cover image The Pregnant Body Book: The Complete Illustrated Guide From Conception To Birth

The Pregnant Body Book: The Complete Illustrated Guide From Conception To Birth

Doctors Sarah Brewer, Justine Davies, Sheena Meredith, and Penny Preston, with Shaoni Bhattacharya and ed. consultant Dr. Paul Moran. DK Publishing, $40 includes dvd (256p) ISBN 978-0-7566-7559-2

This book, a revisiting of the universal human experiences of sex, pregnancy, and birth, stands out for its comprehensive pictorial representations and down-to-earth explanations. DK's typically picture-heavy approach turns out to be perfect for a study of this subject. The result is akin to a museum between the covers. From electron micrographs to ultrasounds to MRIs, this book seeks to help any of us (from medi-cal students to curious pregnant couples) understand what goes on inside the body at any point of preg-nancy and beyond. When organized by week, information about both fetus development and the mother's changing body becomes completely understandable. Male and female reproductive anatomy, a cursory genetics lesson, and a chapter on disorders round out the discussion. Key developments by month will help students commit important facts to memory. (June)