Pregnancy, Birth, and Family Planning

by Alan F. Guttmacher

Book Overview

With more than 2.5 million copies sold, this world-renowned reference was penned by one of medicine's most distinguished OB-GYNs. Now updated by two prominent doctors and a professional midwife, it... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0451166329
• ISBN13: 9780451166326
• Release Date: September 1973
• Publisher: Signet Book
• Length: 624 Pages
• Weight: 0.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.2" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Informed choices

This book is an excellent, easy to read reference, that informs women by giving accurate, up to date information regarding pregnancy, birth and family planning. Ronnie Lichtman,CNM has introduced a fresh format in which midwifery care is introduced and midwives are included throughout this comprehensive guide as primary healthcare providers for women. This book gives different alternatives regarding providers, birth settings such as hospitals, free standing birthing centers, hospital birth centers, and home births and different types of collaborative practices available. Pregnancy is acknowledged as a healthy state, not a medical event and that our bodies are designed to bring life into the world, they are "biologically competent". Complications are discussed, but women should walk away with the knowledge that childbearing is safe and that they have many birth options available to them. I applaud Lynn Simpson, MD and Allan Rosenfield, MD for continuing to believe as did Dr.Guttmacher, of each woman's right to have information about her body and of her ability to enter into a partnership with her physician or midwife and make informed choices. As one her former students, I would like to thank Ronnie for expanding women's options for midwifery care through the sharing of her knowledge and experience, and for working so hard to provide her colleagues and midwifery students an open path in which to practice. I highly recommend this book.

An important book, updated by Ronnie Lichtman

I've read many books on the subject and this one is easily the best. Ronnie Lichtman C.N.M., Ph.D. is one of America's foremost midwives. Her writing style and expertise add new dimension to an already great book. It has everything an expectant mother could possibly want to know. Though there are many books on pregnancy and childbirth, this is the one that will be passed down to future generations. I recommend it highly.

a must have for expectant mothers

This book is essential for expectant mothers. It covers in depth information on weekly fetal development, symptoms during pregnancy, preparing for the arrival of the baby, and birth and delivery. This book also covers multiple births, and family planning methods. This book gives detailed information on sexual organs and conception.

a must read for expectant mothers

This book is essential for expectant mothers. It is an in depth book covering week by week fetal development, symptoms during pregnancy, preparing for the baby, birth, and delivery. It also covers multiple births, and family planning methods. It also gives a detailed explanation on sexual organs and conception.

An excellent book, its information now a little dated

Alan Guttmacher, who wrote the original editions of this book, was a famous teacher, a humane and sensible doctor, and the beloved mentor of the second author, Irwin Kaiser, my father. Dad was revered and respected by his own patients, who, for him, were the most important thing in the world; and Dad was proud that Guttmacher's estate chose him to carry on the work of "The Book", which he did with enthusiasm and dedication through several issues, always keeping up with medical knowledge and current sensibilities, especially feminist concerns.Dad died this morning, March 17, 1999, at the age of 81.