natural birth books

[bubs_and_us]

does anyone know of any good books on natural birth? im looking for techniques, info etc on having the most natural, intervention free, gentle birth next time round - i should probably start reading now!

anyone?

[TwoBoysOnly]

Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering - Sarah Buckley

Anything by Ina May Gaskin

:yelclap:

[reAllytee]

Gentle Birth Gentle Mothering - Sarah Buckley

Anything by Ina May Gaskin

:yelclap:

:iagree:


Also for something a little more mainstream which i found easy to read & also good for DP to read. All the others got this look of horror etc:rolleyes: There is a book called "Birthing Skills" by Juju Sundin featuring Sarah Murdoch. Its very easy to understand & really teaches you all the techniques really well IMO. Doesnt have anything full on in it & has some great birthing stories too.

Juju is an Obsteric Physio so really understands the body well & how it works in labour. Her breathing techniques & a great cd called " 25 Ways To Awake Your Birth Power " was what got me through my labour beautifully !

[QTB]

i agree with all the above,

birth skills is a lil 'out there' but it works!! i read it and was like omg i sooo wouldnt do that... but then clients have used it and its been fantastic! im planning on using some of it this time round!

I also recommend

New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas
Its awesome!

[Tam-I-Am]

"Birthing From Within" by Pam England is pretty good too :)

[elissas]

"Hypnobirthing" by Marie Mongan (comes with CD with relaxation and hypno exercises)

"Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives" by Deepak Chopra (quantum physicist and ayuverdic GP)

[0BleSseD0]

I read a Shiela Kitzinger (I spelled that wrong I think) book, and that was pretty good.

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[~Emmylou~]

Everything already suggested :D

And if reducing intervention is a big one for you I definitely recommend "The Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer.

[bubs_and_us]

thanks for the replies....

i've heard good things about the gentle birth, gentle mothering book, so i will derfinitely grab that one.

does anyone know where i could get my hands on any of these second hand? i tried ebay with no luck

thanks

ETA: and while i've got your attention, does anyone know of some good books for DH to read (in his language) about birth and fatherhood (for toddlers and newborns)? he said he is happy to read, but he's not really going to sit down and read a 300 page novel

[Sammilee]

"Hypnobirthing" by Marie Mongan (comes with CD with relaxation and hypno exercises)

:iagree: with this one. It totally made sense to me, and I practiced many of the techniques (breathing and visualisation), and I successfully had a positive natural labour without pain-relief.

[AM]

Just cutting and pasting my personal list, so it has some repetition to what has already been suggested. I think if it is good enough for you to read, it is good enough for your DH too. :)

BOOKS

"Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" By Sarah J Buckley

"Obstetric Myths vs Research Realities" By Henci Goer

"Birth Without Violence" By Frederick LeBoyer

"The Art Of Breathing" By Frederick LeBoyer

"Spiritual Midwifery" By Ina May Gaskin

"The Thinking Womans Guide To Better Birth" By Henci Goer

"Childbirth Without Fear" By Grantley D!ck-Reid

"Birthing From Within" By Pam England

"The Pink Kit" From The Common Knowledge Trust (tons of information helping you to get to know and trust your pelvis)

"The New Active Birth" By Janet Balaskas

"Waterbirth" By Janet Balaskas

[Alisonp]

Also for something a little more mainstream which i found easy to read & also good for DP to read. All the others got this look of horror etc:rolleyes: There is a book called "Birthing Skills" by Juju Sundin featuring Sarah Murdoch. Its very easy to understand & really teaches you all the techniques really well IMO. Doesnt have anything full on in it & has some great birthing stories too.


Thanks for recommending this book. I'm went out and bought this the other day. It really spells things out clearly :yes:

[reAllytee]

Thanks for recommending this book. I'm went out and bought this the other day. It really spells things out clearly :yes:

Oh cool !

It really helped to teach me about vocalising i never ever dreamed of doing it as i thought it was just yelling ! But it was the best thing cause seriously vocalising & breathing out the pain made it so bearable.

I loved my second birth it was wonderful & how weird is that to say hehehehe !

[Alisonp]

Ally - I've now finished the book and I have to say I am actually getting excited about my next birth :D:yes: Thanks again for recommending it. The problem with a lot of books in this area is that they tend to focus on the importance of avoiding medical intervention but aren't great at describing what to actually do to avoid it.

Last time I had an induction at 11days past EDD and the labour was so fast and painful I was beaten before I had even started. Also I think the suprise of how painful the induced contractions were really stunned me. I couldn't think or see or make a sound even if I had wanted to.

This time I'm looking at it as a challenge instead of something to suffer through. It definitely helps though to know what labour pain feels like. When I was pregnant with DD everything seemed quite abstract. This time I know what I am up against.:yelclap:

[reAllytee]

Ally - I've now finished the book and I have to say I am actually getting excited about my next birth :D:yes: Thanks again for recommending it. The problem with a lot of books in this area is that they tend to focus on the importance of avoiding medical intervention but aren't great at describing what to actually do to avoid it.

Last time I had an induction at 11days past EDD and the labour was so fast and painful I was beaten before I had even started. Also I think the suprise of how painful the induced contractions were really stunned me. I couldn't think or see or make a sound even if I had wanted to.

This time I'm looking at it as a challenge instead of something to suffer through. It definitely helps though to know what labour pain feels like. When I was pregnant with DD everything seemed quite abstract. This time I know what I am up against.:yelclap:

FANTASTIC !!!! :smiliedance:

Im so glad you found it helpful !

I too agree that many books dont explain things properly or the likes which was why i liked this but also because it was easy for DP to read for him to help me stick with what i wanted. DP ended up being fantastic he was truly wonderful helping me regain my breathing & telling me when i wasnt vocalising properly. I just loved that he got it ! So make sure you harass hubby to read it too !

[happybunnypony]

ooh those books sound great!

I'm almost finished reading Spiritual Midwifery by Ina May Gaskin and OMG i love it so much! It has really changed my outlook on the actual labour. I am hoping for an amazing experience, rather than a painful dread that a lot of people fear.

I am still going to the hospital for my birth, but hope to take as much of the natural techniques and thought process from Spiritual Midwifery with me. I might see if i can find some of these other books that were suggested too! :thumbsup:

[Shanaynay]

Also "Birth Your Way" by Sheila Kitzinger is good, and available at Borders :thumbsup:

[MoonstoneMumma]

Also "Birth Your Way" by Sheila Kitzinger is good, and available at Borders :thumbsup:

u just beat me to that one! i love anything by shelia - she has been around for years and truly understands what birth is all about.