Two things are needed to make a baby: a sperm cell and an egg cell. The father makes the sperm cell inside his body, and the mother makes the egg cell inside her body. The egg and sperm are small and can be seen only with a microscope, which is like a strong magnifying glass. When the egg and sperm join, they form a baby that is smaller than a grain of salt. The baby grows inside the mother's tummy in her uterus and then comes out as a baby brother...

This program examines teenage pregnancy from the teenage father's point of view. It is an in-depth look at the attitudes of young men toward sex, birth control, and teenage fatherhood. Teen pregnancy, its cost to society, and the plight of young mothers and their newborns are discussed, along with how most young fathers deal with the reality of a pregnant girlfriend. A final section examines the role of teenage fathers in child-rearing, and discusses...

Pregnancy amongst teenagers is becoming a growing problem in todays society. About 1 million teenagers become pregnant each year and more than 530,000 give birth. Dealing with the responsibility of becoming a parent at a young age is one of the hardest tasks to take on. Many teenagers don't fully understand the large responsibility and full time commitment it takes to raise another human being, when they themselves still have a lot of growing up to...

Due to ignorance, politics, and misused technologies, childbirth until very recently was often deadly to mother and child. This program presents a medical history of childbirth from ancient times to the present, contrasting methods and beliefs of the past with today's obstetrics. Along with commentary from obstetricians, medical historians, and evolutionary biologists, the program highlights dangers and advances in birthing through documentary clips,...

Boost calorie intake, avoid hydrogenated fats, carefully read food labels-the list of dietary dos and don'ts is seemingly endless for new moms. Isn't giving birth complicated enough? How can a rookie parent keep track of it all? This video provides clear, down-to-earth guidance for pregnant and nursing women as they endeavor to eat right for two. Viewers learn basic food-group facts tailored to maternity; a range of food safety precautions, from smart...

Being a teenager is difficult enough. Try being a parent at the same time! This program follows the stories of three young women with unplanned pregnancies-15-year-old Valerie, 17-year-old Karina, and 18-year-old Sara. The program also presents another couple, Amanda and Tomas, who have chosen abstinence. In three segments, the teens are interviewed over the course of their pregnancies and after they have become mothers. In this emotional roller-coaster,...

In this engrossing documentary, filmmaker and author Joanna Lipper follows six teen mothers and several young fathers through their last months of high school. This film goes beyond explaining the difficulties of early parenthood to reveal the compassionate strength, resilience, self-awareness, and insight of these adolescents as they look back on past decisions with enhanced understanding of their consequences. Through their intimate stories, the...

This program gives viewers an intimate look at the work of doulas, capturing the details of the support they offer at each phase of the birthing journey. Three pregnant women and their husbands discuss why they chose a doula to supplement a midwife's services, and the doulas in turn relate what the experience means to them. The video follows the women through labor and includes footage of two at-home water births. Having the doula on hand for reassurance,...

Difficulty in conceiving a child is becoming an increasingly common problem for many couples. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infertility affects more than 6 million men and women in the United States. As this program shows, infertility can be frustrating, mysterious, and difficult to cope with-however, advances in assisted reproductive technology are also highlighted, demonstrating that many couples are eventually able...

This program explores the most common types of birth defects, covering the major classifications: malformations present at birth, inborn errors of metabolism, blood disorders, and prenatal damage. The video also includes information on the prevention of birth defects, with an emphasis placed on the importance of good prenatal care.