Planning
for Pregnancy, Birth, and Beyond
The American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists
 |
I got this book from my ob-gyn
at my first visit. My cat tried to eat it. He had the right
idea. The only reason I still have this book is because it explains
the tests that doctors love to give their patients, and what will happen
to you in the hospital if you don't fight for your rights.
|
Rating: One Web |
Active
Birth
Janet Balaskas
 |
The most dogeared pregnancy
book I have - it advocates instinctive "active" birthing positions based
on women's anatomical structures, and describes in detail the whole process/experience
of natural birth and delivery (with lots of illustrations of births both
hospital and home environments). It is dogeared because it also contains
several chapters with yoga excersizes for maternity and post-partum.
[Review by Lucy] |
Rating: Four Webs. |
In
The Newborn Year: Our Changing Awareness After Childbirth
Elisabeth Brutto Hallett
 |
Some would call this a "hippie"
book, but for anyone who has experienced natural childbirth the stories
will sound familiar. It helped me put some of my feelings about birth
into words. [Review by Debbie] |
Rating: Three Webs |
Open
Season: A Survival Guide for Natural Childbirth and VBAC in the 90s
Nancy Wainer Cohen
|
If you are going to have a
baby, and are planning a hospital birth, you should read this book.
If you have had a c-section, and want a VBAC, you should definitely have
this book. Nancy Wainer Cohen has been there and done that and can
show you how to do it too! If you have had a c-section, this book
will make you angry, especially if you weren't treated with the dignity
every birthing woman deserves. This book should be titled "Don't
have a baby without reading this book." I read this book once before my
son wa born, and switched from my ob/gyn group to a homebirth midwife.
After my son was delivered by c-section, I read it four times. It
has become instrumental in my healing process; it validates every feeling
I may have, and gives me the strength to go on. |
Rating: Five Webs |
What
to Expect When You're Expecting
Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and
Sandee E. Hathaway, BSN
This book has become the new
Bible for childbirth in the 90s. IT'S TIME TO BURN THE BIBLE!!
This book has "intervention city" written all over it. Allow me to
quote what they have to say about homebirth:
 |
"For some women, the idea
of being hospitalized when they aren't sick isn't appealing, but delivering
at home is. And sometimes such a birth is very successful.
The newborn arrives amid family and friends in a a warm and loving atmosphere.
The risk, of course, is that if something goes wrong, the facilities for
an emergency cesarean or resuscitation of the newborn will not be close
at hand. For many women a maternity center or a hospital birthing
room is an ideal compromise, combining homey atmosphere with the security
of high-tech backup. Those low-risk women who insist on a home birth
need to be certain they will be attended by a quality physician or certified
nurse-midwife, and that emergency transportation to a nearby hospital will
be available at a moments notice." |
This is on page 14. Not
very far into the book, and it's pissed me off. Need I say more?
Rating: Zero Webs |
The
What to Expect When You're Expecting Pregnancy Organizer
Eisenberg, Murkoff, and Hathaway
 |
I bought this when I found
out I was pregnant; I thought it would be a great place to keep track of
information during the pregnancy. Save yourself the $12.95 and buy
a spiral notebook.
|
Rating: One Web |
What
to Eat When You're Expecting
Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi E. Murkoff, and
Sandee E. Hathaway, BSN
 |
Out of all the WTE books,
this is probably the only one I would buy these days, and only if you can't
find any books by Dr. Tom Brewer. This also seems to be the least
popular of the books - check out the reviews at Amazon.com - women complaining
that they aren't supposed to eat white bread while they are pregnant, and
that 100 grams of protein is too much, and they gained too much weight
eating like this. |
Rating: Two Webs |
Healing
Yourself During Pregnancy
Joy Gardner
|
I haven't read this one cover
to cover, but it's actually a pregnancy book in general, with tips on how
to get pregnant, diet, etc., as well as herbal remedies. She's even
got a list in the back of herbs to avoid. [Review by Debbie] |
Rating: Two webs |
Spiritual
Midwifery
Ina May Gaskin
 |
With one foot in the past
and one in the present, this book is a must for anyone planning a homebirth.
