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Books on labor and birth |
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Mother's Intention: How Belief Shapes Birth
Author:
Kim Wildner
CBI Review:
Kim presents a very different approach to information relating
to birth - focusing on women taking responsibility for their births
and having realistic expectations. She identifies the importance of
doing the work to achieve the birth a woman wants and how, if she
wants something to be different, she has to do differently. The
negative aspects of the book are the lack of editing resulting in
many spelling and grammatical errors throughout. Some students have
felt there is a judgmental tone in places. This book does reinforce
the issue of women's responsibility, although the bias that some
feel is present may damage the underlying message.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
 |
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A Good Birth, A Safe Birth : Choosing and Having the Childbirth
Experience You Want
Author:
Diana Korte
CBI Review:
This is an excellent book that focuses on the choices that
are most likely to lead to a positive and safe outcome for mother
and baby. It is highly recommended as a book for women who are
planning a VBAC to read.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Active Birth : The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally
Author:
Janet Balaskas
CBI Review:
This is a classic book from Janet Balaskas, the founder of the
Active Birth Centre in the UK. Written for women who are looking for
an active birth experience it provides many tips and ideas.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth
Preparation
Author:
Pam England & Rob Horowitz
CBI Review:
Birthing from Within has a unique approach to pregnancy and
childbirth. Much of the book focuses on the use of birth art to help
a woman understand her emotions and how these are impacting her
approach to birth, and reinforces the connection between mind and
body. It may be difficult for women who are less focused on natural
childbirth to feel comfortable reading it.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know to Have a Safe and
Satisfying Birth
Author:
William and Martha Sears
CBI Review:
Yet again the Sear's have written a book that is easy to read,
packed full of helpful information and supportive of informed
choice.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Mind over Labor: A Breakthrough Guide to Giving Birth
Author:
Carl Jones
Amazon
Description:
Jones stresses the importance of a mellow labor
environment and subtly promotes the idea of delivery at home or in a
childbearing center, but he fails to spell out the risks of a
nonhospital delivery. His goal of a well-informed, positive-thinking
pregnant couple is admirable, but his insistence that attitude can
overcome virtually any problem is questionable. |
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Special Delivery
Author:
Rahima Baldwin
Amazon
Description:
For parents-to-be who are considering home birth, Special
Delivery is an excellent resource. Written by midwife Rahima
Baldwin Dancy in the '70s and updated in 1986, this book covers the
benefits of home births; gives details on how to have a home birth,
including pregnancy preparations; and coaches participants on
specific ways they can help the mother. The
easy-to-comprehend-in-the-middle-of-a-crisis details on what can go
wrong, what to do, and when to bring the mother to the hospital are
outstanding. The flavor and photographs of Special Delivery
are a bit outdated, but the information is still vital and very
helpful. |
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Birth without Violence
Author:
Frederick Leboyer
Other Languages:
French
CBI Review:
Another one of those books that is a classic. Leboyer
was revolutionary in his approach to labor and birth, and the
importance of a gentle birth for the baby. He advocated low
lighting, a gentle welcoming bath and respect for the baby's
experience. Written in an unusual style that is almost poetic, with
powerful images of the difference between a medicalized birth and a
gentle birth. One of the downsides of this book is the lack of focus
on the mother. The baby is clearly the dominant factor in Leboyer's
work, and the father is seen as having an important role, but there
is little emphasis on the mother.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth
Author:
Sheila Kitzinger
Other Languages:
German
Spanish
CBI Review:
Sheila consistently produces books that are easy to
read, focused on mother and baby centered care, and packed full of
information. This book is no exception! Although Sheila is based in
the UK her writing style appeals to women everywhere. The
photographs throughout her book show positive images of women in
labor, reinforcing the message that birth is normal.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Ina May's Guide to Childbirth
Author:
Ina May Gaskin
Amazon
Description:
Using history as her guide, nationally recognized
midwife Gaskin explores what she hopes will be a renaissance in
natural childbirth, something that she's been advocating since the
mid-1970s. By focusing on how women of ancient civilizations and
other modern peoples give birth, Gaskin puts our own
hypersensitivities in perspective, uncovering a beautiful, sometimes
orgasmic experience rather than a dreadful, painful one. |
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Gentle Birth Choices: A Guide to Making Informed Decisions about
Birthing Centers, Birth Attendants, Water Birth, Home Birth, and
Hospital Birth
Author:
Barbara Harper
Other Languages:
Spanish
CBI Review:
Gentle Birth Choices presents the information on the
options available to women in an easy to read format. The book
contains some shocking statistics about modern birth in America. It
presents the different choices in a non-threatening way. It is also
available together with a video.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Spiritual Midwifery
Author:
Ina May Gaskin
CBI Review:
This is a classic birth book for doulas and
childbirth educators. The book covers the journey of Ina May as she
was part of a group that set up The Farm in Tennessee. It describes
the women that she worked with who eventually together established a
birthing center on The Farm, with the birth stories of many women
who have had their babies there. The downside of the book is that
the stories are from the seventies and are very "hippyish", so many
people find they cannot relate to it. It would benefit from being
updated. despite this though, it is a fun read and very supportive
of natural birth.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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The Preemie Parents' Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for
Your Premature Baby in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First
Years
Author:
Susan L. Madden
Amazon
Description:
Consumer text discusses how to be informed partners
with the healthcare team in the newborn intensive care unit, coping
with medical complications and their treatment, ways to hold a
preemie, how to interpret a preemie's body language, follow-up
visits with the doctor, and more. |
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A Labor of Love: A Complete Guide to Childbirth for the Mind, Body
and Soul of the Jewish Woman
Author:
Rachel Broncher
Amazon
Description:
A complete guide to childbirth for the mind, body,
and soul of the Jewish woman. This comprehensive and
invaluable guide for the Jewish woman covers every important stage
of labor and birth in an easy-to-read format and includes over forty
helpful illustrations and moving birth stories.
** Recommended by a CBI trainer |
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Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural
Childbirth
Author:
Grantley Dick-Read
CBI Review:
One of the classic books on natural childbirth,
many subsequent authors have integrated Dick-Read's beliefs and
philosophy into their childbirth education methods.
CBI Ratings:
Supportive of choice:
Easy to read:
Evidence based:
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Healthy Body, Better Birthing
Author:
Francesca Naish & Janet Roberts
CBI Review:
Francesca Naish, a
naturopath, hypnotherapist and herbalist,
herbalist, has a natural fertility clinic in Australia, while
Janet Roberts is a
clinical nutritionist. Their books, with a natural focus and
particularly beneficial for Australian students, were recommended by
a CBI student.
** Recommended by a CBI
student |
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A Labour of Love: An Australian Guide to Natural Childbirth
Author:
Gabrielle Targett
CBI Review:
A book that focuses on natural childbirth with an Australian
perspective.
** Recommended by a CBI
student |
