Help, advice, guidance desired

farmerpinky

Found out on 8/5 that we are expecting #4. My youngest is almost 9 yrs old! Spent 1999-2004 pregnant or nursing and swore I was done. I thought three was a good number although when we married we agreed 5 - 7 was our number. This spring  told DH I was sure there was someone we haven't met yet and asked what he thought about going for a couple more before I turned 35. He had been thinking the same thing! 

Baby is due early April. 

 

When I had the others, I was very young. My birth stories are almost the same. Doc said my body wouldn't go into labor and scheduled inductions. One was 2 weeks before due date because I was due Dec 24! Hooked up to IV, monitors, cath, etc. Told I "had to" have epidural because c-section was very likely. Tethered to bed by all those things. Felt like a prisoner and labor & delivery were torture.

 

This time I'm older, wiser and won't be pushed around! I have chosen a midwife (CNM) and she has addressed all of my initial concerns. 

 

What I need from you all is advice! I am a total novice and  I need guidance on this journey. Typical pregnancy books seem irrelevant so I need book and blog recs and support from all you " been there, done that" strong mama's. 

moshuya

I found Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Henci Goer's The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth to be great resources. 

tokenhoser

Check out the unofficial FAQ in my siggy.

phdwyfe2013

I just started reading the Birth Partner by Penny Simkin today - so far so good. I have Ina May's book on hold at the library and have been lurker here. I've borrowed the hypnobirthing book and CD from a friend and have been considering also reading the book 'Natural hospital birth: The best of both worlds' and I'm enjoying the website www.mamabirth.blogspot.ca 

  

00jennifer00

Active Birth by Janet Balaskas is the best I've read.  It gets deep into how the body is supposed to work during labor and gives a super clear understanding of how you can help instead of hinder.  I love that book.

BriDaily

Definitely Ina May Gaskin! And check into taking a Hypnobabies birthing course - it will be the best things you do for yourself! Also, don't be afraid to come on here and ask more questions! I did a waterbirth for my first, while it wasn't perfect (I tore through my own impatience)... it was more of what I dreamed for myself than any hospital birth could have been. I fully plan on having a home waterbirth with #2, due towards the end of March

amainah

I really liked "The Big Book of Birth" by Erica Lyon - it has a natural birthing bent, but goes over all of the aspects of delivery and the pros and cons of everything birth related so that you can make your own decision about what is right for you.  

Good luck!  

Mamasaurus

The Bradley book, "Husband-Coached Childbirth," is pretty good.

Good luck!