Homebirth: What books to read?

[SalTheGal]

I would like to start arming myself with information and inspiration :goodvibes: for homebirthing my next bub (whenever that may be!)

What books have you read and recommend that are not only helpful with practical information- but also inspirational... I would particularly love to find a book that might help DH become a little more enthusiastic to the idea!

TIA! :flowerz:

[PookieLady]

Im also on the hunt for some good books, so if i find some ill let u know. for some inspirational storys i watch some youtube vids and they make me cry my heart out lol. They are so beautiful! this is how i made hubby realise how great homebirth will be now he is so excited.

[AM]

Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering By Sarah Buckley

check out www.purebirth-australia.com it has heaps of practical information

Anything by Ina May Gaskin

Anything by Shiela Kitzinger

The Birth Book By Dr William Sears ( a few of their 7 children were homebirths)

Anything by Michel Odent

Childbirth Without Fear By Grantley **** Read

Birth Without Violence By Frederick LeBoyer

The Art Of Breathing By Frederick LeBoyer

[SalTheGal]

Thanks AM...off to the library tomorrow to see what they have in stock. I can't wait to start arming myself with information.

[jarrahsmumma]

nothing more to add to that AM..great list of books there

[jellybellybean]

I found a wonderful book by Gabrielle Targett called "A Labour of Love". I didnt have a homebirth but used the techniques and wisdom this book imparted. Gabrielle is a Perth doula/midwife and if I remember correctly helped bring waterbirth to Australia in some way.. The book is inspirational and very incredibly helpful.. I loved it and would love others to gain inspiration and courage from it too!!

[Student of Life]

I would particularly love to find a book that might help DH become a little more enthusiastic to the idea!

I am in the same boat about needing to help DH become a little more enthusiastic about the idea of homebirthing. I'm heading off to utube to checkout what is there. Thanks ladies, oh and Sarah Buckley rocks.

[fai firinne]

Yes - Men At Birth by David Vernon - a few homebirths in there!

I loan a collection of Birth DVDs to my doula clients. If a picture tells a thousands words, these DVDs are a sure-fire way to inspire fathers without them having to read huge tomes. Some guys just aren't bibliophiles. 'The Art of Birth' is a nice one because it has some classic comments by a Dad who comes across like a typical Aussie bloke but boy was he converted big time to the joys of homebirth. Delightful to see!

If you go to Youtube and search for 'Homebirth' videos you can see some pretty interesting ones. The fathers so often seem to be fully involved and pivotal to the mother's support during homebirths. So much nicer than the side-lining that happens in some hopsy births.

The Unassisted Childbirth site sells a dvd called A Clear Road to Birth. That's a beaut - it is simply 8 home videos of couples birthing at home. The role of the dads is wonderful to see. There is no music, no commentary - just birth. Just birth. I showed it to one of my clients who had had an upsetting hospital birth which resulted in a PPH. The images of the way women will move when they have freedom and support made her well up with tears. It was just how she'd imagined it would be for her - but it ended up so differently in the hospital. It made her realise what she'd missed out on. She changed her care provider from the hospy to a birth centre and had a gorgeous birth (and no PPH either!). That really showed me how much seeing positive images of birth can encourage people.

I second Apprentice Mama's list - they're all my favourites, too. And - New Active Birth by Janet Balaskas, and I think The Pink Kit is worth getting hold of, too.

My favourite websites for excellent reads:

The UK homebirth site - heaps of awesome birth stories there http://www.homebirth.org.uk/homebirth1.htm

Spinning Babies http://www.spinningbabies.com/

Gentle Birth Archives - their search engine rocks, you can research anything!http://www.gentlebirth.org/search.html

Sarah Buckley's articles: http://www.sarahjbuckley.com/

Plus size pregnancy website - excellent info for ANY sized pregnancy IMO!
http://www.plus-size-pregnancy.org/

[onemummmy]

I just read birth without violence & loved it! I actually cried.

[SalTheGal]

Thanks for all the suggestions! Awesome.