Book Recommendations

[jazzbird]

Hi Ladies. I am looking for recommendations on pregnancy books. Which ones are on your must-have list. I know that I want to give birth naturally and actively, so I would especially like to know which books you natural birthing moms found most helpful. (No, I'm not pregnant yet, but hopefully within the next few months).

I currently have the old staple "What To Expect," as well as "The Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth" by Kitzinger (which I highly recommend) and "The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Goer.

Right now, I'm considering "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" and "Birthing From Within." Any thoughts? I have heard that "Birthing From Within" has some new-age type stuff in it, but that it also has a lot of really helpful information. Has anyone used this book?

 

[Jengi]

My favorite is "Your Pregnancy Week by Week". A friend gave it to me when I got pregnant. It is broken down by week so it is not too overwhelming.

 

[mamaneenie]

I guess if it's got new-age type stuff, don't use it unless you know how to sort the rubbbish from the truth. If it does have good stuff, then just use the good stuff I reckon.


You know, I didn't really get too much into books, I tended to talk to other mums who'd had their babies and things like that.

I guess I did get wrapped up in the idea of natural birth, the thing about childbirth is you can't plan it. One little bit. Just trust in God.

 

[katelyn]

I'm taking a Bradley class and the books we are using are Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way and Husband-Coached Childbirth. I'm learning a lot from all this, although sometimes I feel like they get a little overzealous in some of the things they talk about. I was going to take another class similar to Bradley (but not official because the teacher wanted more flexibility, which I kind of like the sound of) and she was going to have us read The Birth Book by Sears, so that might be a good one to check out, although I haven't gotten a chance to.

 

[jazzbird]

My favorite is "Your Pregnancy Week by Week". A friend gave it to me when I got pregnant. It is broken down by week so it is not too overwhelming.

I think that is the book that one of my friends who is currently pregnant really likes. I'll have to borrow that from her.

I'm taking a Bradley class and the books we are using are Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way and Husband-Coached Childbirth. I'm learning a lot from all this, although sometimes I feel like they get a little overzealous in some of the things they talk about. I was going to take another class similar to Bradley (but not official because the teacher wanted more flexibility, which I kind of like the sound of) and she was going to have us read The Birth Book by Sears, so that might be a good one to check out, although I haven't gotten a chance to.

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is on my list of books to get. Do you prefer one of these books over the other? Are they pretty similar?

 

[jazzbird]

I guess if it's got new-age type stuff, don't use it unless you know how to sort the rubbbish from the truth. If it does have good stuff, then just use the good stuff I reckon.

Yeah. I don't have a problem reading new age philosophy. I am pretty good about knowing what is true and what is not, but at the same time, I don't want to invest in a book that is over the top with that kind of stuff.

 

[katelyn]

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is on my list of books to get. Do you prefer one of these books over the other? Are they pretty similar?

Natural Childbirth the Bradley Way is better at actively teaching you how to do the Bradley method, I think. It also has pictures to help you get a better idea about the exercises and birthing positions discussed. Husband-Coached Childbirth is interesting in its own respect, especially because it was written by Dr. Bradley himself. But it is more outdated than the other book. So, I would have to say if you only read one book about the Bradley method is should probably be the Natural Childbirth one.

 

[RadicalRabbit]

Goer is the tops!!!! Henci's wisdom is unparralled What she taught me regarding *diabetes* has taught me how to avoid it !!!

Ina May Gaskin ? hmmmmm read her stuff Agree with it mostly - shes kinda *out there* though

gloria lemays wisdom is able to be tapped into online (if you know where - pm me)

wainer and cohen are up there with Goer though. Try Open season and silent knife. the sections on interventions *eye opening*


oh - heart and hands - (cant think of the authors) One of the better reads I have had.

leboyer has some weird ideas... but his premise that we can birth gently and naturally has merit.

edited to add I have had 6 pain free natural home births also, as I note the pentecostal icon in your header - check out jackie mize and supernatural childbirth - its not for everyone - but note the *pain free* above

 

[jazzbird]

Goer is the tops!!!! Henci's wisdom is unparralled What she taught me regarding *diabetes* has taught me how to avoid it !!!

Yeah, I really appreciated her book that I read. Before reading, I knew that I didn't really want a hospital birth, and I certainly didn't want drugs, but the facts that she gave really were eye opening. It just confirmed the thoughts and feelings that I had been having and gave me great reasons to support my choice.

Ina May Gaskin ? hmmmmm read her stuff Agree with it mostly - shes kinda *out there* though

Thanks for your thoughts on her. I haven't read any of her books yet, but her name keeps popping up.

gloria lemays wisdom is able to be tapped into online (if you know where - pm me)

Hmm...I've never heard of her, but I'll try investigating.

wainer and cohen are up there with Goer though. Try Open season and silent knife. the sections on interventions *eye opening*

Thansk for the recommendations. Are these books primarily about why not to have a hospital birth, or do they give you information and techniques on natural as well?

oh - heart and hands - (cant think of the authors) One of the better reads I have had.

leboyer has some weird ideas... but his premise that we can birth gently and naturally has merit.

I'll check them out too.

edited to add I have had 6 pain free natural home births also, as I note the pentecostal icon in your header - check out jackie mize and supernatural childbirth - its not for everyone - but note the *pain free* above

Actually I am Presbyterian - I'm laughing just thinking about myself in a penecostal church. Not because there is anything wrong with them, mind you, I just certainly wouldn't fit in! Anyway, that being said, I've heard that is a good book, and I'm sure there is wisdom to be garnered from it. I figure, I don't have to agree with everything someone says, and I will probably find some things that are helpful.

 

[RadicalRabbit]

silent knife and open season are about c-section avoidance.

they detail the cascade of intervention used today and the probable results.

ie strapped to a bed with your feet in stirrups is great for access to your perinuem for cutting - but really rotten for a natural delivery.

Information, coping techniques, ways to prepare yourself for a healthy (what they call pure birth) Cohen contends that nautrual has come to mean vaginal. - and quotes people saying * I had a natural birth - they let the epidural wear off so I could push him out* While not diminishing anyones birth experience cohen says a pure birth is when nothing is needed or done to interfere with the birthing process.

I read this one pre conception and was aghast at what rotine practices can set a labouring woman up for.

Open season is the updated book, late 90's era that inculdes the latest gizmo interventions.

they are both primarily v-bac books - but I would recommend them above anything except maybe Hencis stuff.

yet they do not say * dont hospital birth* they say do your homewoirk before labour, get your dr - midwife on your team, and utmostly be informed about what you want and why -where ever you deliver.

This I agree with completely - informed choices in birth is one of my major soap boxes.


Mize - contentious is a mild word to describe her stuff - her main point is we dont have to suffer pain in childbirth - as that curse was broken at the cross.

I know a lot of people who can get their panties wadded over some of the doctrine in her book (and frankly I can too at times - its very extreme word of faith stuff) however there was info in there that let me busca pro forma ( forge my own way) And one of the main things she empahsises is that the more you understand birth, the more relaxed you will be, the less tense and uptight = less pain. This makes sense - over and above some of the prayer confessions recommended.


Ina May Gaskin. hmmmm I've read her, I appreciate the ground breaking work she did in enabling women to have more choices in birth. I still think she should be read with a grain of salt. shes extreme in her new ageyness.

 

[jazzbird]

If Mize is WoF, I may stay away from that book. I have quite a few bones to pick with their theology. I don't say that to offend anyone else, but that may not be the book for me. I will definetely check out Silent Knife and Open Season. Thanks so much!