Ina May's Guide to Childbirth | Ina May Gaskin | Enlightening and useful--a must-read

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth | Ina May Gaskin | The Most Useful Book I Read During My Pregnancy

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Ina May's Guide to...

	Ina May's Guide to Childbirth Ina May Gaskin Bantam, 2003 - 368 pages average customer review:based on 210 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

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.

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Enlightening and useful--a must-read

I rarely review anything, but this book inspired me. Although I had heard about it many times, I initially resisted reading it because I was worried it would be preachy and/or only applicable to people planning a birth with midwives. While I will still have a hospital birth with an OB, I learned numerous highly useful things from this book. Ina May is a very experienced and intuitive midwife, and the book is based on her experiences as well as a lot of research.

First, the book emphasizes that we women are highly capable of having a natural birth, and the whole first half is stories from women who have done so (I read these selectively). The second half of the book goes into well-researched and -documented detail about how our bodies work during a natural birth, which greatly appeased my logical mind. It also covers the various inappropriate and scary procedures that may be recommended to you in the hospital. This last part was not always an enjoyable read, but helped me make a list to ask my doctor of things I didn't even know I needed to ask. In my opinion it is crucial that we and our partners have this information so we can advocate for proper care in the hospital. Just because a procedure is commonplace, doesn't mean it is beneficial or even safe for the woman. When I finished the book, I was dwelling a little on "I really hope I don't need a [fill in procedure]" so now I'm flipping through the stories again to leave a better taste in my mouth.

This book is definitely geared toward people who are considering a natural childbirth or already know they want one. If right now you think you want an epidural the second you walk in the hospital, I don't know if you will want to read this book. But if you do read it, I suspect it will cause you to rethink some things. I also recommend reading "The Birth That's Right For You" (Ness, et al), which helps you decide what you may or may not want during your birthing, depending on your personality and how you operate when you're not in labor.

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The Most Useful Book I Read During My Pregnancy

After reading this book 3 times during my 2007 pregnancy (and taking Lamaze classes), I looked forward to labor and delivery with excitement, rather than fear. I felt confident in my body's ability to deliver my baby safely and naturally without being numbed by drugs or sliced open by a surgeon. This book not only helped me avoid an epidural, but it gave me the confidence to wait it out when I was a few days overdue and my doctor suggested that I be induced. (Of course I would have agreed if it had been necessary, but since all was well with the baby, I knew she would arrive when SHE was ready, and she did, 7 days after my due date.) I had an amazing, empowering natural birth and this book was invaluable to me. I will share it with many women over the years!

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Excellent review of midwifery and invaluable for pregnant women

Ina May's book begins with the stories of tens of women who have laboured at the Farm. It shows, in real women's words, the power of the human body and the natural nature of childbirth.

She then goes on to describe the principles of midwifery, calling upon scientific evidence to support her claims. I like this book because it is not 'hippie', but rather uses science to support the view that natural childbirth is best for both mother and child.

Quite the page turner

I really liked this book. If you are planning for or contemplating a natural birth this is a must read.

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Helped me get my "perfect" birthing experience

My first birthing experience was everything I didn't want: induced, heavily medicated, and then a c-section. I was determined to have a completely natural v-bac the second time around. Our doula recommended this book, and it really gave my husband and I the information we needed that we never got from our first ob. I recommend this book to any woman contemplating a natural childbirth, especially those whose doctors are not supportive of such a move.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

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