What books were most helpful to you?

Schnebs

DH and I are going to start TTC again (we had to take a break) here soon, and we are most definitely planners when it comes to things like this.  I had already basically decided on a natural birth (water birth if I can), and we visited a Natural Birth Center close to our house this week actually - where I can do a water birth - YAY!  I have started reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth, and have found it fascinating.  Are there any books that you ladies definitely recommend reading, or ones that you have found to be utterly useless?  I am really excited to be taking in all of the knowledge that I can, so that I can be as educated as possible before we have our child.  Thank you all so much!

NewStepMom2ndBride

Haven't given birth yet but I *loved* Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth and I want to read her Spiritual Midwifery.

I'm halfway through Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method and I like it. 

StefandTodd

The PP's Ina May recs above are great.

And also The Birth Partner.

Schnebs

Yeah I am about 100 pages into Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and absolutely love it!  It might sound weird but it makes me feel empowered just to read what other women have gone through.  

NewStepMom2ndBride

Schnebs:

Yeah I am about 100 pages into Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and absolutely love it!  It might sound weird but it makes me feel empowered just to read what other women have gone through.  

Exactly! I always thought, IF I even had a baby at all, I'd want all the meds in the world.

Reading the birth stories, I actually feel like I can do this! It's great being reminded that women have always done this, and for the most part, done it without drugs, intervention, etc.

chris&kendra1

I read three books so far so I will put them in order of my favorite to least favorite and why:

 1. Ina May's Guide to Childbirth- I felt like this book was excellent for information, and liked reading some of the success stories.

2. Natural Hospital Birth: The Best of Both Worlds- This book was phenomenal in helping me learn how to refuse certain interventions in the hospital and still have an unmedicated, natural birth.

3. Natural Birth: The Bradley Way- I still really enjoyed this book. It had great information for explaining the whole process and how to work with your body rather than against it.

Best of luck!

chris&kendra1

Also, since you asked, I did not read all of "Active Birth" because I'm not a yoga person and I didn't enjoy it. If you are a yoga person, you might like it though!

hpoff33

Hello there!  New to this board, but wanted to post.

I just started reading a "Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer and I'm enjoying it very much so far.  My doula recommended it. I have Ina Mays on tap for the next read and then I also picked up "Birthing from Within: An Extra-Ordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation" by Pam England, Rob Horowitz.  I've thumbed through both of those and have so far really liked what I have read.

blonddnyc

All the ones previously mentioned but also

Born in the USA by Marsden Wagner - Im reading it for the 2nd time and asking my husband to read it so he understands the facts.

maddiemoon43

Hands down, The Birth Partner.

choppinbroccoli22

Easing Labor Pain

MrsMandaK

I really like the blog - Banned From Baby Showers - https://banned-from-baby-showers.blogspot.com/

I actually emailed the lady who writes it and she suggested some good books to me.

Ina May's Guide to Childbirth (which you already have )

25 Ways to Awaken Your Birth Power

Mind Over Labor

katiedid7908

Sorry this is a late post, but I found Peggy Vincent's "Babycatcher" to be so inspiring and a delightful read!  This is not a "how-to" book, persay, but chronicles the fascinating career of a nurse midwife ... lots of beautiful birth stories ... I laughed, I cried ... it's definitely worth having on your bedside table next to Ina May!