This book is a wonderful gift to give to parents-to-be. The most stunning feature are, of course, the photographs of conception and birth.

Nilsson is a pioneer, who has managed to capture the very early moments of life. I found it particularly interesting in the early days of my pregnancy, when it was hard to imagine what was going on in still-flat belly. It's particularly nice for fathers-to-be. There are many photos of the embyro, and then the fetus, all in stunning colour.

The book isn't all photos though - there is quite a bit of text covering topics such as possible tests you may elect to have, care of premature babies, IVF conception, breastfeeding and birth. It's certainly not a substitute for a more general book on pregnancy, but it's interesting reading nonetheless.

My one complaint is that I wish there were more pictures of older fetuses. Once you're past the 14 week stage, there aren't quite as many photos. There are virtually no photos of fetuses in the third trimester. That may be because the changes all happen more slowly, and are less dramatic than those in the first trimester. Additionally, there may be fewer opportunities for such late term photos.

While this isn't a vital pregnancy book, it is certainly one of my favourites, and is one that I enjoy looking at again and again as I try to imagine what's going on inside my body.

This book summarises thousands of studies done about pregnancy and birth. Surprisingly, many of the tests and procedures routinely offered to pregnant women have no basis in scientific fact. It is an indispensable tool for advocating for yourself and your child.

Some fascinating facts revealed:

-non-stress tests and fetal kick counts do not improve outcomes for babies; in fact in one study the babies who were treated by doctors who had access to non-stress test dat actually fared worse!
-there is no treatment that has proven effective for gestational diabetes, and most larger than average babies will be born to women who do not have GD
-over half of women who experience bleeding in pregnancy do not miscarry
-infant mortality is the same for hospital and home birth with a skilled caregiver
-between 50-70% of women who ae found to test positive for GD will test negative when they are retested

The book is relatively non-judgmental, but offers the pros and cons of various procedures.

A young mother, expecting her first baby & also a mother to her husband's 2 sons learns that her own mother has a terminal illness. Her mother then comes to live with her family. The interplay between birth & approaching death, new life & the end of life is handled poignantly & with grace.