Tiptoeing In...book suggestions

StephBrim24

STM here. I had an epidural with my first and don't regret it, but I think I'm going to go for a natural birth this time around. I'm hoping for a much quicker recovery, more successful nursing right away, quicker labor, feeling less weak and shaky (I think my blood pressure was pretty low with it), and less tearing since I'll be able to control my pushing. I know I may not get all those things but if any of those things improve, it'll be worth it. Now I'm trying to figure out how to start preparing. Suggestion on a book to start on? I'm not a sentimental person that would take to the hypnobirthing terms and visualization probably; I have a tendency to like a scientific and literal approach to my preparation. DH is happy to play a very active role (if he can hang in there long enough), so I thought about Bradley method. But I don't think hospitals, doctors, or nurses are my enemy. They were awesome last time. I do plan to fully prepare for natural birthing with the willingness to flex if interventions end up necessary. So where to start as far as books that have practical help and strategies for me and hubby?

mb314

I suggest Ina May's A Guide to Childbirth for natural birth information. I also like Our Bodies, Ourselves: Pregnancy and Birth for a guide for birth (not just natural birth) in general.  It explained all the different choices a woman has in pregnancy and birth in a manner that I felt was not biased either way.

We did Bradley training and really liked it.  Our instructor wasn't anti-doctors/hospitals. Instead, there was a focus on "informed consent."  I found it to be really useful in terms of educating myself and DH on interventions and when they may or may not be necessary.  For instance, I started having issues with blood pressure and low fluid levels at the end of my pregnancy, and my MW was recommending induction.  Because of Bradley, I felt empowered to ask the right questions and decide whether or not an induction was indeed the best thing for me and the baby (I decided it was). 

aylafsu88

Like the PP we did the Bradley class and really liked it.  The class does not focus on OB/nurses being horrible but it does focus on educating you.  Our instructor made sure that we knew what could happen and when it was needed.  Many times OB use fear or do not explain situations in detail to the patients.  The class focuses on educating you on when and why things are needed.  Our instructor was very pro-hospital interventions (like inductions or C/S) but when they were needed but not for silly things like "a big baby."

The books I found helpful were anything by Ina May.  I also like Henci Goer "A thinking womans guide to a better birth".   It focuses on hospital births, interventions and when they are needed.  I liked it because I had a hospital birth with an OB so I wanted to be prepared.  My h liked the Bradley book "husband coached child birth."  It was written in a simply straightforward manner which was great for my H.

HannahsHope

I recommend The Birth Partner for your hubby. Its a pretty hefty read, so I wouldn't necessarily expect him to read it all, however there is a chapter on "comfort measures" that my husband found really helpful. Also, try to read as many positive birth stories as you can www.birthwithoutfear.com is a great website. And watch some natural births on youtube. I didn't do Bradley or any natural birth classes (I had attended birthing classes at our hospital before my 1st baby, which was medicated). I also like The Business of Being Born movie. 

JCWhitey

Actually, you might be surprised by your reaction to hypnosis.  It is not what most people think it is and also they say that the more intelligent your are the better hypnosis works for you.  I am a pretty analytical person and hypnosis most definitely worked for me.  One of the smartest people I know also did hypnosis and we were just talking the other day about how much it really helped us both.  We both had short labors (hers was 7, mine was 5, both FTMs), we both had what we would describe as "pain free" labors, and we both really enjoyed it and can't wait to do it again.  All of this I attribute to hypnosis.  The only negative thing about my birth was that I really wanted to push about an hour before I was fully dilated and had to fight that urge and that was absolute torture!  Also my nurse asked my mom about a dozen times if she was sure I was a FTM because she'd never seen a mom so calm and in control before and she just couldn't believe it was my first time. 

I scoffed at hypnosis initially and I did laugh a lot when I listened to my first CD.  But after accepting that it really could help me I embraced it and fell in love.  I slept better, felt better, was more confident, and had an awesome all-natural birth.  All in a $99 program that was worth every penny and I will use it for any and all future births.  I did GentleBirth, btw!

jamrosj

Bradley was actually developed to work in hospitals, just find a midwife or ob who supports you. I highly recommend the classes, this is my second time giving birth and I wish we would have done them the first time, we're getting a lot out of them.

skooz

Adding one that I didn't see in the other comments. I liked Natural Hospital Birth: the best of both worlds. I knew I would be delivering at a hospital and wasn't opposed to that, but I did want to keep interventions to a minimum if possible. I thought it was a good resource to have.

mrsblueeyes

I was in a similar situation to you in that I had a perfectly fine epi experience first time (and second time) but wanted to have a natural birth for a lot of the same reasons that you listed.  I did really enjoy hypnosis even with an analytical mind, because it's really about reaching a deep state of relaxation.  I agree with the other books mentioned, I also enjoyed "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" The author is an MD, who had 4 natural births and really looks at the science behind natural birth and what effects that epidurals, augmentation of labor, etc do to the human body in labor and delivery.  Very well written.  Good luck! 

sendmeis68

I'm just beginning it, but "Birthing from Within" came highly recommended by a couple of doulas I met.