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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 Girlfriends

The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

Vicki Iovine

Pocket, 1995-10-01

Price: $14.00

Beginning with the "10 Greatest Lies About Pregnancy" (number 10: Lamaze works), and ending with postpartum dementia, Vicki Iovine's Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy has fast become the laywoman's mouthpiece for the American pregnancy experience. Iovine is irreverent, sassy, and incredibly reassuring as she exposes the "truths" of pregnancy and childbirth, from sex to cellulite to cesareans. Iovine birthed four kids in six years, none of them twins, which certainly qualifies her as an expert. The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy does reveal Iovine's particular cultural biases (pregnant or not, most of us don't have record-producer husbands, hang out with supermodels, or wear size-four pants) and philosophical beliefs (she's not a particularly strong proponent of natural childbirth or nursing), but, taken with a grain or two of salt, she provides many hilarious moments, acres of advice, and honest reassurance readers will find nowhere else. --Ericka Lutz
Keywords: Books for Parents, Books, Music More, By Recipient, Entertainment, Expecting Mom, Gift Categories, Health, Mind Body, Humor, Medicine, Obstetrics Gynecology, Parenting Families, Personal Health, Pregnancy Childbirth, Specialty Stores, Women's Health

Reviews:

Funny and Informative
I loved the book. My sister gave it to me right after I announced I was pregnant. At first, I didn't have any interest in reading it. I couldn't figure out how it could be as helpful as "What To Expect When Your Expecting." Turns out, I am 20 weeks into my pregnancy. I have read "The Girlfrinds' Guide to Pregnancy" all the way through, and I have yet to open "What To Expect When Your Expecting." I thought it was great. I didn't care for the tone that the author used through a few sections. I felt like she was almost "tooting her own horn", but I guess it's her book. She can do what she wants with it! Once I got over that, I really enjoyed reading "The Truth"...or so I'll find out if it is or not!
honest, truthful, and refreshing
when i announced that i was trying to get pregnant, this is the first book my best friend (and mother of a 18 month old)recommended. all of the medical terms are explained...in lamen's terms with funny examples thrown in. these are the things your doctor wouldn't know to tell you, unless he/she had given birth themselves. if you're pregnant, or thinking of getting pregnant, this books lays it all out, in real terms, that educate and alleviate some of the stress and worries of pregnancy.
A bit dated but over all good read
At 10 years old this book is showing it's age a bit and caused a few (unintended by the author, I'm sure) laughs at the 90's references. The chapter on fashion can be pretty much skipped entirely as laugably outdated. Otherwise, however, an enjoyable read. While most of the "secrets" of pregnancy weren't exactly unheard of revelations, it was still nice to read a book that tackled them with humor rather than clinical definition.
Not really helpful at all
I really enjoyed reading it and it was more straightforward about embarassing things than most other pregnancy books.
Amusing but dated
I found this book very amusing but since the book is 10 years old some of the info is dated. (ie-stirrup pants and leggings as maternity wear-impossible to find these things in 2005!!)


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