What you need to know to have the best birth experience for you.
Drawing upon her thirty-plus years of experience, Ina May Gaskin, the nation’s leading midwife, shares the benefits and joys of natural childbirth by showing women how to trust in the ancient wisdom of their bodies for a healthy and fulfilling birthing experience. Based on the female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth gives expectant mothers comprehensive information on everything from the all-important mind-body connection to how to give birth without technological intervention.
Filled with inspiring birth stories and practical advice, this invaluable resource includes:• Reducing the pain of labor without drugs--and the miraculous roles touch and massage play
• What really happens during labor
• Orgasmic birth--making birth pleasurable
• Episiotomy--is it really necessary?
• Common methods of inducing labor--and which to avoid at all costs
• Tips for maximizing your chances of an unmedicated labor and birth
• How to avoid postpartum bleeding--and depression
• The risks of anesthesia and cesareans--what your doctor
doesn’t necessarily tell you
• The best ways to work with doctors and/or birth care providers
• How to create a safe, comfortable environment for
birth in any setting, including a hospital
• And much more
Ina May’s Guide to Natural Childbirth takes the fear out of childbirth by restoring women’s faith in their own natural power to give birth with more ease, less pain, and less medical intervention.
Author: Ina May Gaskin
Publisher: Bantam
Customer Reviews
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AWESOME BOOK!!!!!! THE BEST BOOK EVER
I read this book 3 times while pregnant......I could go on forever but I'm too busy with the baby. This book is the best book you will ever buy....it is inspirational and gives you a positive outlook on pregnancy, delivery and what woman's bodies are capable of (even if you don't do natural) its a VERY VERY important book to read!!!
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A must have for expecting mothers
My doula recommended this book to me and I have since bought it for other dear friends/relatives who are expecting. This book will put any anxiety you may have of childbirth at ease to a great, but real extent. The author gives many case by case birthing stories which allowed me to more tangibly realize that women do this every day and have since the beginning of time. I highly recommend it!
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This mom-to-be found this book invaluable
Ina May Gaskin is amazing. The strategies offered in her book for dealing with labor pains, discomfort, and anxiety surrounding birth are some of my most favorite bits of knowledge picked up in the past 5 months preparing for the birth of my first child. I'm planning on a natural birth at a birth center with a midwife. It is attached to a hospital and there are Ob/GYNs on call at all times. I feel more confident in my ability to complete a natural birth (I'm healthy with no risk factors that would neccessitate medical intervention) with the knowledge that Ina May's book has given me.
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A Must Read!
Great information. Ina May retells stories from natural births at the Farm. I had never heard of the orgasmic delivery. Women need this book to remember the power of the human female body and to rebalance the emphasis toward more and more medical intervention in labor and delivery; to rebalance the high level of fear about labor and delivery. Great stories at the beginning and fantastic information at the second half of the book! Be sure to read it all. Also, see Ricki Lake's documentary - 'The Business of Being Born' - showing real home births and the history & progression of labor & delivery from natural to hospital. The greatest thing about the movie is that the last birth did not go smoothly, so it has the perfect balance showing when we are so lucky that medical intervention is available and capable, but reminding us that it is not necessary for every birth! - Surgery is there to save lives, not to placate fear. We are more capable than even we know!
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Great Resource for Positive Birth Stories!
My midwife recommended this book to me when I switched from an OB (who wanted to induce me a week before my due date despite my insistance on a natural birth)to a midwife. I didn't realize that all the birth experiences I had heard from my friends were mostly traumatic, and I was more scared about labor than I wanted to admit. Ina May's book felt like it was written just for me to help me cope with my fears. The first part of the book is devoted to positive experiences. The women are all different and each experience is unique. There are big babies, little babies, complications, easy births, etc. Something to assuage every fear you have. I'm actually looking forward to labor now, and even if you're not 100% convinced that the all-natural way is for you, this is still a great resource to replace your fears with positive feelings that you can do this.
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