The Tentative Pregnancy

by Barbara Katz Rothman

As more and more women over 30 are having children, amniocentesis, primarily used as a test for Down's syndrome, is becoming a routine part of prenatal care. In this book, Barbara Katz Rothman shows how this simple procedure can alter the way we think about childbirth and parenthood and force us to confront agonizing what do you do if there is a "problem" with the foetus? What kind of support is available if you decide to bring up a handicapped child? How can you come to terms with the decision to terminate a wanted pregnancy?

Genres: Parenting, Feminism, Sociology, Nonfiction

274 pages, Hardcover

First published February 3, 1987

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book discusses the work of genetic counselors and the women who go to see them. These are women who have amniocentesis to see if there's something wrong with their unborn children, and generally abort if there is a problem. The book talks about the decisions that they make, with copious interviews. The author gives her interpretation of how motherhood has changed due to the technology that detects fetal anomalies. Women, she says, are put in a position where they don't accept their babies and embrace "motherhood" until they know there is nothing wrong with their children. The book is not a pro-life one by any means, but I got some good material for my website. It is however, somewhat dated, as it was written in 1991, when technology was not advanced as it is now – but the basic themes in the book are still relevant.

[Christina Cater · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is from 1993, so it's somewhat outdated in regard to medical practices for prenatal diagnoses. However, the philosophical discussions around the impacts of partaking in prenatal diagnosis remain very relevant. I'd recommend this book for anyone interested in the outcomes (both positive and negative) of selecting prenatal screening.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thought provoking and spot on.

[Fiona]

Excellent - a book for all women wanting children

[Jane Lebak · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful analysis of what it means to be pregnant at a time when unconditional love is predicated on the fetus passing specific tests.