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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
(The Birth Partner, Second Edition)

The Birth Partner, Second Edition

Penny Simkin

Harvard Common Press, 2001-06

Price: $14.95

The role of birth partner is a tough one. A birth partner may be expected to help a laboring woman make decisions and help her get through the pain and discomfort of childbirth. During this high-intensity time, the birth partner--whether father, partner, or friend--needs a book that can give thorough information for studying ahead of time, yet can be easily referenced in an emergency or for quick answers during labor and delivery. The Birth Partner fills both needs.

Penny Simkin, P.T. (Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn) has written a clear, informative guide that includes a thorough description of everything a birth partner can expect. For a quick brush-up, or for sudden emergency situations where a birth partner is thrust into the role unprepared, the book also provides vital information and emergency tips that are clearly marked on pages with darkened edges. Every section includes a description of a stage of labor or circumstance, a description of what the caregiver (doctor, nurse or midwife) might do, and suggestions about what the birth partner's role should be.

The different sections include preparing for the birth, helping labor begin (in certain situations this is necessary), early labor , the stages of labor, strategies for special situations, the medical side of childbirth, and ways to assist after the birth. Of special note is a clear chart describing various drugs, their desired effects and secondary reactions, and the stages of labor in which each of them may be appropriate.

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

Reviews:

Excellent purchase
The book is very helpful. I have referenced it many times and will take it with me to the hospital for my childbirth.
If you want to be a supportive coach...
you must get this book. I took two classes with my wife but none of them were directly geared towards the coach. Luckily, this book was mentioned by one of the teachers so I decided to look into it. Reading it was very easy and it was a good review for the general concepts seen in the classes, but most importantly, it addressed most of the concerns that a coach can think of.
The breathing section is short but very useful!
My only additional recommendation, besides reading this book, is to watch a few deliveries (dvd, vhs or tv) just to see how all the pieces fit together.
Good luck!
Excellent Resource for Any Birthing Partner
I found this book to be extremely informative and helpful in preparing for the birth of our first child. The fact is that, generally speaking, the "nitty gritty" of the birthing process is rarely discussed. As a male who had no "natural knowledge" of what to expect, the book provided much needed background. Knowing what to expect, I was able to make it through the birth without needless worry and, more important, provide meaningful help to my wife.
The single best book I have read on the subject, bar none
This book has been a huge help with preparing for the birth of our first child. From start to finish, there is almost no fluff or extraneous material. Penny outlines exactly what is happening at each point of labor and exactly what the birth partner can do to help. She also writes in clear, easy to understand language about complications and medicines, so you are prepared ahead of time, as a team, with how to deal with them.

I truly can't recommend this book highly enough.
DON'T GIVE BIRTH WITHOUT READING THIS BOOK!
This is an invaluable text on the childbirth process. It gives a woman information on all of her options from the home birth to the most medicalized hospital birth including C sections. Knowing your options gives you comfort and power to make informed decisions that are the best for you and your child.


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© 2006 by Dave Taylor: Content from Amazon and Wikipedia

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