Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation

Really helpful for birth prep - lots of unique prompts and exercises.

My doula reccomended I read this book to deal with the mental and emotional preparation for labour and birth... and I'm so glad I did! There are countless useful tools and techniques to connect deeper with yourself and your baby throughout each part of pregnancy, motherhood and beyond!

I am a family physician and up until recently was providing prenatal care and delivering babies. I became pregnant and desired a natural birth, albeit in the hospital setting. Even with my medical background, I felt I needed a guide for what it would be like to be in labor myself. Some of the other books I've read seem to be openly hostile to the medical profession - often offering the suggestion that since birth is natural all medical interventions are unnecessary. While it is appealing to believe that birth is a natural process that doesn't require intervention, I am aware that there were times my patients needed interventions that were life-saving, and I find myself wary of guides that offer overly simplistic answers. Pam England does an excellent job providing a fair and balanced perspective. She discusses the benefits of natural and home birth without oversimplifying the issues. She encourages women and their partners to be thoughtful and assertive in getting their needs met, which is very different than advising a birth plan (which from an insider's perspective is almost never a good idea - labor nurses and doctors tend to resent being told what to do in writing. Birth plans tend to create a divisive atmosphere, and are by nature impractical because nobody can plan birth the way you would a wedding). She does an excellent job of discussing the psychological issues of labor-readiness, of anticipating pain and loss of control. She offers real ways of coping with the pain (for those who wish to avoid an epidural). There is a whole section of the book dedicated to advice for birth partners. The part I appreciated the most was the suggestion that birth can be a transcendent experience - in this way she offers spiritual meaning to the process of giving birth (however one does it). I did find her assumptions about the health care system to be a bit out-dated (although I can't be certain that practices across the country are all similar to what I've seen locally). Episiotimies are rarely ever routine anymore (as she seems to suggest). Hospitals are moving towards keeping moms and babies together as much as possible (the 3 hour separation that she suggests is common is probably unlikely to occur in most hospitals these days). Overall, I'd recommend this book highly to all who are pregnant - although those hoping for a natural or home birth will get the most benefit, those planning a Cessarean, or desiring an epidural, will also find that this guide offers valuable and non-judgmental advice for being ready for the challenges ahead.

its a nice approach towards birth... spiritual, artistic. gave me strenght to born natural, though the book is addressed to women who give birth in a hospital. i wished me some more information for home birth... many chapters were very inspiring* if u look for techniqes who help you trough the birth, i wouldnt recommend this book. its more to give a new perspective on birth, as a life changing experience for the mother :)))

This book might be helpful if you find going into labor daunting. Bought this book based on the reviews from Amazon.com Check out Hypnobirthing.