Customer Reviews

A Child Is Born

5 star:		(135)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Lennart Nilsson's amazing photography of life in the womb is gathered together into this book to help anyone understand the miracle of life. Unlike other books about pregnancy, this book deals with the child's development rather than the mother's, and as such can be appreciated by all.

If you are pregnant, know someone who is, or just want to know about babies in the womb, I highly recommend at least leafing thru the book in your local bookstore... you'll most likely buy it as soon as you see it, so be prepared! This is also an excellent gift for anyone who is pregnant!

We used this book to educate all our friends about pregnancy and later to show my 18 month old son what those twin babies in mommy's belly were looking like. My parents used an earlier version of this book to help my sister and I prepare for the birth of our baby brother.

Full color photographs of inutero babies fill the pages, going from preconception chapters on reproduction, through each week of life, all the way to the birth of the baby. Week by week, you can look at what a babies' development should be, learn when the ears and arms develop (as well as many other parts), etc.

The photography is amazing, crisper and clearer that the naked eye looking at a baby out of the womb. The beauty is something akin to the brilliant images that the Hubble Space Telescope has shot back to Earth. The discoveries that you will make seem endless (Did you know that at 4 1/2 weeks we all look like some prehistoric tentacle bearing sea creature?).

There is also a video out called "The Miracle of Life" that has Lennart Nilsson's videos of inutero babies that is an incredible learning tool as well. Most good libraries should have it.

Oh, the only real downfalls are that the photos of people outside the womb have that cheesy 70s/80s look to them, no twins inutero, and you will probably wear out the binding on your book because it is so spectacular.

If you want to know what the baby growing inside of you looks like, this is the book for you. A Child is Born has been a part of our pregnancy library since we were pregnant with our first child. My husband and I followed the growth of our baby through its detailed pictures. During our next three pregnancies, our children were thrilled to see what their sibling-to-be looked like as each week of the pregnancy progressed. A great book for the whole family. I also recommend The Pregnancy Book for lots of general information about being pregnant; She's Having a Baby and I'm Having a Breakdown for a look at pregnancy from the eyes of the father-to-be; and We're Pregnant! for a down-to-earth look at life as an expectant couple. Read and enjoy.

an absolutely remarkable collection of photographs archiving what happens till and after a child is born. makes your heart jumb when you see this magnificent miracle of human creation, how 2 cells turn into this beautifully designed creature. it doesn't neglect the emotional aspect of each stage in pregnancy. it shows you how the child is created, how he develops in stunning photos, and even during delivery; the difficult hours of labor. very enjoying to go through it with your wife specially if she is pregnant.

This is the best book for any expectant mom and dad! My best friend gave me this book with my first pregnancy 10 years ago. I have used it with all three to see the incredible journey of developement. In addition, I have passed it on to my sister-in-law and many friends. It helps you to bond even more with the life growing inside of you, enableing you to see the stages that a baby goes through as it developes and grows. In addition, it gives information on careing for yourself, what can happen in labor and much more.

I can remember seeing some of the pictures in the book when I was 4 or 5 years old. My mom had a copy around when I was a little girl. She used it to teach me about where babies come from, and I think it was an awesome learning tool. I also remember being in 6th or 7th grade and looking to it again because of the photography itself. How often do you get to see a human fetus?

I've read reviews of this "A Child is Born" that said it was too graphic; I don't think so. If it was too graphic, I would be scarred for life, and not buying a book to have around for when I decided to have children. Looking back, it was nice to have this book on the family bookshelf; when I was in junior high, and emarrased to ask anybody anything about sex, I looked to this book for my answers. When I decide to have children, I'm going to add it to my personal collection as well.

This book is fantastic! The images are spectacular, it reads like a well-written magazine article, and it provides enough information to really understand what's going on, without feeling like a textbook. It has a solid backing in scientific and practical information, and I recommend it to everyone - just know what you're getting before you buy:

1. This is a wonderful book about the human body. If you think the human body is offensive, do not buy this book. Yes, it has pictures of women giving birth. Yes, they're naked. If this offends you, I question your need for this book in the first place, but you might be happier with Watch Me Grow, which is sweet and informative, without subjecting you to the harsh reality of the human form. It would be quite a sacrifice in image quality, though. 3D ultrasound just doesn't compare to real optical photos.

2. This was not written for your 5-year-old. This book assumes that its audience already knows where babies come from. This is a fantastic book that the whole family can enjoy together, but you may not want to leave the younger ones alone with it or you'll have some serious explaining to do. The more adult sections might help with "the talk" with your teen, but if your child believes a smiling stork will fly by and drop off a new sibling, keep this book in the top cabinet with the cleaning solvents.

3. Some of the photos are old. This book has been in print for a long time. Lennart Nilsson has been doing his work for even longer. I was surprised at how many new images there were, but don't be alarmed when you see a few classics as well. No need for reservations - they are some of the most amazing.

4. You are not supporting abortion by buying this book (as implied by some 1-star reviews). It is not a gallery of dead babies, it is a gallery of life in all its glory. On pg 326 it is explicitly stated that there are "no photographs of embryos or fetuses aborted by medical or surgical means." Some of the photos are indeed from miscarriages. Of course miscarriages are very sad, but what better way to honor these poor undeveloped individuals than to immortalize them in such a spectacular setting? In a way, these unfortunate souls accomplished more benefit to society in their few weeks of life than some do in many decades.

If these five concepts do not bother you, you will fall in love with this book. It is everything a pregnancy book should be. It's a great buy not only for expectant parents, but for anyone who has ever been a fetus. Buy with confidence.

I bought this book years ago. I was in my 20's and thinking of starting a family. I was capitvated by the pictures and the indepth information. At 35 I became pregnant with my first baby born June 1999. This book was a wonderful way for my husband and I to share in the experience and see what was happening each month. I'm buying it now as a gift for friends who are expecting their first baby. Buy it!!!!!

If you want to see what's happening inside your body as your baby grows, then this is the book for you. The photographs provide an intimate insight into one of the best kept secrets of our times - the way we develop prior to birth. An outstanding resource, and execellent to share with your children. Your children will read and look with wonder as they compare the pictures to the bump on your belly that is their new baby sister or brother develops and will ask in wonder "Did I look like that too?" Use this book to bond both with your unborn baby, your partner, and your children.

This is a wonderful book! The photographs are absolutely amazing. My husband is amazed to see what is happening inside of me so early in my pregnancy. I would highly recommend this book!

I wore this book out over the course of two pregnancies. I looked at it nearly daily for the first few weeks, then monthly for the rest of my pregnancy. The photography is spectacular. It doesn't just show the baby as a whole, it shows development of things like the eyes and the hands.

While many people find the birth pictures too graphic, I found them to be just as incredible as the rest of the pictures in the book. It was hard to look at at first, but after giving birth the first time it was really amazing to see what is happening.

This was a great book and is the first one I lend to my friends who find out they're pregnant. I hope every woman who has or wants to have children gets the chance to look through this book.