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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
(Where Did I Come from)

Where Did I Come from

Peter Mayle

Carol Publishing Corporation, 2000-08

Price: $9.95

Keywords: Ages 4-8, Anatomy Physiology, Biological Sciences, Children's Books, Health, Science, Science, Nature How It Works, Sexuality, Zoology

Reviews:

An excellent book for discussing the facts of life
I read this book to my almost 8 year old son last night and was interested to see what others think of it. I think the illustrations are excellent for the subject and text of the book.

My only hesitation is the discussion of sex for pleasure. A book that addresses the subject of "where did I come from" (sex for procreation) does not need to discuss sex for pleasure, which I believe is appropriate for a slightly older audience. I self edited the book, skipping those few pages. Unfortunately, because of those few pages I do not want to leave the book in my son's room, but told him we would read it again soon. I suppose I can just cut those few pages out. I'm fairly liberal, but I don't think my son is ready to understand the aspect of sex for pleasure and I don't think it is information he needs (or wants!) at the age of 8.

My son giggled a lot as we read. He thought the pictures were silly. His final reaction to the book was to ask me and his father not to do that again because he doesn't want another sister!
Great book
I read this to my kids when they were younger.....7 and 9 I think. My son remembered it so well he asked to take it home with him after he was grown to teach his own children.
More than disappointing
Several years ago, I came across this book while I was in college, taking a gender studies class. We had gone to the library to look through the children's books, and our assignment was to find a sexist book (it didn't matter whether it was sexist against men or women). I found this book and read it aloud to the class, and they were all appalled at the blatant disregard for the woman. The man is one who wants to have sex, the man enjoys it, and he's the one who does all the work in creating a baby. Well, the last time I checked, that's not how it works. If the man wants to have sex but the woman doesn't, that's called rape. Women with a healthy sex life SHOULD enjoy it. And a man can have sex all he wants to, but if there is no egg for his wayward sperm to fertilize, no baby can be made.

Now, I don't know what other books are out there to help explain "the birds and the bees" to kids. This very well may be the best book. Although it might embarrass you, you have to be ready to talk about it. You can't just throw this book at your child and hope they get the gist of it. I think four years old is probably a little young. If you chose to get this book for your child, PLEASE explain that the woman has an equal role, and deserves to enjoy it as well.
Dissapointing
Although I apreciate the frankness of this book, I was dissapointed by the emphasis on the male's point of view in the book. Considerably more information and pictures of penises are included than vaginas. Also, the woman's feelings, role, and consent are ignored in the discussion of sex. According to the book, people have sex beacuse "the man wants to get as close to the woman as he can." There is no mention of whether or not the woman wants to have sex or enjoys it. There is also talk of the physiological changes in a man when he's having sex, but none anout the women. And finally, lots of talk and pictures about sperm, but very little mention of the eggs role ("semen is how you and I and all of us started") and no pictures of an egg. Instead it shows a picture of a sperm curling up to a heart.
Where Did I Come From?
A truely one of a kind book that can make "the big talk" with your kids easy and entertaining for everyone. Start them early, or even use it with teens, it's great! I read it as a kid and will use it with my own kids.


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