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Natural Birth
lizzie_1_7
member
Books you would recommend...
lizzie_1_7
member
to prepare for natural childbirth, breastfeeding, etc.
I am REALLY hoping to find a good book that discusses how to handle a natural birth in a hospital setting. I'm really nervous about trying to go natural in a setting that is so focused on interventions, but I'm determined to build my resolve through lots of self-education!
I would love any suggestions you ladies have!!
Sept '15 Siggy Challenge - Happy Dance
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Books you would recommend...
Anything from Ina May is awesome (although I've only read her breastfeeding book).
Birthing from Within is awesome as well, but you have to get past the artsy stuff at the beginning if it's weird to you at first.
I really like "The Official Lamaze Guide: Giving Birth with Confidence"
I am only half way through but it gives you great tips on how to handle a birth as natural as possible in the hospital. I was actually really reassured that most of their tips were taught in my hospital birth class, showing that my hospital I chose is very supportive of keeping birth as natural as possible. They talk a lot about Ina May in this book as well so I want to read her book next....
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0684031744/ref%3Dasc_df_06840317441193517/%3Ftag%3Daskcomel-20%26creative%3D394997%26creativeASIN%3D0684031744%26linkCode%3Dasn
Totally agree! (I also didn't like the art stuff at all - really, a doing a painting is going to get me through labor?! C'mon!)
I would also recommend The Birth Partner by Patty Simkin for you and your SO.
I'm going through Birthing From Within right now. It had been recommended to me by various people, and while I do enjoy looking at women's Birth Art, I'm not so sure I will be doing any or that it will help me prepare as much as my Hypnobabies course. I'm only about 13 chapters in, so I'm not sure if it veers from the artsy take on childbirth or not.
I read Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and LOVED it.
I also have Guide to Breastfeeding that I haven't read yet but comes VERY highly recommended.
I have "The Happiest Baby On the Block" dvd that I haven't watched yet but it also comes highly recommended.
If you are looking for a more directional course and can drop the $145 for it, the Hypnobabies course is WONDERFUL. The workbook is a good read, full of positive affirmations and information about nutrition, relaxation, and birth. The accompanying CDs are sooo relaxing and I enjoy the hypnosis--and it WORKS. At about 11 pm last night, my baby was kicking/rolling so violently for a loooong time. It was not only uncomfortable, I thought I'd never sleep. I started listening to a hynosis CD and totally fell asleep during all the violent movement! I couldn't believe it. I'm using the CDs during my labor and telling my H and doula that if I happen to fall asleep, DON'T WAKE ME. Until the baby's crowning, lol.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I don't have any books to suggest but just wanted to say that i think a lot of it comes down to the attitude of your hospital and your attending staff.
I birthed in a hospital. I went drug free until I started pushing when I used the gas (nitrous oxide). But that was something I was always relaxed about using and not something that was forced on me because of the location.
My hospital had a water tub and ensuite with a shower so I spent a lot of time using hot water. They had a birthing stool, and heat packs.
My midwife wasn't really pro natural or medical births. She was of the,"we have all these tools available. We'll start at the natural end, and we'll see how we go." attitude.
Her attitude worked for me because I trusted her experience in terms of necessary intervention and I trusted she wouldn't try and force anything on me.
At one point she thought the baby was stuck and got the oncall Dr to have a look to see if she thought an episiotomy was necessary. She took one look and said, no she can do and then hung around as my own personal cheer squad.
So I guess the important thing to me is to know what all the words mean, to trust your midwife/Dr. and to know the attitude of the hospital so that you can go in prepared with what you might encounter whilst you're there.
Elizabeth 5yrs old Jane 3yrs old
This was VERY helpful re: hospital birth!
I also love all Ina May & I loved Birthing from Within.
Have fun reading!
I support the suggestion a few others made - the Henci Goer book was very helpful for me, especially in creating a birth plan and being able to talk to my OB about it. I needed to be informed when discussing my choices with her because natural births are not the norm for her practice. I too was very nervous about giving birth naturally in a hospital setting! I felt better after having made a birth plan and discussing with with the doctor. Having done so much research really made me feel confident going into the appointment. I think being well informed shows the doctors that we're not just being difficult, we're making educated choices.
I found the Dr. Sears series of books helpful too - the Pregnancy Book and the Birth Book. They are good about presenting the good AND bad of every intervention, test, etc. They are pretty balanced and don't bash doctors. I admit that Henci Goer's book made me feel antagonistic towards my doctor and hospital so I stopped reading it once I got the information I needed. Its downside is that it doesn't present the research from the opposing view which I think would be helpful.
I read many of the books that have previously been mentioned, but wanted to say that the ones I liked best were Ina May's Guide to Childbirth and Birthing from Within. I learned about Ina May's book on this forum, and am so glad that I read it.
As for breastfeeding, the one recommended to me is The Nursing Mother's Companion. I haven't started breastfeeding yet, but it's a very thorough guide.
I just finished this and it was really good. My mom bought it for me because it specifically addressed natural birth in hospitals. Which I have to do because midwives cannot get licenses in the state where I live, but I did find a great OB and Birthing Center.