books, Music More, Entertainment, Health, Mind Body, Humor, Parenting Families, Personal Health, Pregnancy Childbirth, Specialty Stores, Women's Health

Reviews:

candid and hilarious is exactly what pregnancy requires!
i was given this book as a present by a friend who has an 18 month old daughter. she stated to me, "this is what really happens." pregnancy is not full of pretty things, and glowing women, and medical terms and jenny brings this to the forefront. people thinking about having a baby, trying to have a baby (me), or who have already had kids will love this humorous, jovial, and honest look at what pregnancy is truly about. and how refreshing is it that jenny's usual size 6 inflated into 185 pounds during her pregnancy! you want the truth? if you read this book, the truth is a LOT easier to handle!!!
Funny and true
The women who gave this book negative reviews need to lighten up! It's obvious they take it all way too seriously, and face it; pregnancy has many aspects that are unpleasant (to put it mildly) and I only wish I'd had had something half as funny to read when I was pregnant! All I ever heard was how great pregnancy was supposed to be, and how I was creating life and blah blah blah...my experience was closer to Jenny's and quite frankly it's good to take a lighter view of the whole process. I have four children and I love them more than life itself, but let's face it, pregnacy is not pleasant or fun or glorious for ALOT of women and it's good to be able to laugh about it for a change!

My advice, read this book for a good laugh, but for real information get What to expect when you're expecting, or something a little more informational....
Not what I had hoped for...
First, let me say that I am a big Jenny fan... I don't mind profanity and have a basket-full of pregnancy complaints... with all that in mind, I was truly disappointed with this book. It just wasn't that funny. It is very simply written... each chapter consists of (at most) 3 pages with very bold print. It's very overpriced for what you get.

I would recommend going to Barnes and Noble or Borders and reading the entire book there while drinking some fancy decaf drink. It should take you a half an hour at the most and even with the outrageous cost of starbucks coffee drinks -- you will STILL have saved money.

Otherwise, go with the "Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy" instead which ironically was also written by a former ex-playboy model who lives in LA. It's infinately better written.

A REAL WOMAN FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH!!THANK U
I read this book when I was pregnant with my first child. This is the book that should be titled..."What To Expect When You're Expecting" This tells you just how it is. I tell you it is like someone wrote verbatim what I was going through. This is the best book I have read. HILLARIOUS!! A MUST READ. I give it to all my friends who are expecting children for the first time. A great baby shower gift.
Funniest book I've ever read!
I found this book after I had my 3rd and final baby. It is HILARIOUS! And every word of it is true! I have since bought her second book, "Baby Laughs", and it is equally as impressive . Now I buy them both for all of my girlfriends. Pregnant or not... every woman will find humor in these books!


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