Once you get past the fact that the birth stories are being told by hippies,
it becomes invaluable. It is very strange, though, to read through
all these births from the 1970s and then skip to the back section where
it discusses AIDS. I always read the section on birth complications
when I get that "I want to become a midwife" feeling.
|
Rating: Four Webs |
Macrobiotic
Pregnancy and Care of the Newborn
Michio and Aveline Kushi
|
This book does have some interesting
things to say about fetal and infant development, but it doesn't provide
a lot of useful advice for pregnancy. Essentially, all of the complications
that come with pregnancy should be dealt with through eating a standard
macrobiotic diet (without offering many specific variations). If
you have any complications it is evidence that you haven't been eating
properly. It is much more interesting to read the section on care
of the newborn, however, where it offers many insights that I haven't heard
elsewhere. [Review by Lucy] |
Rating: Two Webs.
NOTE: This book is currently
out of stock at Amazon.com |
A
Good Birth, A Safe Birth
Diana Korte and Roberta Scaer
 |
I think if I had to choose
a book to hand out with the positive pregnancy test, it would be this one.
[Review by Debbie] |
Rating: Five Webs |
Natural
Childbirth the Bradley Way
Susan McCutcheaon-Rosegg with Peter Rosegg
 |
The book basically covers
everything about pregnancy and birth. You learn about emotional signposts
- which I would say is the single most important thing you could get out
of this book, if nothing else. It talks about how to choose a dr (or not
choose one ;-)), nutrition, drugs during pregnancy, mechanics of labor
and birthing, getting your body ready for birthing, labor - relaxation/imagery/music
etc., ways your partner can help you, pushing, talk about (lack of need
for) episiotomy, cesarean, hospital controversies, etc. This book and the
birthing classes are very anti-establishment and helps empower you to protect
yourself. |
The gist of the method is relaxation.
When you have pain if you don't relax it hurts more so you tense more so
you hurt even more so you are in even more pain and you tense even more....
It's a vicious spiral never giving you a chance to have a natural birth.
So if you learn to relax - which really is easier than it sounds - it really
isn't as painful. Honest! I'm not saying it doesn't hurt, but it's manageable.
[Review by Mindi]
Rating: Five Webs |
A
Child Is Born The Completely New Edition
Lennart Nilsson
 |
A classic with color pictures.
Great for visualizing what your baby looks like, and my three year old
loves it. [Review by Debbie] |
Rating: Five Webs |
The
Pregnancy Book
William and Martha Sears, Linda Hughy Holt
 |
This is a good alternative
to the WTE book. Good, solidly laid out information on every aspect
of pregnancy. Marginal information on home-birthing. [Review
by Phan] |
Rating: Four Webs |
Conception,
Pregnancy and Birth
Dr. Miriam Stoppard
 |
I like this book. I
really do. Dr. Stoppard treats homebirth as a viable option and not
like it's a freaky thing to do. So are breech vaginal births. All
the more than 500 pictures are in color, and they are fabulous. And
all the drawings and pictures of penises have foreskins! My copy
is from 1993, so some of the information about testing is out of date,
but other than that, it is an excellent, excellent book. Well worth
the $29.95 cover price (it's only $20 through Amazon, though.) |
Rating: Five Webs |
The
Birth Partner
Penny Simkin
 |
An absolutely indispensable
resource for any partner or doula. It's great to study beforehand,
and even as a quick reference for ideas during labor. If every partner
read this book, intervention rates would plummet. [Review by Linny
Simkin] |
Rating: Four Webs |
Pregnancy,
Childbirth and the Newborn
Penny Simkin, Janet Whalley and Ann Keppler
 |
The should-be bible for every
pregnant woman. Here in Seattle, it's given out by many many OBs
and midwives to all their prenatal patients. It gives an even-handed,
non-judgmental approach to all the issues that come up surrounding pregnancy,
childbirth and parenting. The message I get from the AlternaMoms
concept is that if everyone knew the facts of what's best for themselves
and their babies, they would choose natural childbirth, breastfeeding,
no circumcision, etc., as I've done. This book provides those facts
and lets people draw their own conclusions. [Review by Linny
Simkin] |
Rating: Four Webs |
While
Waiting
George Verrilli and Anne Marie Muesser
 |
I wasn't thrilled with this
book, which was handed out along with formula samples at my OB orientation
(Navy). There is no mention of homebirth at all, though there is
one paragraph on having siblings attend the birth. It is, however,
a good quick-reference for those pregnancy symptoms you feel silly calling
your care-provider to ask about. [Review by Phan] |
Rating: One web. |
