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November 2011 Moms
ACAsomeday
member
Ina May - Guide to Childbirth
ACAsomeday
member
Written by a nationally renown nurse midwife. I always said "I'm getting an epidural. I'm a wuss." But this book has really changed my thought process.
Anyone else reading this? I find it a bit extreme for my taste, but the book brings up some principles that are fascinating, and I'm sad to say, COMPLETELY new to me!! So, despite the extreme almost cult-like nature of her situation at "The Farm", I find myself wishing I could deliver with her as my midwife!
We don't have midwives at my hospital, but I'm hoping to have a med-free delivery that focuses on the principle that womens bodies are designed to accomodate the act of childbirth and that its not a sickness but rather a part of our nature. Anybody else in this situation?
p.s. this comment is not in any way aimed at med vs. med-free. Your choice is your choice, and I respect that just like I want my choice to be respected! (ie. "you're not going to get a trophy for delivering naturally" lolol)
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Re: Ina May - Guide to Childbirth
I love Ina May's books. I find them extremely empowering. I wish I would have read them while pregnant with my first (natural childbirth in a hospital). I read them while pregnant with my second and I guess I will probably read them again this time. I had my second at a free standing birth center. The experiences were night and day different. Third baby will also be born at the same birth center. I was always of the mind that I wouldn't get an epidural though, never even considered it. Don't know why that is, maybe because my mom had all three of her kids with no drugs (delivered one with Dr. Bradley or Bradley method fame, delivered one at home with a lay midwife, and delivered one in a hospital with a midwife).
I would just advise that you really make sure your provider is on the same page as you. In most hospitals some 90+% of women get the epidural so it is important to pick and provider and hospital that is supportive of going outside the norm of the epidural. Also something I wish I would have known with my first baby.
Cool!
I have just really changed my mind and decided to deliver med-free and with a more natural outlook rather then medical.
Any other books that you recommend? I'm eating this stuff up!
I really enjoyed "Pushed" by Jennifer Block. It's not so much empowering as an incredibly disturbing outlook on how babies are born in this country. Some people don't like it because of that. I thought it was fascinating.
I read Dr. Bradley's book, "Husband Coached Childbirth." Probably a bit on the extreme side, but I still liked it. A lot of what he said made sense to me.
I also liked "Special Delivery" by Rahima Baldwin (I think that's her name). My mom had it from when she had my brother at home and gave it to me.
I tried to read "Active Birth," but I wasn't all that impressed with it.
I might read "Birthing from Within" this time as I've heard good things about it. I know there are a few more that I've been wanting to read, but can't remember the names now.
The natural birth board here is a great resource as well.
I really liked Ina May's books. I ended up with an emergency C section anyway, which I have no issues with. I would recommend her books, and I like that she had a warning tale about a patient who NEEDED intervention, and didn't get it to her detriment. She's pro natural without pushing to an extreme and recognizes some emergencies need other care.
DMoney will be a kickass big sister
Yes, I am reading this book and loving it. It was recommended reading for my hypnobirthing class. The book is thoroughly empowering and I love how real it is in that although all the women birthed in the same place, they had varying experiences in how scared/nervous they were, how easily (relative, of course) with regard to time and pain they delivered, etc.
If you are truly focused on a med-free delivery, and you are unable to go to a hospital with a birthing center or that allows a midwife to be present to advocate on your behalf, you should have a plan in place that will detail your wishes for intervention. Obviously there is no way to know how it will pan out, but if you can at least have something prepared in advance that your nurses and OB will be aware of your beliefs, wishes and pain management choices.
I bought this book but have yet to read it. I started Dr. Bradley's "Husband Coached Childbirth" but had to return it to the library before I finished. Glad to know so many people like it.
So just to be clear, we're not going to get a trophy?
Just discovered Henci Goer's book "thinking woman's guide to a better birth"
What did you think? Worth buying and reading??
I have to say I really love Ina May's book as well - I feel kind of excited for childbirth, and not NEARLY as scared. Very empowering!
You get ..... A BABY!!!! :P
Loved Ina May's Guide to Childbirth. I plan to read Spiritual Midwifery and her breastfeeding book as well.
I really liked Birthing From Within and Hypnobirthing (Mongan Method). I'm reading The Thinking Woman's Guide right now. I read Pushed but it was a bit negative for my taste. I actually really liked Your Best Birth as well.
~Working Mom~Breastfeeding Mom~Cloth Diapering Mom~BLW Mom~
Blog - No Longer on the DL ~ The Man Cave
Shawn and Larissa
LO #1 - Took 2 years and 2 IVFs ~ DX - severe MFI mild PCOS homozygous MTHFR (a1298c)
LO #2 - TTC 7 months, surprise spontaneous BFP!