A really good general reference text - lots of information on very early pregnancy and also on nutrition. The childbirth section is really good too, with lots and lots of information on how it all happens.

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.

Plainsong is set in Holt, Colorado, a rural community well outside Denver; the setting is timeless, with only the occasional, fleeting reference to VCRs or pop culture indicating that the book takes place closer to "now" than "then." Tom Guthrie is a high-school teacher left raising two young sons after his depressed and disappointed wife moves to the city. His children bake cookies, ride horses, and run a paper route, but at the same time they almost consciously seek out a cool, hardened, cowboy sense of maturity.

Meanwhile, another teacher helps a pregnant teen disowned by her mother find love and acceptance in two hilariously well-intentioned elderly brothers. The two tentatively take the girl on as a boarder on their cattle farm even though they barely know how to communicate with anyone but each other.

Not a lot happened in this book that was unpredictable, but it was so beautifully written that I didn't care. Plain Song is just a wonderful novel.

A very nice book, populated with good, reliable people. A good book for reaffirming one's faith in humanity, but the characters seem so idealized that it's hard to buy.

A novel about life in a western Colorado town, tole mostly in the POV of a teen-ages boy. But the story is filled with compelling characters -- the boys' mother, 2 old cattlemen, a pregnant teen-age girl, the horses, dogs & cows that are still share the daily lives of the people & the harsh land itself & the demands it makes on the lives of people.

Two bachelor farmer brothers, a pregnant high school girl, two young brothers, and two devoted high school teachers--this is the interesting group of people, some related by blood but most not. Set in the plains of Colorado, east of Denver, the novel comprises several story lines that flow into one. Tom Guthrie, a high school history teacher, is having problems with his wife and with an unruly student at school--problems that affect his young sons, Ike and Bob, as well. Meanwhile, the pregnant Victoria Roubideaux has been abandoned by her family. With the assistance of another teacher, Maggie Jones, she finds refuge with the McPheron brothers--who seem to know more about cows than people.

This is an interesting concept and was well put together. I especially liked the two bachelors and their compassion for Victoria. Growing up, there were two farmer bachelors who lived nearby (sweet, nice gentlemen) and I used their faces as I read this book so it brought the story to life for me.

A touching account of a mother's loss and how she copes with the loss of a daughter and grandson due to murder.